Dr Bertie du Plessis speaking before the MBA Alumni of Wits Business School on word of mouth marketing. Read the report.

Bertie du Plessis founded MindPilot (Pty) Ltd positioning specialists in 1995. He has been a guest lecturer or lecturer in 6 different disciplines at tertiary institutions. He currently teaches an MBA elective for the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria, "Think Differently! Imagination for the Business Mind." Du Plessis is a professional artist who exhibited in South Africa′s premier gallery, The Goodman and whose work is represented in public and private collections in South Africa, the USA, Canada and the UK (view examples). He is a published and acknowledged essayist. He contributed to numerous publications on the old South African political order, higher education in the new South Africa and philosophical essays on the arts and creativity. Du Plessis served as an adjudicator for the English Academy of South Africa′s Pringle Prize in Journalism (2006).

Quickly, can you in one clear sentence say why your company or product is the answer to somebody else’s prayers?

I help you to tell your story and give your brand a voice. Then I project manage applications such as advertising, web communications and PR through specialist production houses. Often we need to re-examine your business strategy to adjust your focus so that you can be different from your competitors and offer real value. Read how I define appropriate and false slogans.

DOES YOUR BRAND HAVE
A VOICE?

My blog, Read This! on the fin24.com portal, South Africa’s largest business and financial portal, where “Read This!” is regularly “most read” and “most commented.” I am an inveterate reader and pick a valuable bit of information from what I have read or re-read in the past 24 hours. Oh, and please leave a comment!

READ THIS!

“The Science of Change.” Free downloads.

“I find the analysis in this presentation absolutely fascinating. It shouldn't remain in this boardroom. It should be shared with a much wider audience.” — Mr Christo Wiese, Chairman Pepkor.

SOME OF THOSE I HELPED

BCX, BHP Billiton Southern Africa, Ellerines Holding Limited, Media24, MNI, M-Net, M-Web, CSIR DPSSS, Sanlam, Sasol, Solidarity, Standard Bank, Venture SA.

RECOMMENDATION

“The value of rhetoric should not be underestimated. A 35 word statement can have a substantial impact on a company’s success. Words do lead to action. Spending time to develop the few words that truly capture your strategy and that will energize and empower your people will raise the long-term financial performance of your organization.” — David J Collis & Michael K Rukstad, Harvard Business Review April 2008, p.90.

The language and logic of investment advice clarified! Read more, click here.

RESEARCH REPORTS

“Don’t lose your pension! 8 questions you absolutely must ask your financial advisors” is the result of a lively debate on my blog during the financial crisis of 2008.

THE BOOK OF THE BLOG