Don Holley, Managing Director of Mindset said “With all the doom and gloom at the moment we really wanted to give something positive to the business community.”

“It has never been more important to have your finger on the pulse of your organisation during this period of rapid change.”

“The free survey will allow us to help managers check the mindset of their entire organisation and pinpoint areas to refocus, reshape, improve communication and manage change effectively,” said Mr Holley.

The survey will pinpoint areas to improve performance, understand the organisation’s capacity to handle change, and assist in understanding staff satisfaction levels and attitude in these uncertain economic times. It will highlight communication issues.

Each free survey is set up by Mindset to reflect the organisation individual workforce demographic. Mindset will also provide a communication document, web-link allowing the survey to be completed online, and a report detailing the results.

The survey is measured based on ten key drivers that are then interpreted by the Mindset team. Every company that takes part in the survey will receive a number of reports including positive versus negative responses report, gap analysis, statistics report, comments report and a mindset scorecard.

The Employee Engagement Survey will be available until June 30th 2009 from Mindset.

The event will bring Sydneysiders together to ignite a revolution toward a more kind, conscious and sustainable world.

The first event of Wake Up Sydney! will be an evening of casual elegance blending live music, elevating film, an inspirational guest speaker and mindful awareness – followed by wine and chocolates.

Guest speakers include John Milton, pioneering ecologist, author and first ecologist on staff at The White House, and musician Bobby Flynn.

Founder, Wake Up Sydney! Jono Fisher said “Wake Up Sydney! is part of the largest movement the world has ever seen. Millions of people, from all walks of life, are waking up to a bright new way of thinking. It is a profound revolution in human consciousness.”

“Now is the time for the tribes of Sydney to gather, collaborate, be entertained and accelerate this revolution toward a more kind, conscious and sustainable world,” said Mr Fisher.

Wake Up Sydney! will be holding events every month to entertain, renew and inspire. Each evening will explore themes such as sustainability, artistry, fair trade, presence, wisdom traditions, wellness, yoga, conscious capitalism, media and generosity.

“Also, don’t be startled if you’re struck by a random act of kindness soon. We want to build a revolution in anonymous kindness. To help spark this process, we have created beautifully designed Kindness Cards.”

“Wake Up Sydney! is inviting Sydneysiders to plant simple seeds of kindness, like bake a cake and leave it at work, send an inspiring book to someone, drop a movie voucher in your neighbour’s letterbox, or leave flowers for a colleague.”

“You do it anonymously and leave a Kindness Card behind inviting the recipient to do the same to keep the ripple flowing,” said Mr Fisher.

Watch the kindness film and order the free Kindness Cards at http://www.wakeupsydney.com.au/Free-Gifts.aspx and watch inspiration interviews with where local Sydney leaders present their inspired solutions for tomorrow. http://www.wakeupsydney.com.au/Interviews.aspx

Event information
Wake Up Sydney! Opening Night
Wednesday 1 April 2009
6.30pm - 9pm,
Chauvel Cinema, Corner of Oxford and Oatley Roads, Paddington
$30 Book tickets at www.WakeUpSydney.com.au

For media interviews please contact CP Communications

This once in a lifetime opportunity offers guests the unique opportunity to explore the Prime Minister’s residence. Historical artworks including fine Australian paintings on loan from the National Gallery and an impressive and rare collection of Australian furniture and decorative arts will be on display inside Kirribilli House.

The garden party and charity auction will see business professionals and members of parliament join personalities such as Natarsha Belling, Richard Wilkins and his daughter, Kellie Connolly, Corinne Grant, Di Smith, Jaynie Seal, Ed Phillips, Alyssa-Jane Cook, Paul Jennings and Tony Bonner for a worthy cause and an opportunity for the Bonnie Babes Foundation to increase awareness of their important community services and to raise funds to continue their vital work.

Auction items for the event have been donated by cricketer Nathan Bracken, Silverchair, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Ian Thorpe, Kirstie Marshall, Deborah Hutton, Jamie Durie, the Sydney Swans and by famed singer songwriter Sir Paul McCartney.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, “The government congratulates Bonnie Babes Foundation for the significant contribution they provide for families affected by the loss of a baby through miscarriage, through stillbirth or through premature death in the case of kids and related issues such as infertility”.

“The government also congratulates Bonnie Babes for their contribution to providing medical equipment for the care of premature babies and their support for research”, said Mr Rudd.

The Bonnie Babes Foundation is a free grief counselling service for families that have experienced the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or prematurity and related issues such as infertility. Money raised contributes to purchasing new equipment, scholarships for young researchers, special research projects involving pregnant women, and most importantly, the provision of grief counselling services Australia-wide.

