The official BCAMA blog is now located at bcamamarketline.com

Grow the Mo

A short Q&A with Adam Garone, Co-Founder and CEO of the Movember Foundation. Adam will provide insights on Movember's global brand strategy at the BCAMA Grey Vancouver Speaker Series event on Tuesday, November 3.

1. What is your favourite style of Mo?

Per the attached style guide, my favourite Mo style is Undercover Brother.


2. What has been the most rewarding moment for you?

It’s when we hear about how Movember changed or saved a life. It’s when we receive e-mails from guys explaining how their Movember experience prompted them or their Dad to head to the Doctor and get screened for prostate cancer. Its building awareness of prostate cancer, creating knowledge and empowering men to take action. 



3. What do you hope attendees will remember most about your presentation?

How to manage and leverage a brand in new media like Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to learn more about the event and register.

Attendees at Tuesday's presentation will also have a chance to win some very cool Movember prizes, including cuff links, t-shirts, and necklaces. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

Pure Networking - An Engaging Evening

Special guest post by BCAMA member Rich Porayko, founding partner of Construction Creative, a Metro Vancouver marketing and communications agency.

The BCAMA Pure Networking event on October 8 was appropriately named; it was PURE networking. There is something about meeting in person over drinks and tapas that can’t be replicated by a social networking website. I have since summed up the sold out event to colleagues and friends as networking on steroids. Wisely held at intimate and upscale Whineos at Granville and Nelson, the place was already hopping when the party officially kicked off at 6:00 PM.

As a newly returning member to the BCAMA, I am veteran volunteer of social business meetings however I have never attended a professional function even close to the Pure Networking event. It’s safe to say that 100% of the people I spoke with were having a great time and indicated they would come back again.

Trina Mousseau, Creative Account Specialist for Inventa, shared her thoughts, “What I love about BCAMA events is that they are very well organized and are always strongly supported by very high caliber professionals. This has been great!”

First time BCAMA event attendee and Marketing and Events Coordinator for Globe Foundation Randall Cook agreed, “I just wanted to see what it’s all about and it’s great! Our office is close by and it is really, really convenient.”

With over 100 A-Types in the same room, everyone had their game face on and the mood was extremely upbeat and friendly with lots of smiles and welcoming faces. There was a positive buzz throughout the packed room and it was clear that confidence and optimism in the local industry was very high.

“I love it,” said first time BCAMA participant Asmin Chen, MBA Candidate 2010 and President of the Art of Selling and Negotiation Club at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. “I’ve heard so much about these events. A lot of people recommend BCAMA events to students starting their career as a great place to meet professionals in the industry.”

Steve Kim, BCAMA board member and President of Boilingpoint Communications, knows the value of attending the Association’s events, “Networking events like these provide the opportunity to meet like-minded people in a friendly and fun environment.”

Ashish Gurung, CEO Nu Experience Design explained his company comes to BCAMA meetings to network with marketing people, “Our company doesn’t create the strategy, however we create the tools that marketers use to communicate their message and this is a great venue to reach those marketers.”

Returning BCAMA event participant and CEO for QuickMobile, Patrick Payne summed it up in two sentences, “I came last year and this is a great event. This is pure networking.”

In addition to agreeing on the networking aspect, the people I spoke with were also very happy with the value. Pure Networking was a fun and informal night out at a cool boutique lounge seeing old friends and making new ones. All for only 15 bucks and it included a free drink and a ton of delicious tapas.

I look forward to attending the next Pure Networking event in late November.

Rich can be reached at richp@constructioncreative.com

View his profile at: www.linkedin.com/in/richporayko

Thanks to all the marketing professionals who gathered on Tuesday 19th September, to recognize BC Hydro’s as the BCAMA’s 2009 Marketer of the Year. Here’s a number of pictures highlighting the evening! Feedback from attendees was that the evening was an overwhelming success and that an excellent night was had by all. Congratulations again to BC Hydro!

BC Hydro Wins Marketer of the Year 2009!

Join us in celebrating the 39th Annual BCAMA Marketer of the Year – BC Hydro. Armed with an innovative approach, creative vision and passion for sustainability, BC Hydro is being recognized for its marketing strategy, out-of-the-box style and delivering a progressive marketing campaign with significant community impact.

BC Hydro's marketing success is truly a story for the ages!

There's still time to get in on early bird pricing, so don't delay. For all the details, click here.

Are You Up To Speed?

Like all things in life these days, time is short and always of the essence. This rings true for marketers. We seem to always find ourselves under constant time constraints and burning the midnight oil to make tight deadlines. 

