It was the most astonishing wins in recent times at the Oz GP where for the first time in several decades a brand new team won the GP as 1 & 2, they began from pole at the same positions, though the last few minutes had some crazy drama thus by enabling the position to be maintained the same way, else Rubens would have just been in points. But what a GP it was, after a long time we are seeing that F1 is delivering serious value for drivers who wish to compete at the highest level, the new technical changes with the Kinetic Energy coming in and also getting to slick tyres and some serious aero changes are enabling the pilots to overtake at some crazy speeds, which as a spectacle was over long time back, but cost cutting and competition for lesser known private teams has made the FIA and F1 administration to look at these requests and change the way the entire event is.

Just in November due to the global recession and drop in car sales in the US for Honda, which apparently was their largest market, they withdrew from most motor racing events and the first big ticket item to shut was Honda’s facility and team in UK.

This after they had hired on of the most astute engineers in the business, Ross Brawn, whose record has been impecable right from his Benetton days till his Ferrari days where he was single handedly responsible for Micheal Schumacher’s incredible run towards 7 Driver Championship titles.

It was a very emotional moment to see the team actually race at Oz, with no sponsors, no budgets, over 300 people retrenched, things were not easy for this team, they got unconditional support from Honda to get the entire team transfered to Ross and Nick and they managed to pull off a miracle, with a custom Mercedes engine they romped home to a serious victory.

Honda might be hitting themselves on what they might have witnessed yesterday, it wss unbelievable, from this season, engines play very little role and its the aero thats bringing in all the changes and even after educing the engine dynamics, the cars are beating every possible lap times with sheer aero brilliance.

This team was over and out, as much as how super aguri went midway last season but Ross, Jenson and Rubens had other ideas, they were supremely convinced that their product was going to be a winner and a birdy actually tells me that it was only after the Friday free practice session that Richard Branson was convinced that this team is going to go a long way and committed to their cause in full.

What a touch and go scenario but what do these men have in common? Terrific belief, supreme experience, tremendous passion and a will to WIN - what a victory it was for these men of honor - kudos Ross, you bring in tremendous power to people like us who are running on similar traits.

Rock on!!!

19th March, 2009…. What a memorable day it was for Networkplay! First extending the exclusive representation deal with Makemytrip and later in the evening officially signing up with Linkedin to exclusively represent them in India .

I think it was one of the best days we had during the last 5 months we have been in business.

Just like Linkedin, partnering Makemytrip was very important for us as we all know they attract the most sought after high-flying transaction audience in the country with an average booking value of Rs.6000 and above.

Thanks to Mr.Sachin Bhatia of Makemytrip for the unhinged support he gave us in making this happen. He is one of the few people in this industry who understands the “brand” internet.

Most importantly, kudos to our Sales team! They logged in some mega numbers for MMT last quarter which made the whole process of sign-up inevitable!

many more to come ….

Cheers

Sales is not Just about delivering the deliverables to Client but Adding Value to the package.

In today’s scenario of Global meltdown & ever shrinking budget for marketing activities of any organization, ad sales have also taken a new dimension.
Gone are the good old days where sales would typically confine around aligning addressing the right audience by providing a right platform & charging an affordable or lucrative price to the client. Clients used to look forward to a platform that address to their target audience comprehensively, where by they can percolate their message at the right time and all these that come with a right price tag. Later specific targeting & campaign monitoring tools gave them a whole lot of satisfaction, as they can now know exactly who they are reaching to, how often & how their money is being utilized or appropriated by the publisher / Media house. Hence the birth of CPC & CPL concepts came into being.

But in today’s scenario of Global melt down, where clients are cutting down on costs, be it on employee cost or marketing cost, the stress is evident on reducing on excess overheads. Moreover the focus has also changed drastically from future business generation to acquiring of immediate business. Clients are now focusing more on immediate business rather than reaping profits which would culminate in a longer time frame. Hence their need has also changed in terms of any marketing activity. In such a situation ‘Ad sales’ has got a new meaning. Right media platform with right price tag cannot guarantee a deal as clients are not just looking forward to the regular approach but they are looking for more. In such a situation adding value to the package in every possible way can only guarantee a deal & continuance of a business relationship. By value addition I mean ‘Augmentation’, where client get something above their expectation in deal or package, where they feel benefited. Value addition is again a relative thing as it differs from person to person & client to client. For example one may find value in the form of competitive pricing others may not. Hence finding out the right value quotient is important & that is possible only by feeling the pulse of the client.

