Yes indeed, these are exciting times. We are inching towards a fully digitalised world, all thanks to the rapid advancement in technology.  But this comes with its own set of challenges that confront every part of the society and business is no exception. Businesses have had to evolve strategies and embrace new technologies to keep pace with this rapid transformation be it the increasing use of AI  and automation for a variety of purposes,  the use of various software, 3 D printing, collaborative consumption etc. What is the issue ? But one issue that continues to remain steadfastly in the current fast moving digital era, is the issue of talent sharing across domains. Even as the employment landscape and norms are changing with the emergence of the gig economy and businesses themselves are resorting to the contractual method of work on an increasing scale it is pertinent to ask how fair is it to restrict the natural flow of talent possessed by profe...

A leader who thinks and brings his thoughts to reality impacting several people to learn, inspire, create with his innovative ideas, while demonstrating change and replicating success, at a larger scale comes under Thought Leadership. Such people bring about a radical shift in innovation [1] , design and vision by affecting industries and also entire ecosystems. They revolutionize their surroundings to such a large extent, simply by what they do, that they automatically enroll more and more people to join in their efforts. Thought Leaders are learned and informed people, sometimes with years of research and knowledge under their belt as well as experts in their domain. Their stories are covered widely, contributing to the success they are today. By de facto standards, one looks-up to successful people. It is but natural for human beings to ‘Follow the Leader’ but more so, as it is ingrained in our psyche through several systems such as education, psychology, business modalities, semi...

It’s a friction-ridden era. Markets are staring at a slowdown and layoffs could be rampant. In fact, pink slips are already around. Startups like OYO and WeWork have already laid off thousands of their employees. According to a New York Times estimate, over 30 global Startups have fired more than 8, 000 professionals in the last few months owning to a downturn in business. It’s sort of a norm with today’s employers to fire during slowdowns and hire again during an uptake. But this hire-and-fire policy does not bode well for Startups, SMEs and upcoming ventures that need talent, especially at the C-level, in quick succession to churn out compelling results. Startups need experienced hands to steer their fledgling ship through a choppy ocean. From Chief Marketing Officers, Chief Sales Officers, Chief Sustainability Officers to Chief Data, Information, Technology and Executive Officers; C-suite titleholders strategize, manage revenues and operations, and ensure the organisation ...

The concept that’s working hard around the work is all about not working hard! For simple understanding it goes by the name of gig! So why is gig rocking? People step out of the confines of stable jobs for the same reason why they jump of planes and hurtle through thin air strapped to parachutes! Its bloody exciting: as you surge through vast open spaces, air rushing past your stretched skin, your mind pushes possibilities to unimaginable limits. Its freedom to think, live, perform as you please with no barriers. It’s like an exhilarating trapeze act, swinging from one hoop to another, each taking you to a new high-- risky but protected by a safety net. People are kicking full time jobs and embracing gig because they hate being handcuffed by office rules or spending fixed hours in glass enclosures. It’s a concept that takes work out of the stuffy boxes of employment and liberates the sort of animal spirits that are disrupting businesses and rewriting rules everywhere. ...

ABC for Technology a Bangalore-based Edutech bellwether has hired OCMO to helm its marketing & growth function. ABC is a new-age professional training school that creates, curates and imparts knowledge designed to prime grads for employment in the IT industry. The online and offline courses are in Java, Python, Testing, Data Science and Full-Stack. ABC’s programs are marked by their relevance to current and future industry needs and instructional simplicity. The courses prepare young grads for entry and fast growth in leading IT companies. For expanding its foothold in this highly competitive business arena, ABC was looking for a partner with a proven track record, a flexible, cost-effective delivery model and vast experience. It’s search ended with OCMO because it’s unique co-hire model checked all its boxes. The model is a win-win proposition as it gives ABC the services of a seasoned marketing veteran and his entire network of resources to both engineer a...

