In my earlier post, I had the case study itself. This post will conclude the two parts with me discussing my interpretation of the case study. From the information I have gathered, the campaign was a success. In the “Results” section of the last blog, Hay Group claimed to have a place as “a thought leader on emerging economies” in addition to receiving “more than 100 business enquiries to date as a result of the campaign (http://www.prweek.com/uk/search/article/644930/CAMPAIGN-Hay-Group-gets-UK-firms-thinking-China/).
While my general research has listed the company as decades old, the amount of growth that it has experienced over the past few years has been staggering! Hay Group’s website is of course filled with positive information on the company; so I decided to seek out alternate sources that would say otherwise. So far, all that I was able to find are sources with words like “expand”, “strengthen”, and the like on Hay Group. One source in particular was a press release written in 2002. It stated that Hay Group has 75 offices within 35 countries worldwide. Today – obviously only five years later – Hay Group has 88 offices within 45 nations worldwide (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2006_Dec_4_n16880933). In addition, they also have over 7,000 clients around the globe (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2006_Dec4/ai_n16880933). The timeframe of the campaign was from May to December of 2006 – within the five years (i.e., 2002 to 2007) of the growth experienced. The year of Hay Group’s founding was 1943 (http://www.haygroup.com/ww/About/Index.asp?id=499). In the 59 years between its founding and the date of the press release, the company’s growth would have had to average close to 1.27 new offices and approximately 0.59 nations per year. However, within the past five years, the average annual growth was 2.6 new offices and 2 nations per year! I think that these calculations – as well as the information above – suggest that the campaign was successful in boosting the profile of Hay Group’s business strategy advisory services profile.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Case Study - Part 1
The students of my Advanced Communications class were asked to research and write about PR case studies whcih demonstrated a company or organizations' successful communication strategy. My case study is below. I gathered the information from the following link: http://www.prweek.com/uk/search/article/644930/CAMPAIGN-Hay-Group-gets-UK-firms-thinking-China/ I will discuss my interpretations of the case study in a later post.
CASE STUDY ON HAY GROUP FOR “WAKING UP TO CHINA” CAMPAIGN
Campaign: Waking up to China
Client: Hay Group
PR team: Man Bites Dog
Timescale: May-December 2006
Background:
Hay Group is a global consulting firm with offices in 47 countries serving over 7,000 clients. The company has been in business for over 60 years, and enlisted the help of a public relations firm in order to improve its business strategy advisory services profile. The PR firm, Man Bites Dog, was told to create a campaign to provide “both a business development tool and a platform for thought leadership.”
Objectives:
-To raise awareness of business strategy in the media, and position Hay Group as experts in the field.
-To boost adoption of the service.
Strategy and Plan:
Man Bites Dog proposed that Hay Group link the campaign to China’s modern-day rise as a global economic power. They did research on international companies to find out what attitudes leaders have on China as well as what implications that Chinese economic development may have for business in the United Kingdom.
Hay Group then based a report, ‘Waking up to China’, on these results. In the report, countries were ranked “by their ability to trade and compete with China, and by the number of national businesses with a ‘China strategy’.” Countries that faced the greatest opportunities and threats from China were highlighted.
In order to secure credibility of the report, the foreword came from trade experts that talk about the trade between China and Britain. In addition to that, Man Bites Dog prepared an executive summary for “each region and artwork to accompany the report.” Spokespeople for those regions were made available to the media for interview.
Common themes from the research results included the following – 1.) United Kingdom business leaders saw China as an opportunity instead of a threat 2.) They (the business leaders) predicted that china would be worth 200 billion pounds a year for British firms by 2009, and 3.) That almost 12.5% of all global organizations have no ‘China strategy’.
Man Bites Dog unveiled the report at a dinner hosted by Fenby and Hay Group China managing director Wayne Chen. Financial Times was given an exclusive preview before other media were notified. The PR team continues with this research on seasonal business issues and recommended that Mandarin be taught in British schools as recommended by Hay Group.
