When we began 2009 we were prepared for a tough year, as a management team we sat down for two days to prepare our strategic direction and survival plan. We have taken the time every month to monitor and review performance and client feedback and success.
I am delighted to end the year feeling exhausted for all the right reasons. As a team we have grown, as a company had our most successful to date in the last 10 years and as a person I have begun to feel free again. Running your own business is a roller coaster of emotions and challenges so it is critical to maintain a self belief so strong it can withstand any cross fire.

Our talented team of 10 superstars has made sure we retained our clients whilst acquiring new ones that fit our strategic model. We’ve branded and launched 16 companies, re-branded 8 businesses, built 35 websites, produced 8 promotional videos including filming across Europe, we have continued to be the strategic marketing department and partner for 6 growing businesses, run a brilliant public vintage fayre, worked over 16,000 hours, drunk over 5,900 mugs of coffee & green tea, sent over 16,200 emails (not campaigns just day-to-day messages) ran 29 workshops for about 150 people, presented to more than 100 young entrepreneurs, shot over 13,000 photographs, and spent more than 2,000 hours on Facebook! And had a lot of fun doing it all!

We do what we do because we love it and we’re damn good at it! We like to be challenged and valued. We get stuck in and deliver results; we like freedom and learning and strive to be the best in our world.

But do you know what made my year? Reading this…

“I would just like to thank you and your whole team for the level of service, commitment, attention to detail and timely actions that you have all taken to give ooops.net limited that paradigm shift required of a business entering its eighth year of trading. As you know we are a five strong team at this moment in time and with your continued help I am sure within the year we will be an eight strong team! I am impressed with RT Media’s integrity; each and every member of your team are free to say what they think, to express themselves with a zealous passion for putting us first. This ensures we know we are getting the whole truth and nothing but the truth – important to winning! You are like an honest “coach” and “mentor” to us. I am impressed with RT Media’s creativity, I know it is your pre-requisite but there are a great many of your competitors out there that are not! I am impressed with RT Media’s strategic vision, able to see beyond the horizon, helping us let go of the shore! Ensuring we don’t waste money now, saving for the opportunities that will give the greatest return on investment in future. An example of this is our stopping of our Press advertising and moving into Social Media that is FREE! All in all – I’m as chuffed as nuts with you all!”
Paul Booker – Founder of ooops.net limited

Well done to the whole team for a year to remember. I am looking forward to making 2010 even better.

Thanks to all who take the time to think of us, work with us and recommend us.
Ross.
Founder & Creative Director.

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To-do lists are an essential daily tool!

Not only do they organise our day, but they cross over and affect other people’s tasks as we interact and help each other out. They may not bring joy to those who are constantly nagged by electronic reminders, but they do serve the purpose.

Once a goal or task becomes part of a to-do list, it can feel more concrete/critical/real/important – take your pick. It can be invaluable to break down seemingly insurmountable undertakings, into bite-sized chunks of effort. For instance, my little daily to-do list often blossoms into the semblance of a fully fledged project and with the combined effort of the RT Team becomes reality!

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… and it’s not for a bath company either, it’s for me!

I just had news yesterday that my after completing my Chartered Management Institute course earlier this year, that I have passed. I am therefore, now a qualified and chartered manager, therefore you have to do as I say.

So… mine’s a black tea, no sugar please I’m bitter!

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Well, it’s been a while since I posted so I’m going to hit you with a double post today. Right here. Right now!

As many of you know, I am probably the wackiest blog poster that you know, and some of you just don’t get where I’m coming from, so what follows will no doubt surprise you all!

I take my work seriously and I also take the next wave of new competitors (who are currently still in school) very seriously also! I believe competition is what keeps people on their toes, trying harder and coming up with better ideas and designs. I have a lot of time for young people, especially those who in today’s easily influenced climate make choices to be hard working and upstanding. It is because of this that I chose to implement a formal work experience program into the company about 3 years ago.