Talent for various business activities is becoming scares in most countries and marketing is no exception to this rule. By 2030, demand for skilled professionals will outstrip supply and the world would be staring at a talent shortage of over 85.2 million people, according to a study by US-based global organisational consulting firm Korn Ferry. But how does the world, more specifically the countries that face talent crunch get over this shortage?  This talent shortage is corroborated by other surveys as well. Manpower Group’s Talent Shortage Report says that globally, 45% of all the employers surveyed are struggling to scout for the right talent. According to this very survey while 32% of US employers experienced talent shortages in 2015 it rose to 46% in 2018. A similar picture emerges for senior level professionals too, with 40 per cent of the companies facing a shortage of talent at the senior management level, according to Aon Talent Acquisition s...

It is no secret that India is the top outsourcing destination in the world. In a US survey, 82% of US based companies voted for India as their most preferred choice for software outsourcing. It has also become the preferred destination for IT outsourcing with approximately 65% of all outsourced IT jobs, according to Booth & Partners. This same model of outsourcing can be gainfully used by companies to source digital marketing services from leading edge professionals based in India. The huge cost advantage that India offers over the US and other Western economies for comparable world-class services should in itself make outsourcing a winning proposition at a time when efficiency more than any other factor stands between the life and death of most businesses. But that’s just the start: With Partners like Outsourced CMO dedicating proven digital marketing specialists with years of quality experience to these companies the India deal becomes pretty much irresistible. ...

Environmental degradation has been hitting the headlines across the globe for quite some years now. Corporates, governments and consumers are beginning to realize that unsustainable production poses a grave danger to mankind.   This realization has lately given an unprecedented boost to green consumerism that started as an idea in the Western societies way back in the 60s and 70s. The impulse to go green is gaining momentum among consumers. Nielsen’s 2015 Global Corporate Sustainability Report says, 66% of consumers would spend more on a product if it came from a sustainable brand. Up to 73% of the surveyed millennials had a similar view and this trend continues.    It is no surprise that Millennials, often called the green generation are driving the sustainable movement.   According to a globalwebindex study done in 2018 over 60% of Millennials (aged 22-35 years) say that they are ready to pay extra for eco-friendly products, closely followed by Ge...

Over years marketing adapted well to changing times. From the Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers to Gen X and Gen Y, every period in time has heralded its own marketing challenges. Even so, the challenges posed by Gen Z to marketers are incomparable, as it is the first ‘digital native generation,’ a population that has never seen a world without the Internet and digital technology. The denizens of Gen Z have integrated technology seamlessly into their lives.   This necessarily means that any company   wanting to win today must make full use of the Internet and the social media and must be digitally accessible at all times. But why is Gen Z so important for marketers? Well, for starters Gen Z represents USD 44 billion in purchasing power, as reported by the “Uniquely Gen Z” study conducted by the IBM Institute for Business Value.  The Gen Z is a market of high but fickle spenders with no strong brand loyalties, the study found. Seventy five per c...

Wiley a US $ 2 billion publishing legend based in the US, has hired OCMO to market Wiley Nxt, a new age initiative that harnesses its massive knowledge creation and distribution strengths to upskill engineering grads for jobs in top IT companies. This year of the more than 1.5 million young people who will graduate from engineering schools in India less than 1% will be hired by the Top-20 companies in India’s most sought-after IT industry. This is because most graduates are not job-ready when they leave their colleges. With its legendary strengths in knowledge creation and learning solutions, Wiley is unveiling a powerful job-readiness program in India in collaboration with industry and business leaders to addresses this widening skill gap, called WileyNxt. For marketing this service in a highly competitive business landscape, the USD 2 billion transnational corporation has chosen Outsourced CMO because it wanted seasoned marketing experts for this initiative. Wiley ap...

A consumer’s decision to purchase a product or service is dictated by several rational factors like pricing, utility, affordability, reviews and comparisons. But beyond such tangibles there is one factor that every marketer needs to be aware of: EMOTIONS! Why would people otherwise choose expensive branded products over their exact generic equivalents selling at a fraction of their price? Emotions typically operate on a level of irrationality, that is both undefinable and undeniable. The author of Descartes Error Antonio Damasio argues in his book that emotions are an essential ingredient in almost all decisions. He says, whenever we have to take a decision our past related experiences come into play. These emotions create preferences depending on the options we are considering, leading to a decision.   That is why you hate going to a restaurant the second time when your first experience is not good or you prefer to buy a certain kind or brand of shoes, p...