Measurement and Evaluation:
Mantra International, a reputational measurement group, valued the media coverage to be worth approximately 260,000 pounds. Media outlets that gave coverage include the following: The Times; The Sunday Times; The Daily Telegraph; The Guardian; The Independent; Evening Standard; Daily Express; and the Times Educational Supplement. Other international publications included: Holland’s De Telegraaf and Het Financieele Dagblad; CNN; the Singtao Daily; and the US Daily Standard.
Results:
Hay Group claims that it has been positioned as a thought leader on emerging economies. It also claims to have received more than 100 business enquiries to date as a direct result of the campaign.
CASE STUDY ON HAY GROUP FOR “WAKING UP TO CHINA” CAMPAIGN
Campaign: Waking up to China
Client: Hay Group
PR team: Man Bites Dog
Timescale: May-December 2006
Background:
Hay Group is a global consulting firm with offices in 47 countries serving over 7,000 clients. The company has been in business for over 60 years, and enlisted the help of a public relations firm in order to improve its business strategy advisory services profile. The PR firm, Man Bites Dog, was told to create a campaign to provide “both a business development tool and a platform for thought leadership.”
Objectives:
-To raise awareness of business strategy in the media, and position Hay Group as experts in the field.
-To boost adoption of the service.
Strategy and Plan:
Man Bites Dog proposed that Hay Group link the campaign to China’s modern-day rise as a global economic power. They did research on international companies to find out what attitudes leaders have on China as well as what implications that Chinese economic development may have for business in the United Kingdom.
Hay Group then based a report, ‘Waking up to China’, on these results. In the report, countries were ranked “by their ability to trade and compete with China, and by the number of national businesses with a ‘China strategy’.” Countries that faced the greatest opportunities and threats from China were highlighted.
In order to secure credibility of the report, the foreword came from trade experts that talk about the trade between China and Britain. In addition to that, Man Bites Dog prepared an executive summary for “each region and artwork to accompany the report.” Spokespeople for those regions were made available to the media for interview.
Common themes from the research results included the following – 1.) United Kingdom business leaders saw China as an opportunity instead of a threat 2.) They (the business leaders) predicted that china would be worth 200 billion pounds a year for British firms by 2009, and 3.) That almost 12.5% of all global organizations have no ‘China strategy’.
Man Bites Dog unveiled the report at a dinner hosted by Fenby and Hay Group China managing director Wayne Chen. Financial Times was given an exclusive preview before other media were notified. The PR team continues with this research on seasonal business issues and recommended that Mandarin be taught in British schools as recommended by Hay Group.
Measurement and Evaluation:
Mantra International, a reputational measurement group, valued the media coverage to be worth approximately 260,000 pounds. Media outlets that gave coverage include the following: The Times; The Sunday Times; The Daily Telegraph; The Guardian; The Independent; Evening Standard; Daily Express; and the Times Educational Supplement. Other international publications included: Holland’s De Telegraaf and Het Financieele Dagblad; CNN; the Singtao Daily; and the US Daily Standard.
Results:
Hay Group claims that it has been positioned as a thought leader on emerging economies. It also claims to have received more than 100 business enquiries to date as a direct result of the campaign.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Best PR Practices
Over the past semester in my Advanced Communication class, I have learned a lot about the PR practice. As an assignment, my class has picked 5-10 best PR practices to write about. Mine are below.
Network:
Know people who know people. My Advanced Communication class has had at least one guest speaker indicate the existence of individuals who have a town-sized network. Make friends and get as many contacts as you can. There are plenty of websites that you can join - myspace.com is only one example. Also check out Linked In. However, don't just rely on the internet. Face time really does help you gain a lot of new contacts. You have to get your face and name out there. Start networking as early as you can. Once you gain contacts, periodically keep in touch with them - media and otherwise. Maintaining your network on a regular basis is an invaluable investment for the future.
