Commentary

There’s a lot of buzz about engaging customers using social media, and marketers in Singapore are beginning to embrace the idea a solid digital marketing strategy requires more than Facebook, Twitter, and other established public social media sites can offer.

You’ve heard it before – the war to dominate the online space is all about content, because that’s what people are interested in.

One would assume that a business would aim to impress their customers, and in times of dissatisfaction, find a way to ensure their customers are not aggrieved, in order to maintain customer loyalty. However, despite the rise in competition and the evolving psychology of buying behaviour today , little is being done to remedy the global problem of ‘mediocre customer service’.

Career progression is important to all Singaporean professionals as it offers them the opportunity to develop their skills and broaden their experience. You can achieve this through an internal promotion with your current employer or by seeking external job opportunities.

“The secret of success is to understand the point of view of others,” said the US carmaker Henry Ford, a man who knew a few things about corporate growth. Ford’s advice is especially worth remembering at a time when businesses of all sizes are looking for growth opportunities overseas.

Why outsourcing strategies need to be underpinned by human resource planning. It is said that Henry Ford invented modern capitalist society when he raised his worker's wages to an unprecedented US$5 a day.

Happiness is the key to productivity and learning is the key to happiness.

International Women’s Day is an annual global celebration of women in the world today. Amid the celebrations, we also take time to reflect on what we women have achieved and what more we can do.

Brand pages are changing forever: On 30th March 2012 our Facebook Pages are converted to Timeline, whether we like it or not. What this all boils down to for you is; risks if you are not ready, but great opportunities if you plan ahead. This is a new era for brands on Facebook. We have mapped it out carefully in this guide. Use this as a starting point for a conversation on how to respond. 1. The Big Splash: Cover Photo The cover photo is the first thing people will see when they visit your page, the big chance to make an impact. There are strict guidelines on how it can be used so do check Facebook’s guidelines. Opportunities: The new larger, striking visual can create an impressive impact. The cover photo should be updated regularly to showcase new products and services. Risks: On the 30th March 2012, the page will switch to the new format immediately. If the cover photo isn’t uploaded and activated before then it will leave the page looking somewhat neglected. 2. Old vs. New: Tabs and Apps The format for tabs and apps has changed considerably. You may only display a maximum of three apps/tabs on the front page at any one time. Crucially, default landing tabs (commonly referred to as Fan-Gates) no longer work.

Eco-friendly workplaces in Singapore have happier and productive employees when they perceive their companies as environmentally responsible.

Singapore’s economy is often cited as Asia’s “coal mine pigeon”; although Singapore is a smaller and newer economy than its counterparts (China, Japan, and India), its progressive financial and trade policies has allowed it to become the most dynamic member of the region.

Entrepreneurs residing in Singapore and Hong Kong experience no burdensome taxes, according to a paper published by Grant Thornton.

Even in Singapore, far from the mountains of Uganda and the San Diego headquarters of the Invisible Children nonprofit, the #kony2012 viral campaign has spread like wildfire. Despite debate over the movie and nonprofit’s merit, one thing is clear: they “did produce a hell of a video.”

Singapore is renowned not only as a trading hub but also becoming a luxury shopper paradise. Currently, ranked 7th worldwide, Singapore swiss watch imports grew by more than 33.9% from 2010 same period. The Singapore swiss watch market was valued at 98.7 million CHF.

There are now more millionaires in Asia-Pacific than in Europe and their numbers are nearing that of North America. According to the latest Capgemini Asia-Pacific Wealth Report there are 3.3 million high net worth individuals (HNWI’s) in Asia Pacific with a combined wealth of US$10.8 trillion and these numbers continue to grow faster than in any other region.

Mixed Signals in Sales Activity 2011 ended with December having the least monthly number of private residential units that were sold by developers in the past 2 years. Only 937 units were launched by developers in December, and only 632 units were sold.