What GDPR actually means for you and your data

Your inbox may have been flooded with a bunch of emails from different companies asking you to take note of some changes to their privacy policy or update your data preferences, but where has this all come from?

We have been looking after your personal data for over 25 years, and now we have taken measures to protect your data even further - because we know how important it is to ensure your privacy!

We now comply with the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), which means that your details are stored on encrypted servers, with more passwords and locks than you can imagine!

In light of recent events, participants are becoming increasingly concerned about how their personal data is being used by companies they have subscribed to, and rightly so.

We wanted to let you know that, because of a new data privacy law that is being introduced in the EU on 25 May, we’ll be sharing some more information with you about how we collect and use your personal information.

To put your mind at ease, this essentially means that we won’t be changing the way we already collect or use your personal data.

To help break this down and make it easier for you to find out what we do here, we’ve updated our Privacy Policy which covers all of the data controlled services, including details about:

·         Your rights relating to the information we hold about you

·         How we keep your personal information safe

·         The types of personal information we collect and use

·         The legal basis we rely on to use your information

For more detailed information please refer to our privacy policy here.

Is Sainsbury's Becoming Our Most Loved Supermarket?

We thought Tesco was taking over the world, but this week we carried out a piece of research where we asked 200 men and women in London where they choose to carry out their main supermarket shop. Here are the results:

5 Branding Musts!

Your brand is the first impression the world has with what you do. It's your logo, your colour palette, your website design, your packaging, your business cards... even your telephone manner and how you write letters. This is all your brand, and it says so many important things about your business, that it is just not worth getting them wrong.

DETERMINE YOUR MISSION

Your mission is the reason for your business existing. It is the your purpose, or the "WHY" in your business, as opposed to the What, or Who. The "Why" needs to be the main focus - this is what is going to enable you truly connect with your audience. They care more about why you're doing what you do, as opposed to 'what you do'.

DETERMINE YOUR PERSONALITY

If you could describe your business as a person, what characteristics would you choose? If you imagine your business is a person; Are you fun? Are you carefree? Are you a serious? Are you knowledgeable? Are you funny? Are you confident? Your personality needs to be decided before you can start building your brand. A fun carefree personality, for example, won't have a website whose dominant colour is black. You should have 4-6 personality traits (5 is ideal), each being a single term (usually an adjective).

DETERMINE YOUR PROMISE

Your promise is that 'thing' you PROMISE to deliver to your customer EVERY TIME. What is it? This promise needs to be in the heart of your brand development, it needs to be the main thing you speak about on your website and it needs to be there in every interaction your customers have with you.

DETERMINE YOUR VALUES

Consumers like to do business with brands that share their beliefs. They like to engage with businesses which are doing good, or align with their values. It is more important than ever to be transparent and live your values everyday, shaping your brand culture. It's super important you and your employees stick to these values, even if it means making sacrifices. In the long-term, you will become an honest and trusted company, and ultimately internal decision making becomes easier, as everyone's values are aligned.

DETERMINE YOUR CUSTOMER(S)

You really need a clear idea of who your customer is before you develop your brand. Once you know what they like, what they are sensitive to, where they spend their time etc, you can develop your brand to successfully create a relationship with your customers . A good thing to do at the start is to create a primary and secondary persona for your target or current customers. Put this on the wall and always have them in mind when you are creating something new.

Understanding The 'Job' Of Your Product

Clayton Christensen, Author of Innovative Dilemma and How Will You Measure Your Life, speaks about how important it is to understand what 'Job' your product is trying to achieve, and the importance of speaking to your customers to find this out.

Your product could be being used for a very different reason to what you set out to achieve, and to what you are marketing it as. Watch this video to find out the real reason customers were purchasing early morning Milkshakes at McDonalds as one simple example.

10 Things Your Customers Wish You Knew About Them

Thanks Help Scout for this great infographic, explaining just how important it is to know and understand your customers needs and wants. When you understand this, you can create a better business. Sounds easy, right?