Hence in the present market scenario Sales is not just about delivering the deliverables but augmenting the package thru value addition.

The most memorable trip of mine to the US would be this for sure, I am penning this after 1 full week of my return and what an exhilarating, adrenalin rushed visit this was.
 
In all my previous visits, I have had the privilege of being part of a large NASDAQ listed company in Yahoo!, which took care of their employees so well that I didn’t know anything about the roads, local transportation, hotel stay, etc., everything was taken care of but this time round, I was on my own as a start up, which was saving every penny possible. What this meant was I had to use maps, walk long distances to avoid cab bills, take local transportation in Tram, buses, Unirail, Caltrain etc to ensure that not only were we on time to all our meetings but also ensure we saved money on transportation.
 
In one such travel, I met one the funniest and most brilliant cerebral palsy fellow travelers who managed himself beautifully travelling from Palo Alto to Mountain View. This guy was supreme in intelligence but had funny ways of communicating and talking to himself and he would say, “Next Stop Mountain View” every time the train stopped at stations between Palo Alto and Mountain View. It was so funny to hear the various tones and expressive ways in which he used to say, “Next Stop Mountain View” that I couldn’t resist myself laughing when we actually reached Mountain View but this dude left a permanent impact on me, he was self sufficient, self motivated and fully capable of handling himself and it amazed me, he was not retarded mentally, just that he was having a problem, which is termed as cerebral palsy and Sunil, my cofounder who was with me told me about his experience where he had a friend in college who was brilliant and used to win quiz competitions as if he was having his tea in the canteen daily but had cerebral palsy.
 
Anyway, our next stop actually is Mountain View.
 
We went to the US to lead some final level VC discussions, which I shall talk about later as and when we are ready but the big victory was the agreement we signed with LinkedIn for being its exclusive ad sales house in India. What a win this is to us that just reinstates the confidence in which I began this endeavor. I was always clear what we were about to do going forward. We are excited to have won this given the severe competition from established players in the market. What else is a bigger endorsement than this one on our capabilities from a company that’s rewriting the web 2.0 space worldwide.
 
We would be taking orders right away to not miss the planners and buyers strategy for their clients for the financial year 2009 - 10 and you could reach our sales team or write directly to sunil@networkplay.in.

We are delighted to bring you this product, which is changing the lives of millions of registered users world wide and India has a large number of active users that should benefit your brand to get precision targeting capabilities that are available on this product offering.
 
Rock On India!!!!

It’s another morning..….. Again I have to go to office.

Ohh, this is me… I shouted having a glance on my snap in today’s news paper. But what the HELL??

Strange…

One sec… Let me think, last night when I was going to bed, I had a severe pain in my chest, but I don’t remember anything after that, I think I had a sound sleep. Its morning now, ohh….. It’s already 10:00 AM, where is my coffee? I will be late for office and my boss will get a chance to point me.

Where is everyone…??? I screamed.

“I think there is a crowed outside my room, let me check.” I said to myself.
So many people….. Not all of them crying… But why some of them crying… WHAT IS THIS??? I m laying there on the floor… “I AM HERE” … I shouted!!! No one listen. “LOOK I AM NOT DEAD” … I screamed once again!!! No one is interested in me. They all were looking me on the bed. I went back to my bed room. “Am I dead??” I asked myself.
Where is my wife, my children, my mom-DAD, my friends? I found them in the next room, all of them were crying… still trying to console each other. My wife was crying… she was really looking sad. My little kid was not sure what happened, but he was crying just coz his mom was sad.

How can I go without saying my kid that I really love him, I really do care of him. ?? How can I go without saying my wife that she is really most beautiful and most caring wife in this world..?? How can I go without saying my parents that I m … just because of you?? How can I go without telling my friends that without them perhaps I have done most of the wrong things in my life… thanks for being there always when I need them… and sorry for not being there when they really need me..

I can see a person standing in the corner and trying to hide his tears… Ohh… he was once my best friend, but a small misunderstanding made us part, and we both have strong enough ego to keep us disconnect. I went there.. And offered him my hand, “Dear friend… I just want to say sorry for everything, we r still best friend, please forgive me.” No response from other side, what the hell??