Tickets
Are available to members of the public for the event Sunday 22nd March 2009 4.00pm – 7.00pm. Cost $400. To book tickets to this event, please call: 1300 266 643.

For further information:
Please contact:
Rachel Stanfield-Porter
Bonnie Babes Foundation
PH: (03) 9803 1800
E: enquiry@bbf.org.au
W: www.bbf.org.au

Her suggestions include looking at online advertising, blogging or targeting influential bloggers and keep media relations active.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers research showed that survivors of the last downturn had a common characteristic - they kept advertising and marketing through the bad times.

Yet media companies are predicting falls in advertising spending of between 2.4 per cent and 6.3 per cent across all media in 2009. For companies planning to thrive through the slump, this is great news. Their ad dollar is more likely to be effective.

“It is a less-cluttered environment for advertising,” the chief executive of online marketing and search engine company Ansearch, David Burden, says.

Online ads are expected to increase by 15 per cent next year. At the same time, newspaper ads may fall by 12.2 per cent and capital-city free-to-air television ads by 8 per cent.

Burden says online marketing trounces print ads because advertisers know precisely how many people click on their ad and pay only when they do so.

The latest trend goes beyond online ads to tap into the blogosphere’s power to influence. Some marketing companies offer to map the influential bloggers relevant to their clients’ products or services.

Focus on building media relations activity because not only does it bring profile & credibility but it  is one of the least expensive ways to get noticed.

“There is nothing like it on the market,” said Valerie Khoo, director of the Sydney Writers’ Centre. “Participants stay in their very own apartment in Paris. They attend writing classes in the morning and can explore this amazing city in the afternoon. They also get one-on-one mentoring from Patti Miller.”

Australian-based, French-speaking Patti Miller is author of the best-selling Writing Your Life, the most popular text for life writing in Australia, as well as The Last One Who Remembers, Child, Whatever The Gods Do and The Memoir Book. Patti is a former resident of Paris and offers a valuable insight not only into the world of writing, but the city itself.

“The Sydney Writers’ Centre is thrilled to be able to offer this program,” said Valerie Khoo. “We are committed to creating a magical program for participants that they will never forget. It’s a boutique experience that combines learning, travel and creativity.”

The Sydney Writers’ Centre and Patti Miller are working with specialist travel company, Aureol Tours, who have previously hosted tours such as writer David Dale and acclaimed chef Lucio Galletto to Italy.

“We’ve had hundreds of enquiries about this tour even before our official launch,” said Valerie. “These days, many people aren’t just looking to travel, they want to travel with purpose. They want a reason to travel to a particular destination or feel like they are being productive while they are there. This tour was created with that in mind.”

However, people can expect more that croissants and writing exercises. Patti Miller’s success rate among her students is unequalled. She has mentored 16 books to commercial publication. These include: Jenny Kee’s A Big Life; Annarosa Berman’s Sex at Six O’Clock; Kate Shayler’s The Long Way Home and Caroline Jones’ An Authentic Life. Former participant Pamela Bradley went to learn Writing in Paris with Patti Miller in 200X. Last year, the journey she started in her Parisian apartment, culminated in the release of her book Nefertiti Street last year.

“Writing in Paris 2009” 23 October to 7 November 2009. Early bird prices start at $4,893 for land content only. For more information or to arrange an interview with Patti Miller or Valerie Khoo visit: www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au

Our plan is simple bring your own lunch and join a group of interesting people to support International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) charity and network with likeminded people.

Entry is free, gold coin asked to help cover room rental costs and donations to IWDA will be collected separately.

Registration here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/294699454

Date:  Friday, March 6, 2009

Time:  12:15pm - 2:15pm

Location: Sydney Mechanics School of the Arts
Level 1, 280 Pitt St
Sydney, Australia

Mobile internet users are passionate influencers, the sort of consumers that every marketer wants to reach. They’re willing to spend money on their interests and recommend the best of what they find to their friends.

There are plenty of sources of trusted Australian data that could be converted to an app.
Every country has its own needs and cultural aspects. There are lots of niches out there. At this seminar you have the opportunity hear from Australia’s most successful iPhone app developer.

Also applications don’t have to be expensive and can actually make money. In the US Kraft has persuaded thousands of iPhone owners to buy an app that markets Kraft’s foods: Kraft’s customers are paying Kraft to have Kraft products marketed to them.

In Australia ANZ, Westpac, St George and others have also entered the mobile ecosystem with branded applications on the iPhone.

