Advance Information Sheet

The book that accompanies and ignites the European Union initiative improving competitiveness for Europes SMEs....

Advanced Information Sheet | futureSME TM | ISBN: 9781849141079 2011

The Marketing Press | Marketing Sans Frontires Ltd. | Arclabs, Waterford Institute of Technology Waterford, Ireland | T: 00353 1657 1440 / UK 0131 202 6090 | info@themarketingpress.com

Advance Information Sheet

Publication Title:

futureSME
Author: David James Hood PgDIM, PgDED, PGMN ISBN: 9781849141079 Publication date: August 31st 2011 Price / RRP: GBP 12.50 / Euro 15.00 Category: Business / Management Format: Hardcover, 216 x 140 portrait, English Extent: Approx 200pp Illustrations: 30 b/w, tools and methodologies Internet References: TBA

The world economy is changing rapidly and unpredictably, with the increasing globalisation of markets, emergence of developing economies and climate change challenging all businesses. Nowhere is this more keenly felt than amongst Europes small manufacturing companies.
- The E.U. futureSME project

Description futureSME is the book that forms part of the European Unions initiative for Small to Medium sized Enterprises of the same name. It crystallises both the findings of the EU-wide research to find out what issues affect SMEs effectiveness and competitiveness, along with the findings from MyMarketingLife, the professional Marketer community that relate to SMEs competitive advantage and how that can be linked and improved to advanced marketing prowess. The opportunity is for a Sponsor-Partner to support this exciting new book; as the book is to be provided to all participating SMEs in the programme (thousands over the next two years), this would suit a supplier or organisation seeking to supply to SMEs (particularly manufacturing) with products or services. A full page is available in the resources section for any Sponsor-Partner. Tens of thousands of SMEs involved and reading throughout Europe in 2010/11 Mainly progressive manufacturing companies with an intent to improve SMEs join the programme online and can quickly obtain their copy A large number of countries and enterprise partners within those countries are promoting futureSME to their audience of SMEs

The large majority of commercial companies in the E.U. are small businesses; they are not only important historically, but as the world attempts to move on from recession, those small to medium sized businesses can lead the way; they are hungry to harness what they need to improve their competitiveness and revenue generation. Those that get a copy of the futureSME book are more likely to go on and seek help from products and services that help them achieve improvements they are already taking major steps and investing in their future by taking part in the initiative and in obtaining the book.

Advanced Information Sheet | futureSME TM | ISBN: 9781849141079 2011

Main Selling Point / Key Points of Interest

The objective is to supply and promote the book to thousands of SMEs throughout Europe to help them markedly improve their competitiveness, agility and resilience The Sponsor-Partners logo is on the cover of the book and is identified as a major SponsorPartner within the books web site and a complete page in the Resources Section of the book, with links to the Sponsor-Partners own landing page (to progress and process any enquiries) Each SME is given a complimentary copy of the book as part of the futureSME online project and access to extracts The SMEs are predominantly in manufacturing and they have a need for products and services to improve their product, service, overall proposition and supply chain Many will have undertaken a quick and powerful online diagnostic that offers an action plan, so the reader will be in a mood for action and keen to engage Additionally, further value is enjoyed as the book is to be promoted to the MyMarketingLife and Global Marketing Network community collectives of professional marketers, managers and executives responsible for generating revenue for their organisations This book is EVIDENCED from work undertaken by researchers for the futureSME initiative and coupled with profound new SME marketing and competitiveness data and advances through MyMarketingLife by the Author; decisively upgrading traditional marketing tools and models to markedly enhance the competitive process for the SME Both the book and the futureSME online service takes the SME on a very quick journey, pointing them authoritatively in the right direct, and readying them for action

Additional points
The futureSME project identified that 5 of the top 6 issues for SMEs were to do with marketing; SMEs therefore have an evidenced and apparent need to improve their competitive abilities through enhancing their marketing prowess The book is positioned consciously for the forward-thinking SME that is currently investing or seeking to invest in its future The knowledge contained within the book is exclusively contained within the book; although excerpts may be provided, the reader will obtain the knowledge from the book only, thereby ensuring that the Sponsor-Partner has maximum impact and profile, fused with the book and increasing the Sponsor-Partners brand as being at the sharp edge The book cuts to the chase; there is no extraneous guru-type commentaries that simply follow the latest fad; the book outlines precisely what to change, what to change to and how to make the change to advanced competitiveness and marketing in specific steps The Author has twenty years experience at top-flight level and was an early innovator in modern marketing and a previous Chair of the Chartered Institute of Marketings Technology group, presiding over its rise and influence as a major organisation, growing it to 70,000 members; he is now creating the definitive MyMarketingLife community to improve efficacy and prowess for the Marketer and marketing Uniquely, it actually tells the Reader HOW to undertake the necessary changes