I just sat down near ME; I was also feeling like crying…

OHH ALMIGHTY!!!! PLEASE JUST GIVE ME FEW MORE DAYS…” I just wasn’t to make my wife, my parents; my friends realize that how much I love them. My wife entered in the room, she looks beautiful. “YOU R BEAUTIFUL” I shouted. She didn’t hear my words, in fact she never heard these words coz I never said this to her.
GOD!!!! I screamed… a little more time plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I cried… One more chance please… to hug my child, to make my mom smile just once, to feel my dad proud on me at least for a moment, to say sorry to my friends for everything I have not given to them, and thanks for still being in my life….
“You shouted in your sleep,” said my wife as she gently woke me up. “Did you have a nightmare?” I was sleeping….
Ohh that was just a dream…. My wife was there… she can hear me… This is the happiest moment of my life… I hugged her and whispered…. “U R THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND CARING WIFE IN THIS UNIVERSE…. I REALLY LOVE U DEAR”

I can’t understand the reason of the smile on her face with some tears in her eyes, still I m happy….

THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS SECOND? CHANCE

SO, NOW IT’S NOT TOO LATE….. YOU KNOW FOR WHAT……….

How coaches and players look at the games; players are the dreamers, and coaches are the realists,”
I laugh a little when I think about it. It’s only natural for high performers to think big and dream a lot of winning championships every year. For a coach, the only thing we think about is the next team we’re facing. That’s it. It’s funny how players and coaches think, but it’s a great balance.
Those individuals who are defined as ‘great coaches’… understood the game and could implement all the necessary strategies effectively, were able to get the most out of their players, and were blessed with extraordinary talent among their players. In every sense, great players influence great coaching

Successful coaches with relatively short-term success are usually action-oriented ‘emergency’ leaders who are especially skillful in ‘waking up’ the team during and out of a crisis.
I am honored to be a part of such a turbocharged team. I have never felt such a great sense of belongingness … urges to achieve sometime and perform under pressure with utmost positivity.
Realize the “POWER OF DREAMS”
I have always believed in one thing – to be at the peak of your performance one needs to work with the right kind of people and above all work for oneself.

I have been in the media business for over 14yrs now and seldom I have seen such fantastic integration of programming, brand communication and music on Radio in India. Radio is just about 7-8 yrs old as an industry in India when it comes to private FM stations and this particular campaign is a winner all the way.

I listen to radio while I drive to work and back home and today on 93.5 Red FM - Bajathe Raho, there was a sense of fresh air, I was wondering what this is all about and then bang came the brand’s communication and I was caught unaware for a moment or two before it sank into me and the one hour I drove today was just a pulsating experience as media innovation.

Lets take a quick hear back:

1) They have signed up MSD as their brand ambassador and his voice over was distinct and it had all their jingle played at once, there were 5 different advts that was heard over a period of 5mins and each of them very clearly on their distinct offering on the new mobile platform in Aircel.

a) It had search integration - in alliance with YSM, something that clearly spoke about mobile playing a key role in digital space.
b) It had hotel integration through MMT, another clear purpose on travel being addressed through a mobile phone.
c) It had MSD becoming a DJ for his team mates on a washed out match, clearly stating how music is available on Aircel.

There were two more but my phone rang and I couldnt concentrate to figure out which ones they were.

Programme Integration:

1) Fevicol ke chaar gaane chipakke is a favourite during prime time drive hours under RJ Nitin but today it became Aircel ke paanch gaane chipakke and said, “your world of possibilities”.

Chaar gaane became paanch.

2) Son Sunny was brilliant where today Dharmendra listened to Sunny in full and gave him an advice, which otherwise was the opposite where Sunny used to talk and Papa Dharmendra used to drink, burp, fart and sleep.

“Your world of possibilities”

3) Nitin plays a prank on everyone daily on the “band bajana” act but today the prank of band bajana happened on him with the caller and the producer of the programme holding hands together and taking NItin by surprise.

“Your world of possibilities”

4) There was no other advt that was played and the entire thing was like a road block feeling on radio with Aircel but done very beautifully so that it dint feel as if there was a overdose of the act.

It just shows that local advertising has grown leaps and bounds and Radio as a medium delivered one of its most innovative brand launch campaigns in India.

I am told that it was the same case in a couple of other radio stations as well but dint hear it first hand and so wouldnt know.