This seminar is for you if:
•    you are looking for new, inexpensive ways to reach customers
•    you want practical advice from speakers who have done it
•    you want to meet mobile app developers, including the developer whose Australian iPhone app tops the charts
•    you want a clear understanding of the next steps for your business

Speakers
Shane Williamson - Mobile Convergence Evangelist
Graham Dawson - creator of the top rating Oz Weather iPhone app
Keith Ahern - CEO of MoGeneration one of the leading Australian iPhone development companies with 5 high profile iPhone web apps released in 2008

Find out more at our Entering the Mobile Ecosystem seminar in Sydney on 3 March 2009.

Date: 03 March 2009
Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 noon
Location:  Sydney Mechanics School of the Arts
Level 1, 280 Pitt Street Sydney
Registrations: http://silfed01.eventbrite.com/

The Holographic Virtual Assistant comes in the form of a lifesize, virtual installation with the holographic effect created using 3M’s dynamic Vikuiti™ rear projection film and rear mounted video projector technology. With the unique characteristics of the Vikuiti™ film and PDM’s expert digital content capabilities, PDM have transformed a 10 mm thick piece of perspex into a virtual, talking person.

The Holographic Virtual Assistant provides Audi with an exciting and unique platform to promote targeted messages to customers whilst they visit the dealership and offers customers an entertaining way to gather product knowledge and information about Audi’s offering.  The result is a customer experience seen nowhere else in the country.

PDM Creative and Planning Director, Julie Frikken says, “The possibilities in the Out-of-Home sector have exploded over the last few years and PDM have consistently embraced new technologies to engage with an increasingly desensitised consumer. We have led the way with innovation in the Australian marketplace and Audi’s Holographic Virtual Assistant is a great example of this.”

She continues, “Building on our expertise within this media, PDM’s digital content capabilities and forward thinking approach mean we can drive good ideas into fabulous business strategies for companies like Audi.”

Allan Brinck, Dealer Principal, Audi Centre Sydney says, “The Audi brand prides itself on innovation and quality and being a progressive brand, we are once again leading the way with this cutting-edge installation.  We have been aware of PDM’s track record of innovation in the Australian marketplace for quite some time.  The Virtual assistant is a great way for us to connect with our customers and a great example of Audi’s progressive brand coming to life.”

-ENDS-

About PDM
Prime Digital Media (PDM) is Australia’s Number One Out-of-Home Digital (OOHD) media company, providing end-to-end solutions to its clients. The company provide retailers and marketers with innovative ways to target and engage the new, media-savvy consumer. PDM control Australia’s largest, centrally managed OOHD network, delivering dynamic, relevant, visually appealing messages to retail environments via plasma and LCD screens. The company’s in-store retail networks showcase The Home Electronics Network, The Lifestyle Network and The Wellbeing Network. PDM centrally manage and produce content for Telstra’s in-store T [life] and T-shop retail network, TelstraTV. Fireback Digital, PDM’s subsidiary content agency, produce the most digital screen content in Australia and have collected the most awards for doing so. PDM’s OOHD network is the first Quick Response (QR) enabled network in Australia. PDM is the first Australian OOHD media company to completely offset its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to become carbon neutral.
For more information, please visit www.primedigitalmedia.com

Sending a regular email or enewsletter is it a great way to share your stories, it can also be a powerful marketing tool providing useful information to the reader while indirectly promoting your business.

•    Your database. The first step is to create a database of people to send the email to. This can be as simple as collecting names of people you meet and your customers (asking if they would like to receive your newsletter). Keep their names in one location, in a word document or even in a paper folder.

•    Make it regular. People like to hear your news, so keep the enewsletter regular. There is no point in sending out an enewsletter when ever you get around to it. It should be at least once a month.

•    Make it relevant. The content obviously needs to be appealing to your readership. Have a think about what type of information they may find interesting. Under no circumstances use the opportunity to sell to your readers. It is about creating a sense of community and sharing your expertise with them. Keep your articles short and keep your sentences and paragraphs short. Use plain language and always check for spelling and typos before sending it.

•    Make it easy to read. The layout needs to be easy to read. Many people just scan enewsletters to find the stories that interest them.  Stats shows that 51 seconds is all we usually spend scanning an e-newsletter and most people won’t read past the first three items on your list.

•    Importantly include a table of contents at the top of the e-newsletter so readers can decide what to read.

•    Never spam. Always ask people to opt in to receive the newsletter. So make it easy to subscribe and unsubscribe. Frustrated subscribers are not likely to return. There must be a simple Unsubscribe link. The email must clearly state the sending organisation and why it was sent.

Sydney PR Agency, CP Communications provides specialist media, traditional and online PR strategies that get amazing results. Contact us today. For more PR tips see www.PublicRelationsSydney.com.au