Difference Between Account Director and Project Manager

Just as how I’d always say a graphic designer and website designer is different. I found this article written by Heather Fox-Lawson of Jones & Palmer. She wrote the importance of project management and highlight there is a difference between the Account Director and Project Manager.

You will be mistaken for thinking that these two roles, the Project Manager and Account Director sound very alike, but they are not – there are differences;

• The Project Manager manages the project rather than the relationship between the supplier and the client, that is not to say that Project Managers do not care about their clients, they have the same objectives as the Account Director – providing the client we a defined product that meet requirements and stays within the budget. Their primary objective is ensuring the delivery of the project.
• The Account Director may be managing a large account that has several projects underway, it would be unfair to assume that anyone could single handily manage all the projects. It is therefore allocated to a devoted Project Manager to become their life over the coming weeks.
• Project Managers will put into place project management methods in order to assist in the delivery of the project.
• Whilst the Project Manager ensures that the project does not go over budget it is the responsibility of the Account Director to initiate and agree the budget from the client.

Now that you know. Get off your desk and walk to your boss and ask what really is your role in your company?

Malaysia Website Clones

Previously, I was saying how Malaysia clients loved to use the phrase “I want a website like…” and true enough, this leads to many Malaysia website clones. Some managed to get away with it while some have been brought forward and even, nearly penalized for it – Lim Kok Wing website.

I’m not saying a business idea can’t be inspired from a competitor or creation. But it’s disappointing and embarrassing to find websites which offer the same exact idea like it’s competitor. If they were an entrepreneur, haven’t they asked themselves; why is my website better than my competitors?

Here’s a new Malaysia website clone case I recently found:

PennyAuction is suppose to be the originator of this idea in Malaysia. Quick introduction is registered users buy credits and bid for products.

Here’s the clone which I found out not long ago:

Visually, they may look different. One possibly better than the other. However, both ideas are similar and in fact, the only defining difference of MyBid is they offer 3 free bids upon registration.

Let’s try to end Malaysia website clones and make them think harder about their idea. The biggest benefit is they’ll have a more solid business idea later.

So, what other Malaysia website clones have you noticed?

Uses For Twitter Today

Some LowYat members were commenting on how Twitter is boring. In my reply at the forum, it was a list of uses I’ve noticed Twitter being used for today. Thus, I thought to elaborate on each point and turn it into a blog post.

What is the Twitter phenomenon about?

Twitter is another social media marketing platform. Broken down into simpler terms is it’s a social platform come opportunity for you to also market yourself, your product or your business.

How is Twitter being used by individuals and businesses today?

Technical support channel

A quick example at the top of my mind would be, Dell. True to Dell’s business model of selling desktops and notebooks only on the Internet, they were quick to adopt Twitter into their marketing strategy. Some other companies using Twitter for technical support are Media Temple, Six Apart and others.

Traffic and awareness generator

Unsurprisingly, I’d say this would be one of the Top 3 purposes for Twitter. Another example which comes to mind is the new Nokia mobile device launch in Malaysia, the n97. Twitter is surely becoming a platform for quick notifications about the coolest events happening.

Opinion sharing and support

One of the ways Twitter users or Twitterers are making an impact on a selected issue or topic is by creating a trending topic or popular topic. Twitterers do this by consistently attaching a hashtag to their posting. For example; with the sucky Internet connection right now, you’ll find #streamyxsuck to be a trending topic.

Quick on-the-go updates

I’m following a torrent provider on Twitter so I’d know instantly when my favorite series is released online. But imagine if Malaysia’s traffic support like LITRAK or RONDA used Twitter. Malaysian twitterers would be able to plan their traveling in advance.

Relationship or friendship or fan updates

Like Facebook, it’s a good way to stay in touch with people – though it’s limited to 140 characters. A ton of people are following their favorite celebrities like Ashton Kutcher, Britney Spears and more on Twitter.

