February 2010 Archives

So, I've spent the last couple of days at the Technology for Marketing and Advertising (TFMA) conference, held at Earl's Court, London.

So, what's the word on the tweet? (And how might it impact us geospatial beings?)

Worth the wait

I'm glad to see that 'queue' related terms all get a fair mention throughout the #tfma twitter feed (the only negative for me about the conference). Massively popular, in demand speakers generating huge queues and lots of standing around, waiting in anticipation for the next marketing guru to create my light bulb moment! But they were worth the wait. Well worth the wait.

So, here's my round up:

• ROI is still king. Demonstrating a direct return in still uncertain times is key.
• Thinking about the whole process is crucial. Don't just do a singular instance marketing campaign and never follow up with intelligence you get from it.
• There's a social media explosion to take advantage of.
• You can always improve. Make sure you're analysing the data you get to always better your efforts.
• Make sure you're talking where your customers are listening and your message is relevant.
• Integration is advantageous. A big mash up of comms tools to carry your messages consistently and increase your customer touch points is really important.
• Customers need to be at your heart, and you need to open the communication channels to broaden the conversations you're having with them.
• If you're stuck in a queue an iPhone is a great boredom buster. I had fun with the lego photo app: View image
• B2B and SME's are under-represented and not catered for as well by marketing vendors.
• Don't be afraid. Making even the smallest changes can prove fruitful if you're nervous about taking a big leap.
• The value of place and location in other industries is beginning to really show. With several vendors demonstrating the value of geo-spatial data for marketing intelligence and decision making.
• Exhibition stands are exhibition stands. It really doesn't matter what gimmick or game you've got. You need customer friendly staff and a clear, relevant message.

Well. That's it from me. Looking forward to the social media explosion within the Geo industries.

Melissa Burns | Marketing Manager | @lissaburns

Yesterday, Geonovum released their final report on “Harmonisation of StUF and NEN3610”, a report set up to test the viability of a new schema produced by Geonovum.

The full report (in dutch) can be found here:http://www.geonovum.nl/sites/default/files/standaarden/20100115_Rapportage_harmonisatie_StUF_en_NEN3610_versie_1_0_definitief.pdf

Special Offer: Get over 25% discount on our INSPIRE training course.

We’re giving you £100 off your next training course with Snowflake Software. And with the INSPIRE legislation being a key driver for most of us in the industry, why not use the offer to get over 25% discount on our INSPIRE Essentials course.

• Publishing data to INSPIRE harmonised data specifications
• Different types of solution for transforming and publishing data to conform to INSPIRE Implementing Rules
• Making data available via different types of INSPIRE Download Services
• Publishing data and services to National and European Spatial Data Infrastructures.

• XML Primer
• GML Fundamentals
• Hands on GML
• GO Loader Fundamentals
• GO Loader Advanced
• Hands on GML with GO Publisher

Melissa Burns | Marketing Manager | melissa.burns@snowflakesoftware.com

We're really pleased to announce our sponsorship of the AGI GeoCommunity '10 event, that takes place in Stratford-upon-Avon: 28 - 30 September 2010.

http://www.agi.org.uk/pooled/articles/BF_NEWSART/view.asp?Q=BF_NEWSART_317594

With a conference theme of 'opportunities in a changing world', this year's event will focus on the use of location to deliver operational efficiency savings, identifying and delivering excellence through the use of geographic information and measuring the positive effect spatial technology, data and insight can bring.

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sflakesoftware or keep your eyes peeled on the event hash tag: #geocom.

Melissa Burns | Marketing manager | melissa.burns@snowflakesoftware.com

• There is an irreversible move towards the use of open standards to ensure effective goal achievement across the defence and intelligence communities.
• Geospatial information is not just a nice-to-have, but plays an absolutely fundamental role in the decision-making process.
• The geospatial intelligence and defence community is not much different from any other geospatial community. However, it has the slightly masochistic tendency to starting conference days very, very early in the morning.

For more information about the solutions we can offer for interoperability, visit our website: www.snowflakesoftware.com or see our solutions for Defence and National Security: http://www.snowflakesoftware.com/markets/defence/solution.htm.

Richard Rombouts | Technical Sales Manager | richard.rombouts@snowflakesoftware.com