Know the Media:
Keep in mind how you interact with the media. As a PR practitioner, you should keep the interest of your client in mind; but also make sure that you know what the lines are when dealing with the media. From what I learned in class (taught by a former journalist), they (the media) are basically trained not to trust you; so you have to give them as much confidence as possible that you're ethically above board.
Know the Public:
I cannot stress enough about this. There was one particular instance - and I can't remember it in detail - where a car was not sold in a certain country. The dealership gave the car a name that sounds exhilurating in America. However, the inhabitants in another particular country translated it as "doesn't go." Thus, the sales were poor in that country.
Know Yourself:
After taking this course, I have noticed some weaknesses that I have in my writing and as an overall PR practitioner. Keep yourself aware of these weaknesses and that in itself is a strength. Another strength is to intimately know who you represent. Gather information about the organization and become jazzed about your client. The more you know about "yourself", the more assertive you can be.
Keep Up with the Latest Technology Trends:
There are numerous reasons to do this; but in the interest of time, I'll talk about just one...
Earlier this semester, my Advanced Communication class had an assignment in which we did informational interviews with PR practitioners. The practitioner that I interviewed explained that there are countries which are "way ahead of us" in how they use cell phones. He went on to explain the following:
Most people here use their phones for talking or texting. But over there, they pay their bills with it; they get their money with it; etc. I mean that's all they use their phone for.
This information would be good to keep in mind when you do business with companies from such countries; or if your PR company has an office in those countries.
Be Creative and Innovative:
There are so many ways to get the word out about a client that people often forget about the basics. I learned from an informational interview that a great way to add to one's credibility is to write a book. As Chris Anderson of The Marketing Arm would say...
[There] is so much we can do with [a book]...we can take exerpts from it [and] pitch it to the media...As much as we talk about old media and how people don't read the newspaper anymore, people are really impressed when you write a book!
Keep up with the Media:
Read the news and know what the latest headlines are. Know what type of information the media is after. When the events of Hurricane Katrina were all over the news, I sincerely doubt that journalists were thinking much of something like endangered puppies in Podunk City.
Be Obsessed about Your Writing:
In the modern day, even the vaguest e-mail says something about a business. You need to double-check everything you write. Also be aware of who you are writing to. If you are writing to a journalist, then it is probably best to use the grammar that a journalist would use.
Join a Group:
Join a club! There are a variety of professional communication organizations to join. Check out the ones below:
AAF (American Advertising Federation) - www.aaf.org
AMA (American Marketing Association) - www.marketingpower.com
PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) - www.prsa.org
IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) - www.iabc.com
Research:
You have to present yourself to the media as the authority-source of information on what you write about. It can be pretty bad when you don't know what you're talking about. But if the media sees you as an authority, then they will go to you for information.
Network:
Know people who know people. My Advanced Communication class has had at least one guest speaker indicate the existence of individuals who have a town-sized network. Make friends and get as many contacts as you can. There are plenty of websites that you can join - myspace.com is only one example. Also check out Linked In. However, don't just rely on the internet. Face time really does help you gain a lot of new contacts. You have to get your face and name out there. Start networking as early as you can. Once you gain contacts, periodically keep in touch with them - media and otherwise. Maintaining your network on a regular basis is an invaluable investment for the future.
Know the Media:
Keep in mind how you interact with the media. As a PR practitioner, you should keep the interest of your client in mind; but also make sure that you know what the lines are when dealing with the media. From what I learned in class (taught by a former journalist), they (the media) are basically trained not to trust you; so you have to give them as much confidence as possible that you're ethically above board.
Know the Public:
I cannot stress enough about this. There was one particular instance - and I can't remember it in detail - where a car was not sold in a certain country. The dealership gave the car a name that sounds exhilurating in America. However, the inhabitants in another particular country translated it as "doesn't go." Thus, the sales were poor in that country.
Know Yourself:
After taking this course, I have noticed some weaknesses that I have in my writing and as an overall PR practitioner. Keep yourself aware of these weaknesses and that in itself is a strength. Another strength is to intimately know who you represent. Gather information about the organization and become jazzed about your client. The more you know about "yourself", the more assertive you can be.
