Listen Listen Listen....Nando style

Another witty Nando ad in their usual tongue in 'chick' style, making use of the latest hot topic in the local scene. It's good enough for me to voluntarily click 'like' on their FB page, and decide to go to Nando's for a meal soon.

If you do not understand that, it's in response to this incident:
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/listen-listen-listen-listen-sharifah-zohra-jabeen

Update (17 Jan 2013):
Oh my. It's catching on!

Perception change

I had recently met up with a potential client who told me that they had recently changed their name from Tsunami--. Before she even explained the reason for the name change, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami crossed my mind. Even in that flitting moment, I thought that maybe it was just because I am working on Hotel Tales 2 and had recently met a hotelier who survived the horrific day. I had been researching the event, watching videos and reading up on survivors' accounts, facts and other information.

She went on to explain that it was indeed because of that tragedy that the name brought on such negative images and connotations. 

Prior to the incident, I suppose that 'tsunami' would have been associated with great strength, speed and majesty. Now, it just means death and destruction.

Other phrases or words that has undergone a perception change must therefore include 'twin towers', 'nuclear', 'earthquake', 'hurricane' and so forth. Not that the world had not seen great tragedies before, but because we are now so connected globally that almost all sad events will touch us in our own corner of the earth. So, be wary when naming your company or product. Always know what's going on in the world, especially where your clients are from. And don't be afraid to rebrand if necessary!

Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013

2012 has been exceedingly kind to me. There are many things to be grateful for on the business front.

I've had opportunities to meet new clients and complete interesting projects. My clients are fun, interesting, adventurous and prompt payers (in fact, some of them urge me to invoice them before I even intend to). They understand, without me even saying it, that small businesses have limited cash flow.

When I started, I wasn't even sure if there was a demand for copywriters that I only registered my company for one year. This year, upon expiry, I renewed the license for 3 years. Not the full 5 years allowed, simply because I do hope to convert this business into a Sdn Bhd eventually.

I've learnt  from my clients that there sorely lack good copywriters in the market (the same as, I believe, good designers) and the good ones tend not to get recognized except for a few. I aim, eventually, to have a large group of skilled writers who look beyond the words on the computer screen, be able to analyse the context that make these words some important, and that their skills are duly recognised and valued (read: paid what they are worth). I've met talented (experienced and aspiring) writers and designers, whom I hope will persevere to see the local industries recognise their worth.

So, 2012 has come and gone without the expected doomsday occurring, but as harbinger of good things to come. I ended it by finishing an online florist website - Pureseed, www.pureseed.com.my (another wonderful client!) and start 2013 with a name development project for one of my very first clients - Kytera. If there was a good time to be a writer, it is now!

Revamped mascot

As I said, I am my worst brand consultant. I can't settle and always itch to tweak, change, add or remove something. But I think this should have been done from the beginning. 

Revealing my revamped mascot!

The Word Artisan

It's a great improvement from my original stick form, and I do not know why I didn't do a better one earlier. And so, yet again, my website has something new and so will my next batch of namecards. Sarcrilege! (for branding).

Do what I preach, but don't do what I do!