Tag Archives: India

Leaner Pockets to Leaner Bellies

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Demonetisation: The impact was as heavy as this word sounds!

As an avid foodie, this subtle comparison was quite obvious for me to think! With no cash in hand, I had to compromise a lot of my food binges during this historic movement.

When I shared this so-called grief with my better half, he immediately snapped me back to the reality by sharing his “jogging” experience he had the other day.

“People should run every day, there should be a law where the government makes it compulsory for every individual to run at least 1km daily” he said.

And that struck me like a lightening!!!!

Thinking further, I really wondered what if tomorrow the Government seriously enforces this law. How will people react? The pace at which the Government is coming up with new and innovative reforms, I am sure that day is not so far.

And as I was thinking, my unusually imaginative brain could literally form a mental image of all the people I know right from my maid, milkman,my boss, my son’s school teacher and the shopkeeper across the street, running a marathon in numbered jerseys. 😛

Every individual whether weak or strong, should run 1km every day. May be an app similar to Paytm will come for our rescue. It will track your distance and report it back to the Government.

Similar to ATM queues we witnessed during the cash crunch, we might see long lines outside the city parks, gyms. The sportswear industry will boom and every one will run to grab their favourite pair of shoes to get them running. There will be innumerable TV shows and debates supporting/opposing the government. Social media will see a pool of new memes created. In all this mockery, only one good thing will happen – people will RUN and abide the law.

Going further down the chain of my thoughts, I remembered how China enforced the One-Child Policy in the past. (Please note: this policy is relaxed now).

Talking about the weight issues, Japan is one-step ahead of us. They already have a Metabo Law where citizens between the ages of 45 and 74 should measure their waistline once a year and seek medical attention if required.

So there are countries who take into account not just the welfare of the people as a whole but individuals and families. Addressing such very-personal rather distinctive potential issues, the country will progress in a healthy way leading to a healthy society.

Instead of just axing the black money, the real effort should be put on axing the black thoughts. And what better way than enforcing PHYSICAL EXERCISE to every individual. Exercise releases endorphins which are responsible for the positive feeling in the human body. If all are happy and positive, I am sure the economy will rise and shine. I know it’s not that simple as we think but then neither was India’s independence!

“One small step for the man, one giant leap for the mankind” – Neil Armstrong

(Image Courtesy – Google)

Social Media, mightier than a pen!

Do you have a query which you would like the concerned brand to answer?  Are you thinking about writing them (with a pen and paper) on their postal address?

Somebody like me or for that matter anyone who understands the power of social media will be judgemental about you and will term you as “a stranger in a Strange Land” 😛

With the world being abuzz about the digital media, the term “Write to us” is so passé. Gone are the days where your letter was ignored by the brand.

Thanks to social media, the reins are in the hands of the common people like you and me…..your voice won’t get unheard! Let’s see how –

Just a few days back my cell phone service provider Vodafone India barred my outgoing service without any notice. After calling their customer service departments from my husband’s cell incessantly, I could finally connect to one executive who unfortunately kept transferring my call to multiple departments. With no output in hand, I decided to take the plunge.

I tweeted my issue mentioning the service provider and within no time, I got a call from customer care executive that restored my services within 2 days!

That’s the power of social media……..!!!!

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With the emerging concept of Social Care – introduction of SOCIAL media as another medium for customer CARE, brands using the emergent platforms like Facebook and Twitter are making an effort to connect with each and every consumer.

With more and more brands building their presence on the HOT social media channels, they are bound to address the questions, reported satisfactions or complain from their consumers. Social media being open and vocal, they cannot afford to miss a single beat.

By widening the mediums for correspondence, brands – whether big or small, B2B or B2C are facing the real challenge to stay at par the consumer expectations which keep increasing with time.

Due to the fierce market competition, every brand tries to provide a seamless experience to its consumers leading to the overall rise of consumer expectations.

Strategies are implemented that communicate brand values and ideals. Brands are trying to listen to the consumer expectations, needs and requirements.

By creating a clear, comprehensive identity, brands try to ally the consumers with their values and ideals, thus trying to achieve the epitome of marketing!

Many of the leading companies such as Mahindra are launching campaigns (Mahindra Rise) seeking for new and innovative ideas from consumers to invent new products, services and possibilities. Others are coming up with solutions for problem areas. Besides these, brands always come up with free coupons, gift vouchers, discounts and offers to keep their consumers glued.

And if one fails, consumers are bound to bring it down with the help of vested power of social media.

Conclusion – more power to the consumers!

With the reins in the hand, I keep wondering are the consumers putting enough efforts to explore the power and make good for themselves as well as the society??

Are you speaking up for yourself? Are you loud enough to be heard among all the noise?

If not, add this into your To-do list for this New Years. Use your powers for good through social media and let your brand know what you feel.

And yes do share the experience with me….