Keep Up with the Latest Technology Trends:
There are numerous reasons to do this; but in the interest of time, I'll talk about just one...
Earlier this semester, my Advanced Communication class had an assignment in which we did informational interviews with PR practitioners. The practitioner that I interviewed explained that there are countries which are "way ahead of us" in how they use cell phones. He went on to explain the following:
Most people here use their phones for talking or texting. But over there, they pay their bills with it; they get their money with it; etc. I mean that's all they use their phone for.
This information would be good to keep in mind when you do business with companies from such countries; or if your PR company has an office in those countries.
Be Creative and Innovative:
There are so many ways to get the word out about a client that people often forget about the basics. I learned from an informational interview that a great way to add to one's credibility is to write a book. As Chris Anderson of The Marketing Arm would say...
[There] is so much we can do with [a book]...we can take exerpts from it [and] pitch it to the media...As much as we talk about old media and how people don't read the newspaper anymore, people are really impressed when you write a book!
Keep up with the Media:
Read the news and know what the latest headlines are. Know what type of information the media is after. When the events of Hurricane Katrina were all over the news, I sincerely doubt that journalists were thinking much of something like endangered puppies in Podunk City.
Be Obsessed about Your Writing:
In the modern day, even the vaguest e-mail says something about a business. You need to double-check everything you write. Also be aware of who you are writing to. If you are writing to a journalist, then it is probably best to use the grammar that a journalist would use.
Join a Group:
Join a club! There are a variety of professional communication organizations to join. Check out the ones below:
AAF (American Advertising Federation) - www.aaf.org
AMA (American Marketing Association) - www.marketingpower.com
PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) - www.prsa.org
IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) - www.iabc.com
Research:
You have to present yourself to the media as the authority-source of information on what you write about. It can be pretty bad when you don't know what you're talking about. But if the media sees you as an authority, then they will go to you for information.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Look-Look/SMU trend challenge!
My class has been working with Look-Look, a trend-studying firm located in Los Angeleles, C, to research a growing trend at Southern Methodist University.
The Challenge:
The firm has noticed that young people (age 19-35) have redefined their values concerning work, careers and happiness. They believe that the values represent a shift from how previous generations defined their success. A manifestation of this shift has been the propagation of entrepreneurs. Look-Look has charged us with finding these "business-head youngsters" at – or alumni of – SMU.
The Place:
Southern Methodist University, the study-ground for my class’ research, is a private university with students often stereotyped as the spawn of well-to-do families. According to a report from the Princeton Review, “(T)he stereotype of an SMU student features ‘Louis Vuitton bags adorned with sorority pins, Daddy’s credit card, [and] bronzed tans year round.’"
Simultaneously, the Review also states that the university is among the “25 most connected campuses” (http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/mostConnected.asp). I have also heard from various faculty and students that between 70-85% of all students are on scholarships.
Here’s my take as a current undergraduate…
The school definitely has a presence of the affluent, but these are accomplished students with big dreams and high goals. The university has a top-quality education and nurtures a creativity and independent mindset in its students. Such examples of nurturing that independent mindset includes: non-credit entrepreneurial programs; a crash-course business institute for recent graduates; and other programs and classes to help students stand out from the pack.
How and where have you seen New Entrepreneurs in your world?
As I mentioned before, Southern Methodist University is a breeding ground for nurturing an independent mindset. Although – and pardon my hazy knowledge of psychology – there are some that appear to be more of entrepreneur by “nature” instead of “nurture”. David Hanson, an SMU senior, is one of them. By the age of 17, Hanson was already running his own business for custom software entitled D.A. Hanson Consulting. A real estate finance major and political science minor, Hanson plans to “focus full time after graduation on his new business, Conduit Internet Systems, in addition to his consulting work” http://smu.edu/newsinfo/stories/entrepreneurs-29march2007.asp.