Communication platform

It’s a quick way for you to get in touch instantly with a person or company. For example; every time Exabyes twitted something I replied to remind them of the Starbucks vouchers I hadn’t received.

Credibility builder

Like starting a blog, you want to show people how much an expert you are. Personally, I noticed my involvement with more popular marketing platforms allows me to build a wider and better credibility with more users.

Obviously, there are more uses – some undiscovered.

Twitter has an API for many to explore and experiment with its use. And what ‘you know. A twitterer I’m following (@mashable) just shared this link; Social Mojo: What Kind of Twitter User Are You?

So, what is your use for Twitter today?

Become a Samsung Notebook Ambassador

It’s very rare you come across a brilliant product marketing campaign. And I’d say Samsung has done it quite well for their notebooks. Currently, their running a campaign called; Which Samsung Notebook Are You?

Although similar sounding like the; Which Hyundai are you? it’s nothing alike it and here’s why I believe Samsung’s one is brilliant. Whenever a company decides to produce brochures and flyers, they’ll get their design agency to come up with the concept, visuals and end-product.

For this campaign, Samsung has provided the concept and have made the visuals an online contest. This is a great way to generate awareness for the brand and their new product. Not to mention, they’re already saving cost from having the design agency produce several mockups and spent countless hours deciding on a final work or series.

I signed up for the contest to give it a go. The interface was easy enough for me to guess how I needed to navigate and it was made to be simple enough for anyone to upload a snapped photo and move it around an area.

This was my submitted entry for the contest:

Though I’m a designer by profession, I’m not a copywriter. Therefore, this is one of those contests I’d say it boils down not only to your software skills but your intellect.

If you liked the Samsung notebook advertisement I did, do vote for me.

By the way, I had a little fun with the ad and thought it would be awesome later if it would so happen to appear in mall billboards. LOL!

By the way, if a Samsung representative reads this. My sister-in-law just said she couldn’t find the “vote for me” button in my gallery page. So, there’s the weakness in your gallery user interface.

Nuffnang's ChurpChurp Comes Clean

I recently published an article about Nuffnang’s new ChurpChurp or Twitter advertising platform almost started on a rocky foot. But indeed, ChurpChurp’s team of PR are handling the situation really well. Just today I got an email from one of the hotties working at ChurpChurp; Doria.

It’s answers to some of the what ifs ChurpChurp would face as a new Twitter advertising player in Malaysia and Singapore. From the email:

Disclaimers on Churps

Being Twitter fans ourselves, at ChurpChurp.com we believe that we should all be transparent in the Churps we send out. Which is why we have built into our system a mechanism for you to add in a disclaimer of your own to all the Churps that go out. We didn’t want to do this “cookie-cutter” style and make everyone have the same disclaimer so we left it to you to decide how best to inform your followers that it was a Churp. Whether you use “Ad:” or “Churp”, it’s all totally up to you.

How much does a Churp pay?

This depends on two things: How many followers you have and how much a particular advertiser offers to pay for a tweet. Since Twitter advertising is still a pretty new medium for many advertisers, we don’t expect the initial Twitter ads to pay a lot but we do expect it to grow significantly as advertisers try the medium and grow more confident in putting more ad dollars behind it.

Auto-generated/User-generated Churps

Note that for both auto-generated or user-generated Churps, you can choose not to take part in the campaign if you don’t believe in the product or you don’t think it’s something you want to do. Just click the “reject” button.

Of course, in the email they also said ChurpChurp is a baby and they’ll definitely hit their head on the floor a couple of times but that won’t discourage them with our support.

Well, I’ve registered for ChurpChurp and I recently saw my Churp on Twitter. Currently, my custom disclaimer is “Churp:” but I might change it to “Ad:” for more prominence and straight-forwardness to followers. But we’ll see.

Right now, I just want to see if Churp would deliver a higher average return as compared to Nuffnang. There, I said it.

Or, would it be worst as I’m neither Kenny Sia nor KYSpeaks.

P.S.:  If you’d like to stalk Doria, you can start reading her blog. She demands it!