In the time we have been doing this, we have become very well recognised and respected, and highly sought after amongst the local educational establishment, both mainstream and higher education! It always makes me happy to have helped people in making such important decisions as which holiday destinations to avoid, what foods require the extractor fan on when cooking, and what career path to start on through life and how best to achieve it. I take great pleasure when looking through my lever-arch of thank you letters and what-not, in knowing that we have if nothing else, provided a young person with an experience with which they can make an informed decision based on knowledge, rather than the fear of failing, as is too often laid down in education!

Recently I was contacted about my work experience antics by a local school and business and enterprise specialist college, to ask if I would join in a video conference on web design, with a class of their students. Obviously I jumped at the chance to do it. And a week later, over the course of an hour, I was verbally sniped from many directions with some pretty intelligent and sometimes tricky questions! They ranged from directly relevant to their project work, to far broader subjects encompassing design rules! It was great to do, and nice to know that we have helped in a very literal and immediate way!

Bet you didn’t expect that did you!

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Too many people I meet think a brand is a logo… it’s not! A brand is term which covers everything someone uses to make a judgment on you or your company. Yes the identity is part of this from the colour you choose, to the name, the language in your copy. But opinions are formed from the personality of your staff, the messages and communications you send out, your prices, who else uses you and so many more.

However be careful, because if you are saying one thing and doing another then you are damaging your brand. That gut feeling your prospects and customers have about you.

Building a successful brand requires Integrated Brand Communication:

This is about effectively using the the marketing mix to convey a specific message to a desired audience. It’s both a process and a plan that looks at the needs and desires of the audience, the key messages to be imparted and then the most appropriate channels to communicate them. These channels can include sales, promotion, public relations, advertising and loads more.

This will lead to your best chance of influencing that gut feeling someone has about you. Their memory of what and how you do what you do. Then after awareness, understanding comes interaction and ultimately if you get it right recommendation.

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Why hello again! It’s your friend and mine… me, with Blog 2.0 (Which requires either Windows XP Service Pack 6,091, or Mac OSX 10.5.6.9.4.5 (v2)).

Today I’m going to have a light float and a PoolBlog (©). I have my lilo ready and i hope yours is too! Hop in, the water’s good…

<SPLASH>
- Adobe… Photoshop Express. Good show, well done. But you remain unforgiven about the slice palette!
- Accuradio.com – ideal net radio for the summer – and various other moods and season(ing)s
</SPLASH>

Sorry i left my Slush Puppy on the side by the BBQ.

<SPLASH>
- Hmm. Apple, I love you as if you were a fruit that i had raised from a pip! But your super mouse! It has a ball. I thought Planet Earth agreed that balls in mice were cheese! Although i did find an extremely interesting “how to take apart to clean (whilst invalidating your warranty)” tutorial. So thanks for that.
- Ahem. Don’t like “social”? Don’t Facebook? There’s always Web 6.6.6(!) in the form of http://www.hatebook.org
</SPLASH>

I think next time maybe we can go on a HuntingBlog (©) – if you’re good.

Thanks for consuming, see you at the edge of the tree line next for Blog Combat!

J

Now, hand me the towel before anyone notices that my trunks have floated off!

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On Tuesday we changed our boardroom into a filming studio. It was great fun working on a training DVD for Sony. The script, graphics, filming, editing and production will be completed within 3 weeks from winning the work.

I am looking forward to editing together all the ‘BO***CKS’ fluff ups into one clip, which I hope to get the thumbs up from Amy to post on u-tube

Amy has worked with us on a few Sony projects including presenting at ISE www.iseurope.org She is an excellent presenter all ‘BO***CKS’ forgiven! check out her site here: www.amygarciaofficial.com

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We hosted the Bowshot Vector group strategic workshop. With tip top food supplied by our friends at ‘The Coventry Arms‘ The best food in town!

Bowshot I belong to an active community of high-potential entrepreneurs in Dorset who meet every month to work together on transforming our businesses for substantial gain. This sharpens my strategic planning skills and my insight benefits the 16 dynamic member’s organisations

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