Other examples of such talent include young artists. Recent SMU alumnus Flip Caderao has used facebook to advertise sites that keep fans up-to-date on his budding band called Point 5 Covenant (http://www.point5covenant.com/, http://smu.facebook.com/profile.php?id=18803095). A graduate in the theater program, Caderao is able to market band merchandise, bios on Point 5 Covenant, and news on the band through this straightforward website.
Do you see a shift to a certain type of attitude toward work?
Because of the advancing communication technology of the internet, it is much easier for people to be their own boss.
How do you think this will change business in the future, if at all?
Shakespeare once said that “why, then the world is my oyster (w)hich I with sword shall open.” In my opinion, the computer has made for a very functional sword in that people no longer have to invest in a building and manpower when first starting out; it can all be done in the comfort of home!
Prove it. Whether it’s a specific example of a business, person, product, subculture, or anything else you can think of… Write a couple of paragraphs about why this trend is important and why you think it can make or (why it is making) an impact on your life and culture.
Opportunity is knocking, and it is only a few clicks away. People simply cannot afford to stay behind the times anymore. The notion of someone having to accumulate a small fortune before starting their own business is out the window. I believe that the early stages can be done with the right know-how, a computer, and plenty of internet access.
Something that I have not mentioned yet is how success stories such as these might make the generation feel entitled to a certain amount of money at the get-go. They may feel that success will happen instantly; but I think you have to be smart about how you reach for your goals. Reaching those goals may even take some soul-searching to find out what your strengths and weaknesses are. In my opinion, the best thing to do is get a solid job to take care of the bare necessities. Then during the off-time, throw yourself into your idea!
The Challenge:
The firm has noticed that young people (age 19-35) have redefined their values concerning work, careers and happiness. They believe that the values represent a shift from how previous generations defined their success. A manifestation of this shift has been the propagation of entrepreneurs. Look-Look has charged us with finding these "business-head youngsters" at – or alumni of – SMU.
The Place:
Southern Methodist University, the study-ground for my class’ research, is a private university with students often stereotyped as the spawn of well-to-do families. According to a report from the Princeton Review, “(T)he stereotype of an SMU student features ‘Louis Vuitton bags adorned with sorority pins, Daddy’s credit card, [and] bronzed tans year round.’"
Simultaneously, the Review also states that the university is among the “25 most connected campuses” (http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/mostConnected.asp). I have also heard from various faculty and students that between 70-85% of all students are on scholarships.
Here’s my take as a current undergraduate…
The school definitely has a presence of the affluent, but these are accomplished students with big dreams and high goals. The university has a top-quality education and nurtures a creativity and independent mindset in its students. Such examples of nurturing that independent mindset includes: non-credit entrepreneurial programs; a crash-course business institute for recent graduates; and other programs and classes to help students stand out from the pack.
How and where have you seen New Entrepreneurs in your world?
As I mentioned before, Southern Methodist University is a breeding ground for nurturing an independent mindset. Although – and pardon my hazy knowledge of psychology – there are some that appear to be more of entrepreneur by “nature” instead of “nurture”. David Hanson, an SMU senior, is one of them. By the age of 17, Hanson was already running his own business for custom software entitled D.A. Hanson Consulting. A real estate finance major and political science minor, Hanson plans to “focus full time after graduation on his new business, Conduit Internet Systems, in addition to his consulting work” http://smu.edu/newsinfo/stories/entrepreneurs-29march2007.asp.
Other examples of such talent include young artists. Recent SMU alumnus Flip Caderao has used facebook to advertise sites that keep fans up-to-date on his budding band called Point 5 Covenant (http://www.point5covenant.com/, http://smu.facebook.com/profile.php?id=18803095). A graduate in the theater program, Caderao is able to market band merchandise, bios on Point 5 Covenant, and news on the band through this straightforward website.
Do you see a shift to a certain type of attitude toward work?
Because of the advancing communication technology of the internet, it is much easier for people to be their own boss.
How do you think this will change business in the future, if at all?
