Night at the sulky

30/04/2010

Sat down with Andrew today and sough understandings on how MaaX worked and how NSM were using it. Have to say that this is an amazing piece of software which can do remarkable things. The thing that impresses me most is the ability to really drill into detailed analysis about your query or get a more holistic approach of the same.

But, and this is true with any piece of technology, it is only as good as the person using it. Tristan is the super user when it comes to MaaX within NSM and he has been using the software for more than a year now and is really good at it. Will need to spend more time with him on Monday to see what quick wins we can get for NZ Magazines.

I also asked Chris to work through the project KPIs with me to ensure that I was going down the right path. He has kindly agreed to do that.

Sarah Sandley should be back next week so it would be great to spend some time with my mentor.

I am off to the sulky tonight and not as a spectator only but will also take part in one of the races. For those (like me) who didn’t know, a sulky is “a lightweight cart having two wheels and a seat for the driver only but usually without a body, generally pulled by horses or dogs, and is used for harness races”, (source: wikipedia).

Super cool way to end the week and catch up with some people from the Herald.

Have a great weekend… Catch you on Monday!

This is me on friday night at the Alexandra Park race course. We came fourth (Don't tell anyone that there were only four horses in that race)

Project Outbound

29 April 2010

Today Project Outbound officially begins. I started by formulating questions on what information I required for this project and also clarifying the outcomes that we required out of this project.

Chris put together a meeting with Matthew Wilson (GM Newspaper Sales and Marketing for the NZ Herald) to help us utilise existing technology within the business.

Matthew’s team have successfully utilised data mining software called MaaX to get a lot of wins for newspaper subscriptions ranging from targeted campaigns to automated welcome packs.

At the meeting, we had Matthew, Andrew Niven (Sales Operations Manager for Newspaper Sales and Marketing) and Tristran Calwell (Market Research Analyst) to outline the project and our objectives.

Step one is compiling how NSM (Newspaper Sales and Marketing) have used MaaX so far.

That starts tomorrow.

Research continues....

28 April 2010

Sat down with Chris and gave him the learning’s I sought in this block. This was quite good as Chris now has a clear idea of what I was after and which projects may be best suited to be mutually beneficial. (Tip: Be as specific as possible when noting down the learning required)

Subsequently, after going through the learnings that i seek, Chris has handed me the NZ Woman's weekly surveys that have been completed to get feedback from the market.

Currently reading the 2007 and 2010 readership survey which will give me an insight on what the perception by the readers are and areas of improvement that is sought with the rebranding exercise.
(Tip: Get copies of both competitors, Woman's day and New Idea, in front of you when reading the survey so you can compare in real time what the readers are talking about)

The readership surveys are less presentations and more encyclopaedias! Just goes on to show the amount of research that has gone into this already and how imperative the change is for this publication. It definitely makes up for a good read into the psyche of the consumer. Really important for me as I never really read any of these publications usually!

That’s all for today folks. Have a good night.

*I have decided that I am going to try and update this blog every morning so that I can capture the previous day as a whole and dont have to sit here after work trying to fill this out*

Second day

27 April 2010

Spent most of the time today reading up the remainder of the business cases. Definitely feel a lot more comfortable with the department's burning platform now and will find ways to see that relevance in my projects.

Key thing to note is the ID card situation.

I have been with APN for more than 3 years and am still finding it very difficult to get access to the NZ Mags department loaded on to my card.

The custodian is a fiery scotsman who guards the access with his life, it seems.

After a lot of debate, I have been given access to one of the elevators which "should do the job" but i wont be given access to the other door. Apparently, I do not have the required sign off. Mind boggling stuff but true! (Tip: Get this sorted first to avoid frustrations)

Back to the work stuff.... I have been highlighted 4 projects so far by Chris and have been told of one by Andrew (yet to come) and Sarah has one for me too.

For a block of 4-6 months, it may not be possible to give justice to all projects so will need to work out timelines and priorities before beginning any of these.

The buzz on the Creme magazine side is the arrival of Justin Bieber (who??!!) to the country and the subsequent interview that will be taking place.

Time to get going, its pouring outside and I didnt even bring my umbrella ugh! (Tip: Always carry your umbrella in Auckland)

New Zealand Mags - It begins......

26 April 2010 is the first day for me with NZ Mags and start of the APN Fasttrack Graduate Executive program.

Mixed feelings as I walk back into a building that I was fare welled from only a fortnight ago. Although, I will be on the fourth floor I sense a lot more expectations from me as I am from within the business.

Sarah Sandley, CEO NZ Mags had earlier sent through a most flattering email introducing me and giving an insight about this program to everyone in the department.

Met with Chris Gwin, head of subs and marketing within NZ Mags who is very switched on about the project and what he can use me for. Butterflies slowly disappearing.

Andrew Miller, advertising sales director, has asked me to join him for his weekly team meeting which gives me a chance to see how the team operate and also meet them in person.

The set up is quite unique with the sales managers responsible not only for their people and specific products that they champion but have sales targets on their own too. A most efficient system.

Initial feelings are that this is a fast paced and happy place where people seem to get along with one another.

Have been given business plans for NZ Mags and then each individual title and been asked to go through these as the starting point to get a better understanding of the business.

I have spent most of the day doing that today; Writing down questions for any and everything that doesn't make sense and have filled up about 3 pages of it. Some are jargon related, some strategies and some are just curiosity based (Tip: being ignorant is acceptable)

Also, another good thing that I have been told is that you make your own hours i.e. no one is going to sit and count the clock.

Time to go home...