All in all a wonderul media innovation on radio got delivered for the brand in a category where there is already so much clutter. This brand campaign has broken the clutter well.

So, whats in it for us? The internet players? We did get a couple of lakhs for this campaign and I am sure a lot of others got it as well but there was so much more that could have been done had the planners involved the medium to be part of the media mix then there could have been so much more the internet could have delivered than just plain vanilla banners by addressing audiences.

As a company in the network space we are happy to have been part of the media mix but how I wish we were more involved, my ideation juices are flowing but cant do much, we will educate the client and make internet an integral part going forward.

But what a hit campaign on radio - Kudos!!!

Out of curiosity a student in the class asks his master that is success the only parameter to judge ones hard work and dedication to a job. Master with a sweet smile asked him back “then how should we evaluate the effort?”
Student was confused and said what if try too hard and don’t achieve what we wanted to? Is this hard work and dedication a waste? On this master throws a candy on the floor and ask this student to try to pick this candy.

Student filled with confidence walks up to the candy and picks it up. Master stops him in between and said u don’t have to pick it up you only have to try to pick it up. Student was shocked and said how can I just try to pick it up? Master on this says, “This is the answer to your question dear”.

I heard this story from a friend of mine who joined “Art of living” and questioned if this really made sense. Yes it does, this story does’nt tell us to evaluate hard work and dedication but the intention. If we have the right intention we can always do what we want to. I call it the “The Toffee Trick”
only if we decide what toffee we need.

Here at Networkplay.in we are not trying to achieve something but have a clear intention to change how Online Media operates in India. We as a company are the strongest in terms of targeting, reporting and reach. A clear definition on audience ensures we can reach to the best reporting parameters that exist in the business for brands to capitalize on. Innovations, instant response, customer feedback and what not.

Do we need CPC and CPA to prove our strength?

We at Networkplay know that we don’t and are here to change this.

“Patience and Perseverance” are two of the most difficult things to embrace for one whose faith is being tested and tried through the fire. It is easier to speak the words, but much more difficult to live them and yet, in order to receive a victorious outcome of the trial, for a believer it is the ONLY option. If we lose patience and perseverance we forfeit the blessing and are defeated in the battle and God is not glorified through our giving up.

Patience and Perseverance” during tribulation also helps to strengthen our faith as during our most difficult trials it is not then the time to reflect upon the WHY, WHAT IF’S, HOW COME, etc. but it is the time to reflect upon THE WHO! Who has the power to work it all out for our good?

Almighty

When the mind says “give up”, let FAITH answer “HOLD ON!” When the mind says “this is impossible”, let FAITH answer “ALL things are possible to them that believe!” When the mind says “this can’t be done”, let FAITH answer “I can do ALL things through almighty who strengthens me

The end of 2008 saw the internet domain cross a magic figure of 1 billion unique users, according to comscore. Asia pacific leads the count with 41% of worldwide unique users. The India Internet base is estimated at 32 million, which is 3.2 % of the worldwide users. The usage of internet has evolved from using e-mails for communication to transacting on the internet for various needs. Online banking, Stock trading, Ticket bookings, shopping have all seen tremendous growth in India.

So what is there for advertisers who are looking at tapping the Internet users. Banks and the Online stock Brokers have to follow stringent norms of RBI with regards to using the personal web space of the users. Hence reaching out to this audience is out of picture as of now. Travel and tourism has seen a huge growth in the online space. Booking a ticket and travelling has never been so easy for the Indian traveler. Online bookings of Flights, Hotels, Train and even buses have become very convenient. In India there are around 3.1 million users searching for the best fares and prices for their ticket/hotels on Online travel sites like makemytrip, yatra, cleartrip, expedia, travelguru etc.

This is fantastic news for the advertisers as this set of audience is well segmented: Age above 18 yrs, has a credit card, is travelling by (air, train, bus) and further segmentation is possible by placing the ads in the international sector and by targeting the source/destination of the search.

We at networkplay are focused on tapping this set of users. Hence our Travel network reaches 2.2 million or 70% of unique users using online travel agents. We represent Makemytrip, travelguru and cleartrip exclusively, which represents of 60% of online travel booking audience. Having achieved a phenomenal reach amongst the transactional audience on Travel, our appetite for reaching more audience has increased. Hence we have started the shopping vertical which is in its initial stages.

At networkplay we are focused on providing focused audience for our advertisers