Shakespeare once said that “why, then the world is my oyster (w)hich I with sword shall open.” In my opinion, the computer has made for a very functional sword in that people no longer have to invest in a building and manpower when first starting out; it can all be done in the comfort of home!
Prove it. Whether it’s a specific example of a business, person, product, subculture, or anything else you can think of… Write a couple of paragraphs about why this trend is important and why you think it can make or (why it is making) an impact on your life and culture.
Opportunity is knocking, and it is only a few clicks away. People simply cannot afford to stay behind the times anymore. The notion of someone having to accumulate a small fortune before starting their own business is out the window. I believe that the early stages can be done with the right know-how, a computer, and plenty of internet access.
Something that I have not mentioned yet is how success stories such as these might make the generation feel entitled to a certain amount of money at the get-go. They may feel that success will happen instantly; but I think you have to be smart about how you reach for your goals. Reaching those goals may even take some soul-searching to find out what your strengths and weaknesses are. In my opinion, the best thing to do is get a solid job to take care of the bare necessities. Then during the off-time, throw yourself into your idea!
Friday, April 6, 2007
Look-look
I know it's been awhile since my last blog post. The class is currently doing some work with Look-look.com. Stay tuned as more blogs will soon be on the way!
Friday, March 9, 2007
Establishing Brands through the Mobile Device
Mobile marketing is a term that was once only associated with technology road shows and moving billboards. In more recent years (the early 2000s to be precise), this trend has spread into mobile devices.
At first given bad media coverage in Europe, it has now increased in popularity there.
More recently in the United States, Omnicom's mobile marketing firm, ipsh!, developed "the first truly multinational mobile marketing campaign" (http://www.themarketingarm.com/media/index.php?ID=14). ipsh! CEO Nihal Mehta has claimed it to be one of the company's "top 10 successes in terms of traffic, with thousands of downloads around the globe" (http://www.themarketingarm.com/media/index.php?ID=14).
I myself am no expert on this, and have in fact just found out about this technology recently. However, novices may find the following links to be helpful on the subject of mobile marketing:
www.mobilemarketingmagazine.co.uk/
www.juicewireless.com/
www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3583351
There will be more on this relatively new technology on the way. Please check back later, and feel free to comment on this post.
At first given bad media coverage in Europe, it has now increased in popularity there.
More recently in the United States, Omnicom's mobile marketing firm, ipsh!, developed "the first truly multinational mobile marketing campaign" (http://www.themarketingarm.com/media/index.php?ID=14). ipsh! CEO Nihal Mehta has claimed it to be one of the company's "top 10 successes in terms of traffic, with thousands of downloads around the globe" (http://www.themarketingarm.com/media/index.php?ID=14).
I myself am no expert on this, and have in fact just found out about this technology recently. However, novices may find the following links to be helpful on the subject of mobile marketing:
www.mobilemarketingmagazine.co.uk/
www.juicewireless.com/
www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3583351
There will be more on this relatively new technology on the way. Please check back later, and feel free to comment on this post.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Blogs that Heal (Part 2):
In my last blog, I introduced my viewers to Cure Magazine with some information on Heal Magazine (launching this May). I decided to discuss in greater detail some of the web links I posted. In addition to that, I will also talk about other possible ideas for sidebars and the links that could fall under them.
Best Cancer Blogs:
I have only browsed through Medicineworld.org Cancer Blog (http://medicineworld.org/cancer/cancer-blog.html), but am already tremendously impressed. Most of the blogs I have come across do not include detailed illustrations – nor have as wide a selection – as this blog has. I think that Heal Magazine can expect higher customer interest if more blog sites such as this one can be found. Pictures – in my opinion – can sometimes enhance a blog post. I often find myself getting bored when there is only text to read without the occasional illustration. While I’m aware that illustrations used improperly may deter readers from looking any further, I do think that this blog made the idea work.
Body:
By clicking on the link to Everyday Health (http://www.everydayhealth.com/), viewers gain access to a functional, easy-to-use site with: ideas for recipes; additional links on types of cancer, and; information on other illnesses.