But like all good business people, marketers also understand the power of networking. We all know it takes only one good relationship to open opportunities for sales or advance one's career, but finding the time to network can be extremely tough. So at times, you have to make the best use of your time and work the floor to meet as many people as possible. 

At last week's BCAMA AGM, we had our first Speed Networking event.  Patricia Wu, our director of Special Events kindly passed along some tips from the event. They make for great pointers for anyone looking to speed network or, at the very least, refresh themselves on some basics.

10 Tips For Speed Networking Success

1. Have the right tools

Bring lots of business cards, a pen and the right mindset (smile, make eye contact, and remember a firm handshake)

2. Think about your goals

Be prepared to have one or two.  Are you looking to hire? Looking for general contacts in the marketing industry? Are you promoting your business?

Make it easy for someone to help you. The more concise you are in the descriptions of yourself and your goals, the better your odds for success.

3. Know short statements about yourself

Just like elevator pitches, it pays to prepare a few lines about yourself and your business/company/service. Think about what you are looking for and how you can benefit others as well.

4. Practice the art of the business card

Always have yours ready to give out. After meeting someone, read the business card of the person while chatting. This shows interest and helps you to remember his/her name. Take the time to write a brief note while the other person is talking. And try to separate yours from the ones you receive.

5. Help others and get leads yourself

Goodwill goes a long way. After meeting someone, if you see an opportunity to help them with their goals, please do. Chances are the favour will be returned.  It might not be tomorrow, but you might benefit in the months to come.

6. Make time after an event

You might only have enough time to chat for a few minutes, so ask people to talk in greater detail after initial introductions. This opens more time to meet more people and sets up a quick next step in nurturing a business relationship.

7. Don't miss potential synergy

Always think about future endeavors. Be direct and propose a date and time. 

8. Follow up 

It's easy to brush it off, but take the time to send a thank you email to initiate additional communication. If relevant, think about inviting new contacts into your social media networks like LinkedIn.

9. Be professional and courteous

No brainer here. This isn't speed dating, so remember to keep your level of professionalism high.

10. Have fun and be yourself

Networking is about making a connection, so have fun and your positive vibes will be infectious.

So if you have the need for speed, remember some of the points above as they will go a long way to helping you achieve your goals.

BC's Ad Industry Continues To Impress

Congratulations to all the BC Advertisers, Agencies and individuals that did us proud at the 2009 Marketing Awards!

They are:

• Excellence in Brand Creativity: Red Bull Canada, Vancouver | Sid Lee
  
• Television Campaign: Silver - BC Dairy Foundation | DDB Canada, Vancouver 
  
• Television Single Product: Silver & Bronze - BC Dairy Foundation | DDB Canada, Vancouver
  
• Cinema: Silver - Vancouver International Film Festival | TBWA\Vancouver, Bronze x 2 - BC Dairy Foundation | DDB Canada, Vancouver
  
• Other Broadcast: Silver - DDB Canada/Tribal Vancouver
  
• Radio Single: Silver - Mr. Lube | Rethink, Bronze - BCAA | Rethink, Bronze - BC Lions | Rethink
  
• Magazine Campaign: Bronze - Dose.ca | Rethink
• Business Press Single: Silver - The Canadian Press | Rethink, Bronze - Tribal DDB Vancouver | DDB Canada, Vancouver
• Newspaper Campaign: Bronze - BC Lottery Corporation | TBWA\Vancouver
• Newspaper Single: Bronze - BCAA | Rethink, Bronze -Wagstaffe Autobody | Rethink, Bronze - BC Lottery Corporation | TBWA\Vancouver
• Non-Traditional Advertising Campaign: Gold - Keys Please | Rethink
• Non-Traditional Advertising Single: Silver & Bronze - Science World | Rethink
• Andy Rodgers Award For Public Service: Silver - The Looking Glass Foundation | DDB Canada, Vancouver
• Public Service Print/Out Of Home Single Or Campaign: Silver & Bronze - Offsetters | Rethink
• Public Service Radio Single Or Campaign: Silver - Emergency Communications for Southwest BC | TBWA\Vancouver, Silver & Bronze - Special Olympics Canada | Grey Canada, Bronze - The Looking Glass Foundation | DDB Canada, Vancouver
• Public Service Television Sing Or Campaign: Bronze - Alberta's Libraries | Rethink
• Craft Awards: Performance - Mr. Lube | Rethink, Art Direction - BC Dairy Foundation | DDB Canada

For more information, please visit www.marketingmag.ca.

Also, with so much talent in our midst, we look forward to highlighting our talent at our annual Marketer of the Year event set for later this year.