WA’s rocket to infinity…and beyond
With the recent launch of Western Australia’s first homegrown satellite, WA researchers are making space more affordable and accessible for the little guy. As Australia looks to diversify and future-proof our economy, reducing reliance on traditional sectors like agriculture and resources, our eyes are increasingly turning upwards, to the stars. Once the domain of dreamers, visionaries and distant superpowers with deep pockets, the space sector is emerging as a significant new generator of jobs, investment and commercial opportunities. But we’re not the only ones to recognise this potential. In fact, we’re a little late to the party. Governments around the world have dedicated $82.5
A cash free society – making sense of GovCoin
Splitting the bill isn’t what it used to be. Not so long ago, the end of a dinner out with friends would be a cue to scramble for an ATM, dig deep for notes and coins, and write an IOU to settle the evening’s expenses. Now it is more likely one person will pay the bill and the rest will send their share through an online banking transaction that might land with the payer in a few days. And it’s not just restaurants. Australians are well versed with electronic money, with most people familiar with online banking, e-commerce and tap-and-go – and thanks to COVID-19, many of us don’t carry any physical cash at all. So what if we did away
Gen Z: the young and daring consumers with a conscience
Traditionally, brands have stayed neutral when it comes to politics and social issues. It’s generally been felt that taking sides risks alienating a large proportion of a customer base. But in today’s increasingly polarised climate, staying neutral can actually be riskier. As consumers look for ways to support the world’s most pressing issues, including the present threat of climate change, and fighting social and racial injustice, many see their wallets as a way to do so. Social analysts, McCrindle, found that this approach was particularly prevalent among Gen Z consumers who want to know exactly where brands stand on complex issues before investing. COVID-19
Is Australia’s COVID vaccine messaging off?
The most popular overseas COVID-19 vaccination campaigns have included comedy skits, well-liked celebrities, and catchy music, all using creative out-of-the-box thinking to encourage their citizens to get the jab. New Zealand, U.K and Singapore get creative In New Zealand, their positive ‘Ka Kite, COVID’ campaign became an online favourite. It’s warm and funny, and incorporates the Maori language, declaring ‘Ka kite, COVID’, meaning ‘see you, COVID’ in the Maori language. This ad clearly targets different audiences and promotes the message that "vaccination is for the community not just the individual". In the U.K, Sir Elton John and Sir Michael Caine help the NHS promote COVID jabs in a humorous 90-second ad. Singapore’s quirky ‘Get Your Shot, Steady Pom Pi Pi’ is something else entirely. A disco-themed
4 ways to better brand recognition
What is brand recognition? Brand recognition is exactly what you might expect. It’s how your stakeholders and members of the public 'recognise' your brand. Beyond the name of your business, a good brand recognition strategy involves the development of colour schemes, logos, visual elements and tone of voice that people can attribute to your brand. Prioritising how a story is told increases the likelyhood of positive brand recognition for an organisation. Actively telling your story By actively telling the story of your company and the people working there, and sharing its values, you are influencing how people view your business. A professionally written news story, a
The importance of respectful engagement
“It was the first time I felt respected” – the words of a 60-year-old Aboriginal man who had spent many years living on the streets of Perth. He made the comment after he and other residents at a transitional accommodation centre in Perth had the opportunity to have a yarn with Premier Mark McGowan following an announcement of additional funding for homelessness at the start of the election campaign last year. Aboriginal people make up about 40 per cent of the street homeless population, so as the organiser of an event for this transitional accommodation centre, I wanted to ensure that some
National Reconciliation Week: More Than A Word
This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, “More than a word. Reconciliation takes action” challenges us to take more courageous action that will deliver real impact. This is a challenge individuals and businesses should enthusiastically embrace. There is a lot to do Australia’s First Nations People have lived on, cared for and formed a deep connection to the lands that make up Australia for at least 50,000 years. 233 years ago, the dispossession of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their lands began. In the years following, thousands of First Nations people were massacred, thousands more were subjected to slavery and forced labour,
Can you build brand equity from a crisis? Qantas did
In the deep and chilling midst of a crisis, we believe it is possible to still demonstrate to stakeholders your purpose and your values, and ultimately strengthen the equity of your brand. Qantas Flight 32 4 November 2010. Heading for Sydney, a Qantas Airbus A380 took off from Singapore’s Changi Airport with 469 passengers and crew on board. Just a few minutes after take-off, one of the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines started blasting heavy, red-hot chunks of the engine through the wing, severely damaging critical control systems. Fortunately, two hours later, the aircraft made a successful emergency landing at Changi. Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce personally took control of the airline’s reputation in the aftermath. Dozens
The secret to a great speech
A lot of words have been written about writing and making speeches – probably far too many, but here are a few more. In fact, there are probably more secrets to giving great speeches, than Burgess, Maclean or Philby ever passed to the Soviets during the Cold War. Most have been developed by professional communicators based on years of experience, both practical and observed, and will contribute to the preparation and delivery of a good speech. Many are to do with how you perform on the stage, the development of the content and engaging with your audience, with technical tips such as
A Balancing Act Between Social and Economic Objectives: The 2021-22 Budget
Josh Frydenberg’s third Budget dropped this week with all the hype of a new record. In musical circles artists tend to branch out creatively on their third album, diverting from the mainstream and even their own genre to try new things. The Treasurer appears to be doing just that with the 2021-22 Budget. More funding has been directed to social policies rather than economic policies and this Budget shuns the traditional Liberal pursuit of surplus to focus on spending, job creation and stimulus. Politically, it has captured traditional Labor policy space, making it hard for the Opposition to attack it in the