Another link that I found helpful was MayoClinic.com (http://www.mayclinic.com/health/cancer/CA99999) because viewers can go directly to links on the subject without being distracted by a lot of text. The page gives users much of what they need without spending a lot of time searching on the site. In other words, once someone clicks on the link, a page opens up with little more than a plethora of other links with information on cancer. I think that Heal Magazine would benefit greatly by having links that get to the point in ways similar to this link.
The link in my previous blog entry – entitled Amazon.com: Eating Well Through Cancer…. is mostly about a nutrition book that can be purchased on that website. I chose to talk about this not to give a book review; but because it gave me an idea. Perhaps there could be a sidebar category for recommended books that talk about cancer. Although this might overlap some sidebar categories, I think that future blog users would find such a sidebar helpful.
Just for Kids:
The link with the title “Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta” has something that I have not found in other blogs. That is a summer camp! By clicking on the Camp & Community Outreach link, viewers will find information about a camp that is “giving kids with cancer the chance to be kids again” (http://www.kidscancercare.ab.ca/). What I like about the camp is that it has the modern activities that are available in other well-known camps (such as Kanakuk and Camp Ozark). These activities include a climbing wall and a ropes course. I believe that Heal Magazine can benefit from having more links with fun activities for those with cancer – like this one.
Lastly, I wanted to talk about the link with the title “Texas Children’s Cancer Center.” Because Cure Magazine has an office in Dallas, Texas, I decided that having links to local cancer-related locations would be helpful to it. Perhaps later on, the blog can include categories/sub-categories of links for each state.
Best Cancer Blogs:
I have only browsed through Medicineworld.org Cancer Blog (http://medicineworld.org/cancer/cancer-blog.html), but am already tremendously impressed. Most of the blogs I have come across do not include detailed illustrations – nor have as wide a selection – as this blog has. I think that Heal Magazine can expect higher customer interest if more blog sites such as this one can be found. Pictures – in my opinion – can sometimes enhance a blog post. I often find myself getting bored when there is only text to read without the occasional illustration. While I’m aware that illustrations used improperly may deter readers from looking any further, I do think that this blog made the idea work.
Body:
By clicking on the link to Everyday Health (http://www.everydayhealth.com/), viewers gain access to a functional, easy-to-use site with: ideas for recipes; additional links on types of cancer, and; information on other illnesses.
Another link that I found helpful was MayoClinic.com (http://www.mayclinic.com/health/cancer/CA99999) because viewers can go directly to links on the subject without being distracted by a lot of text. The page gives users much of what they need without spending a lot of time searching on the site. In other words, once someone clicks on the link, a page opens up with little more than a plethora of other links with information on cancer. I think that Heal Magazine would benefit greatly by having links that get to the point in ways similar to this link.
The link in my previous blog entry – entitled Amazon.com: Eating Well Through Cancer…. is mostly about a nutrition book that can be purchased on that website. I chose to talk about this not to give a book review; but because it gave me an idea. Perhaps there could be a sidebar category for recommended books that talk about cancer. Although this might overlap some sidebar categories, I think that future blog users would find such a sidebar helpful.
Just for Kids:
The link with the title “Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta” has something that I have not found in other blogs. That is a summer camp! By clicking on the Camp & Community Outreach link, viewers will find information about a camp that is “giving kids with cancer the chance to be kids again” (http://www.kidscancercare.ab.ca/). What I like about the camp is that it has the modern activities that are available in other well-known camps (such as Kanakuk and Camp Ozark). These activities include a climbing wall and a ropes course. I believe that Heal Magazine can benefit from having more links with fun activities for those with cancer – like this one.
Lastly, I wanted to talk about the link with the title “Texas Children’s Cancer Center.” Because Cure Magazine has an office in Dallas, Texas, I decided that having links to local cancer-related locations would be helpful to it. Perhaps later on, the blog can include categories/sub-categories of links for each state.
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