Half-way through ‘Squared Online’ a new challenge was lying ahead; compile a multi-channel plan (with focus on digital practices) for Squarelle Tonacity! A brand new, high-end, DIY, multi-tonal home hair colouring product, accompanied with a bespoke application tool, which helps busy professionals get salon-quality results at their own homes.
Source: Squarelle Tonacity – Group 12
Than never! Part of our Squared Online Module 2 was to come up with a successful new online business idea; our ideas had to be creative, demonstrate innovation and relevancy, and show an in depth understanding of our client’s needs and branding objectives.
Every Squared was allocated to a group, and had to start interacting with his peers in order get to know one another, propose an original business idea and vote for the one that we could all see work! So, apart from coming up with an original idea that would potentially work and produce great results, the true challenge was to work in harmony and peace within a diverse team of nine Squares!
As expected, many strong business ideas were presented, which could be successful in the real world. And after several Hangouts and Google+ discussions, we’ve finally decided: let there be ‘Pitchalicious’! A cloud based web application that allows users to create and share rich media pitches to win new clients or business, following a Software as a Service (SaaS) revenue model.
Source: signup.pitchalicious.com
‘Pitchalicious’ has to be fresh and new and different in order to succeed in a very competitive market, with well-established players. In order to tackle this difficulty, we knew that our product had to be unique. We tried to identify those characteristics that would help us diversify our product from the rest of the pack. A fresh, user-friendly product with an intelligent and well-rounded support team, and a very active community which will offer valuable tips and networking opportunities.
Our objective is to attract the entire working population – particularly small and agencies and freelancers. We strongly believe that there is some serious investment potential here, particularly with regards to the size and accessibility of the target market. And even though we aim high in terms of investment capital, I strongly believe that our team presents a viable business idea, which shows serious prospects, and would soon attract investors!
Are you interested?
And as expected, Squared Online started with a BANG on Bonfire night, with Chris Perks, Aiden Carroll and Nick Watt greeting everyone. The first – unofficial – day was more about getting to know our tutors and start communicating with our fellow Squares, understand what the programme is all about and get acquainted with the tools we’ll be using for the duration of the process.
Source: mashable.com
So “welcome to the [r]evolution”! Squared Online is a strategic and not a tactical course, which will provide a deeper understanding of how an all-around digital strategy is formulated. It’s clear what to expect from the course and what is expected from us in return. And, therefore, the quote “empowering today’s and tomorrow’s leaders to drive the industry [r]evolution” must have stuck in everyone’s mind! “With great power comes great responsibility” and everyone seems ready to take up this challenge!
Apart from some mind blowing data, Sarah Tate, Programme Lead, provided some great examples of the previous alumni or her personal work within Google, explaining why it’s so important to clearly communicate our skills. She suggested that we should always be ready to fail! Failure is OK and a great opportunity to learn. Since I’m not sure whether or not I could use her amazing example, I’m quoting this:
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”
– Albert Einstein
Are you a T-shaped professional? Have you got the skills needed? The importance of the concept, which depicts the combination of deep knowledge in a specific subject and the ability to work with experts in different fields, was thoroughly discussed. A person’s ability to network and communicate is vital; present-day and future professionals have to possess these skills to drive themselves, their colleagues and their businesses/government bodies/research establishments forward.
Source: mashable.com
Aiden Carroll wanted us to evaluate the impact of digital media and think about what defines our digital lives, how digitally oriented we are in what we do. Digital thinking is all about interacting in a way that incorporates all those changes on our lives by our experience of today’s networked society. But how do we react on those constant changes in social practices online? The Squared Online video of Neil Perkin, founder of Only Dead Fish, provided us with examples of how quickly social engagement and behaviour has changed, and how easy it is to stay behind if you’re not ready to keep on top of those changes. However, the thing that struck me the most was the interaction amongst Squares after watching this 60 minute video! Thoughts are being shared freely in our small community, and it’s more than interesting to examine the same topic from so many different angles. Interaction and direct communication between Squared peers is a common thing during live classes as well; everyone has something truly useful to propose and share, from an interesting social media article or a tutorial video to a handful of neat tips and tricks for our projects.
And for me, that is what this course is all about; communication, cooperation and interaction. Stay tuned!
“We have technology, finally, that for the first time in human history allows people to really maintain rich connections with much larger numbers of people.”
– Pierre Omidyar, Founder of eBay
Source – vimeo.com | Flux Design Labs
Over the past decade, the evolution of digital has completely changed the way people communicate, learn and buy. Digital is a such a fast paced world that even its most experienced professionals struggle to keep up with all those constant changes among its numerous disciplines.
And you know something? So am I! Even though I’m still a newbie to all these exciting new things and, frankly, quite scared sometimes, I am very excited about what lies ahead.
I chose Squared Online because of its holistic view of digital marketing; I am confident that it will give us a clear understanding of what a business’ objectives are, supply us with the fundamentals of digital marketing and also provide the know-how to run truly effective marketing campaigns.
And what about my fellow Squares? An amazingly varied group of people! As you have probably guessed, digital marketing students tend to come from all sorts of academic and professional backgrounds: advertising and architecture, engineering and design, publishing and entrepreneurship. People who aspire to apply all the digital marketing skills from the course to their current or future roles. All I can say is that I hope I’ll get to know and work with as many people as I can during the process.
I’m already sure by now that the course will not only help me build and optimise new skills, but it will also provide chances to put them to use in a commercial environment from day one!
keeping it squared 