Skills shortage 2021: If you want the talent, you have to sell the job
WA continues to lead the COVID-19 recovery - with all jobs lost due to the pandemic now recovered and a further 20,000 jobs created. There are more than 1.4 million Western Australians now employed - the highest result on record. Employers need skilled workers They are searching for sous chefs in Kununurra. They can’t get enough mechanics in Kal. And in the Great Southern, there’s a desperate need for farm workers, labourers, carpenters, waiters — anyone, really. The fears of an economic depression and mass unemployment a year ago suddenly seems overblown as WA enters a skill-shortage not seen since the days of the last mining boom. The reasons behind
From Typewriter to iPhone: Ray Jordan’s journey through journalism
If you don't already know who Ray Jordan is, he's one of Western Australia’s most highly-regarded corporate communicators and strategists, who, before moving to corporate communications, held executive positions in the media – including the role of Deputy Editor of The West Australian. Ray is also one of Australia’s most experienced wine journalists and has been writing about wine for nearly forty years, with his first articles published in the late 1970s. He is currently the Wine Editor for Seven West Media. Ray's first photo taken as a cadet journalist in February 1976 Given Ray's long-standing career in media and communications, I was keen
Property confidence soars, despite headwinds
If you’re part of the property sector in Australia, you’re feeling pretty upbeat right now – so upbeat, in fact, that your confidence levels and positive outlook on the industry are at an all-time high. That’s the findings of the latest ANZ/Property Council Survey, released this morning and based on the views of some 830 owners, developers, agents, managers, consultants and government representatives across the country. Now in its tenth year, the quarterly national survey is one of the biggest sentiment measures in the Australian property industry and provides a temperature check on national, state and territory economies, property asset class performance, employment intentions, expected workflows and
Why media intelligence is important, and how to make it work for you
For business, Media Intelligence can be an invaluable tool, especially when used the right way. Unlike the common perception, Media Intelligence is more than just a regurgitation of every time you or your brand is mentioned. In fact, there are five very important ways following your news can improve your business and client outcomes.
World Health Day: COVID-19
"Building a fairer and healthier world for everyone" is the focus of World Health Day – celebrated yesterday. Founded in 1948 by the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2021 the WHO is calling on leaders to ensure that everyone has living and working conditions that are conducive to good health. Access to health For this year, WHO notes the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that some people are able to live healthier lives and have better access to health services than others - entirely due to the conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age. Australia's health system The WHO has identified Australia as one of the most well-prepared
Introducing Skyline – A Targeted Commercial Property Content Platform
Cannings Purple’s Skyline platform has been developed to ensure property players can deliver their stories to the right audience at the right time.
The battle of the giants: Facebook vs News Corp
There’s an African proverb that when elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers — and that’s been abundantly clear for Australian media in the past few weeks. Facebook vs News Corp In the blue corner is Facebook, market capitalisation of USD $741 billion, with as many daily users as the entire populations of all of North America, Europe and Latin America combined. In the red corner is News Corp, a mere $10 billion in market capitalisation, but in charge of a sprawling international TV, news, digital and magazine empire that in Australia extends from Sky News to The Australian to the Fremantle-Cockburn Gazette. Alongside are Australia’s other big news houses: Nine, which owns
Make an impact: Presentation training with Ray Jordan
For many, the idea of stepping on to a stage or standing before a group of peers to make a presentation is nearly worse than death. Some might even believe it really is worse than death! And to heighten anxiety and frustration, seeing someone else standing there, seemingly relaxed and delivering with certainty and clarity to a completely captivated audience, just makes your own shortcomings so much more real. Where are their nerves? How is this person so calm, while I am struggling the get even the simplest sentence out? A duck in a pond Delivering a presentation or speech is a little like
Facebook blocks news from Australian users
Facebook has made the unprecedented move of banning Australian news publishers (and users) from sharing or viewing any news articles on the platform. It’s a response to the Federal Government’s bargaining code which has passed through the House of Representatives, and which will require social media companies to pay news organisations if their content appears on the platform. For many Australian users, this means their main source of daily news - their Facebook newsfeed - will look very different, with only content appearing from friends and family, and non-news organisations. It’s a bold, even aggressive action, on Facebook’s part. If you look at
Google vs Australia
Google is threatening to shut down its search engine in Australia over a proposed media law. Google said last month that it may stop delivering search results in Australia after the government introduced a new media bill that requires digital platforms to pay publishers to link their content in news feeds or search results. Essentially, Australia wants internet giants like Facebook and Google, to pay to display and link to news generated by Australian journalists. If Google does exit from Australia, it would deny more than 25 million people access to the world's most popular search engine, which handles almost 95% of the country's daily
Purple Conversations: Annette Ellis
In between her very busy schedule, heading our organisation and its teams, Cannings Purple’s Managing Director, Annette Ellis takes a break to tell us who she is when she's not working. In our ‘Purple Conversations’ series, you’ll find out about the Cannings Purple team – what led them to their careers; what they do in their spare time and even what their favourite apps are. Meet Annette With more than 25 years experience in corporate communications, reputation management, crisis communications, change management and stakeholder relations, Annette is an accomplished corporate editor, speechwriter and a highly regarded coach in executive presentation skills. Annette gained her
Why content hubs should be part of your digital strategy
A branded content hub can be an excellent driver of new business, but it takes time to create and maintain. Outsourcing the content side could be the difference that makes the project viable.
