Mediaboss Marketing

By Jennifer Clark

GENEVA/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Under the lights of the Geneva motor show in March, Europe's top auto executives boasted about the new features of their latest models and tried to out-hype their rivals.

The next morning, in a hotel conference room just across the way from Geneva's convention centre, the same executives all sat down to work out how to fix their huge overcapacity problem.

At a board meeting of the European automaker's lobby group ACEA, the bosses of Volkswagen, Daimler, BMW, Peugeot, Renault, Fiat and Opel decided it was time to discuss the elephant in the room: plant closures.

"Their fear was of an all-out price war," said a source who was briefed about the meeting but declined to be named. "The negative fallout from that would be terrible."

The hard truth is that after more than four years of falling demand and profits, Europe's carmakers have yet to restructure or consolidate. Many factories are running at partial capacity - analysts estimate automakers have cut some 3 million cars, or 20 percent, from their production lines - and still producers struggle to sell their wares.

At the Geneva meeting, ACEA President Sergio Marchionne pressed members to call on Brussels for political cover to start shutting down factories.

"Closures should be co-ordinated at EU level," the Fiat and Chrysler boss told them, according to the person briefed on the meeting, to get around "a game of chicken" played by the producers where the first company to close plants would take the brunt of the cost and leave the rest to benefit.

A GAME OF CHICKEN

Europe's carmakers survived the initial economic downturn in 2009 by turning to national governments for help.

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INSIGHT - In Europe, carmakers talk plant closures

MILTON KEYNES, England, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

SEAT has presented its Ibiza CUPRA Concept at a recent Volkswagen Group media event that signals the start of the Beijing International Motor Show. The Ibiza CUPRA was showcased as a close-to-production concept car that heralds a new generation of the iconic CUPRA model.

The Ibiza CUPRA shows the SEAT DNA in its most concentrated form: amazing performance, the latest technology and comprehensive equipment clad in an emotional design that has been consistently developed. With its compact form, the Ibiza CUPRA Concept is a sports car for every day, combining agile driving fun with a high degree of functionality. The series-production model of the new Ibiza CUPRA will arrive towards the end of 2012.

With its 132 kW / 180 hp engine, seven-speed DSG transmission with shift paddles, XDS electronic differential lock and high-performance brakes, the Ibiza CUPRA Concept aims to showcase high technological competence.

James Muir, Chairmanof SEAT, said: "With its new, powerfully accentuated design, its innovative technologies, upgraded interior and further improved quality, the new Ibiza CUPRA Concept clearly shows how our brand is continuing to develop.

"Emotional design and refined dynamics guarantee driving fun on every single kilometre. We are presenting the Ibiza CUPRA Concept at the Beijing Motor Show because this compact athlete will be an important element in the development of our brand in this key market."

The first generation of the Ibiza CUPRA took to the streets in 1996. Since then the dynamic CUPRA models have developed to become an icon of the SEAT brand. The Ibiza CUPRA Concept shows how the next chapter of this success story will be written.

Dr. Matthias Rabe, Vice-President for Research and Development at SEAT, said: "Immediate and linear acceleration, with agile handling, good traction and responsive brakes are the key ingredients for what the CUPRA name represents.

"The new Ibiza CUPRA Concept is a perfect example of how we at SEAT are adapting the latest Volkswagen Group technology to create a unique and highly rewarding package."

The concept car's LED daytime running lights trace the line of the headlamps to deliver a unique light signature, as do the LED rear lights. Technically, the bi-xenon headlamps provide illumination, while cornering lights are integrated into the large fog lamps.

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SEAT Reveals Ibiza CUPRA Concept

Sales Tip #1 Referrals are powerful marketing tools.

Is it time to contact your satisfied customers and clients and invite them to recommend and refer other people to your business and products? Ive found that happy customers are more than willing to let their friends and family know how much they have benefited from you and your products all you have to do is ask.

Sales Tip #2 Get right to the point.

In todays fast paced world, time is of the essence. Youll get more online reads and responses when you are direct and to the point with your sale ads. Speak in terms of benefits to your customer let them know what is in it for them. Can you give them even quick-read bullet points about why they should buy your product or service?

Sales Tip #3 Be real and human.

It is so important for your potential customers and clients to get to know you, like you, and trust you. One of the best ways to do that is to talk from your heart and from your own experiences. Be down to earth and approachable be youself.

Sales Tip #4 Offer discounts and/or bonuses.

An occasional discount, special offer or bonus on your products and services can often boost sales and create loyal and satisfied customers. Discounts and bonuses are also a great way to entice inactive customers to return to your website.

Sales Tip #5 Keep up with your niche market.

Do you know what your target market currently wants and needs? Do you know how you can best meet those wants and needs with your products and services? What current sales methods are working best with your market and which ones are not? This may be the perfect time to revamp and revise your sales and marketing strategies.

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Internet Marketing Top 7 Sales Tips

12-05-2012 20:05 easy Media Control using Smart-BUS G4, to control Boxee box, Apple TV, Windows Media center, and other set top boxes

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Media Control, Video streaming, Macro controls - Video

An anonymous social networking website, with an accompanying smartphone app, seemed to help obese youths lose weight without fear of public ridicule, a researcher said.

Those who used the site, weigh2rock.com, self-reported a mean weight loss of 7.4 pounds, and those who used the partner app reported losing a mean 10 pounds over 4 months, Dr. Robert Pretlow of the Research Institute at eHealth International in Seattle reported at the European Congress on Obesity in Lyon, France.

"While weight loss from social networking is not as much as face-to-face weight-loss programs, social networking is much cheaper and much more widely available," Pretlow said in a statement.

Read this story on http://www.medpagetoday.com.

He said public social networking may promote obesity, especially if it lowers obese teens' self-esteem. Fears of social rejection and isolation may lead to sadness and depression, which can then inspire "comfort eating," especially of highly pleasurable food, Pretlow explained.

But social networking site where participants remain anonymous may help patients who are struggling to lose weight avoid feelings of shame and embarrassment. The idea is modeled after other programs in addiction medicine that emphasize anonymity.

"Programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Drug Addicts Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, and Food Addicts Anonymous demonstrate that support groups are indispensable in the addiction treatment approach," Pretlow said. "The crucial point is that people remain anonymous."

He added that the group support component helps the obese patients tolerate withdrawal from problem foods and motivates them to continue their weight loss.

So Pretlow reported data on the anonymous obesity website he developed. Weigh2rock.com offers online forums, chat rooms, success stories, a weight-loss "buddy" program, and other tips for keeping pounds off.

Since the site started 11 years ago, Pretlow said, there have been a total of 17,628 users, with a mean age of 14.2, and a mean body mass index of 32.7.

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Smartphone App Helps Kids Fight Fat