Caretaker period: What it means for your engagement with government
With January now behind us, the WA State election is squarely in view. As candidates from all political persuasions prepare for the final push towards the March 13 finish line, executive government is gearing up for a different shift - the transition into caretaker mode. What is caretaker? Caretaker government starts when the parliament is dissolved and lasts until the election result is clear. During this period, the government is bound by a number of conventions to uphold responsible government. In particular, these rules govern some key aspects of our government. One eye on the horizon Key contracts and commitments, as well as
Build Your Personal Brand in 2021
Welcome to 2021 and the growing era of ‘ME’. The era where people are celebrated over companies. For decades, businesses have focused on company brands, but in recent times personal branding seems to have taken over. What is personal branding and why is it important? A brand is not just a logo, a font or a colour scheme. It is something its audience defines. Good branding guides the audience to see what values the brand expresses. So, what about your personal brand? When building a personal brand, think about it like a company’s brand. However, instead of showcasing and marketing a company, you are marketing
How trends in engagement are changing for 2021
As we eagerly leave 2020 behind and cautiously step into 2021, Senior Consultant, Sarah-Jane Dabarera, reflects on the themes in community relations for the year ahead. Culture and heritage 2020 has set the scene for an increased focus on culture and heritage in 2021. The Black Lives Matter movement, Australian deaths in custody and the destruction of sacred sites at Juukan Gorge have resulted in increased focus and scrutiny on genuine engagement with Traditional Owners. The recently released amendments to the Aboriginal Heritage Act, issued by the WA Government, will require renewed effort in making agreements and strengthening relationships with Traditional Owners. Black
Building for tomorrow, engaging today – community relations for fast-tracked infrastructure
For the McGowan State Government, WA’s economic recovery from COVID-19 is all about infrastructure. Accelerated programs to build roads, rail and bridges are expected to bring about jobs and assets for the future. But what will these expedited projects mean for the communities where they will be built? Our stakeholder engagement experts explain why avoiding tick-box engagement, and developing a strong consultation program, is more important than ever when timeframes for delivery are crunched. How many projects have been fast tracked? More than 80 major rail, road, coastal and cycling projects over the next two years. A streamlined process for contract awards
2021 Conversations That Matter
As we embark on 2021, the world finds itself at a major turning point – politically, economically, technologically and socially. What’s next? It’s never easy to predict, and especially so this year! For businesses and communication experts, the best way forward is to reflect and learn from the year that was – the lockdown; the economic and social impacts; the devastating bushfires; the disruption of everyday life. The events of 2020 transformed how we communicate. We asked some of Perth’s best communication experts to look back on 2020 and give us their predictions for 2021. A purpose-driven focus With lots of social justice issues
Why you need to crack CRM
It’s no secret that good business is built on relationships. The better a business can manage its relationships with its clients, its suppliers, its stakeholders and its referrers, the more successful it will be. Building and maintaining these key relationships can feel daunting for those unfamiliar with it – but this is where a good customer relationship management system, or CRM, can make all the difference. What is CRM? Most of us are used to hearing about CRM in the context of increasing profitability and sales. However, it also enables businesses to focus on all types of relationships, not just transactional ones,
Preparing for a Christmas like no other: Getting your brand’s messaging right
After what has been a very challenging year, a Christmas break couldn’t come soon enough. However, just because the holidays are near, it doesn’t mean you should be winding down your PR and communication activities. We asked some of Perth’s best communication experts what brands should keep in mind when communicating during this Christmas period. Being mindful for a Christmas like no other Christmas is a time to celebrate, uplift and inspire, but it will mean different things to different people this year. Ensuring your brand or business considers its audiences and messaging will, therefore, be vital. Cannings Purple’s Head of Digital, Glenn Langridge
Writing For The Web
Engaging – it’s the word most often used to describe great content on the internet. Readers who are engaged keep their eyes on website pages for longer, and engaged customers feel compelled to act and purchase products. Length of time on site and customer conversion are two of the most common goals for content strategies. Video and podcasts have become popular ways of creating content, but the written word remains an important pillar of content strategies. Writing for the web, or indeed any public medium, can feel intimidating for those unfamiliar with it – but the best strategy is to prepare and keep