Advanced Information Sheet | futureSME TM | ISBN: 9781849141079 2011

Options
The Sponsor-Partner has the added opportunity to work with the Author to provide a round of speaking and promotional events, hosted or supported by the Sponsor-Partner, to attract and engage with a number of SMEs and which offer the opportunity for the Sponsor-Partner to meet with the SME prospect and customer companies (see the PLUS option below) There will only be a maximum of three major Sponsor-Partners, for the book, from noncompeting sectors There is an opportunity to invest a blend of budget and in-kind support (as the publisher and Author is keen to see a progressive and truly synergetic active Sponsor-Partner) It is NOT just about the level of budget that the Sponsor-Partner can commit to the book; it IS about what VALUE a key partner can give to the promotion of the book, the development of competitive advantage, and to the SME themselves; this opens up more of a synergy between the Publishers, Author and the Sponsor-Partner to really capitalise on the opportunity

Packages*
The publishers will be taking tenders for the opportunity to Sponsor-Partner the book and prices given below are indicative starting prices: 1. Book Profile Logo on the cover and a full page within both pdf and hard copy versions of the book (for six months duration and option to increase to one year) Package starts at 6,500 / 7,500 2. Book Launch As above, but with additional opportunity to host an event to launch the book and enjoy co-promotional launch activities and reach ~ 8,750 / 10,000 3. Book Event PLUS Opportunities to host or hold a number of min-launch or invite-only private events to maximise the geographical and exposure opportunity for the Sponsor-Partner and the book ~ 8,750 (one event as above) and 2,500 per event thereafter - 10,000 / 3,000
* Packages exclude VAT where required and out of pocket costs for the Author. The Author may include the Sponsor-Partner in promotional activities too, including some paid-for events that the Author holds. SponsorPartners will be kept to an exclusive minimum of non-competing organisations.

Format
The book is to be available in pdf format; certain key chapters and components will be made available to futureSME participating companies as extracts, and a hard copy paperback. The front cover is still to be agreed, but will carry the futureSME logo, references to the project and its EU support, and any logos from the clutch of Sponsor-Partners. The tagline for the book is yet to be firmed up.

Advanced Information Sheet | futureSME TM | ISBN: 9781849141079 2011

Chapter Summary
(The Chapter structure may change slightly from this format)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Foreword (TBA) Introduction (the book, the project and whats in it for the reader, fit with the futureSME initiative) The Reality: Addressing Stress for the SME Owner, Manager and Executive; big company ideas v SME realities Competitiveness and the SME: we want it; how do we get it? Increasing Your Confidence: Leveraging what you have Maximising SME Management: Making Better Decisions, Investments and Predictions Your Unique Selling Proposition: Agility, the Adaptive Organisation, Profit and Revenue Improvement Real Market Presence: Marketing on a Budget, Branding, Positioning and the SME What do we really need to do? Timing Issues, Knowledge and Investment Grasping the Opportunity ONE (MARKETING; changing to the customers currency and value; word-of-mouth sensing and management) Grasping the Opportunity - TWO, (SALES; improving the way we create and fill the revenue pipeline) Quick Wins (rather than Quick Fixes) - What to Change - What to Change to - How to Change Optimising your Proposition and Making More Money
Glossary

10.

11.

12.

13.

Resources including a full Sponsor-Partner page; links to resources allied to the futureSME project
Author Biography

Advanced Information Sheet | futureSME TM | ISBN: 9781849141079 2011

The Author

David James Hood is an experienced and leading Marketer, grounding his career and approach to business in Life Sciences, Electronics, Specialist Engineering and Environmental Science before moving on to the more ethereal areas of product and marketing management and the related area of strategic improvement of competitiveness. In 2010, he wrote the seminal book for professional marketing The Marketing Manifesto. See reviews for The Marketing Manifesto at: http://www.themarketingmanifesto.com/7.html He is currently the CEO and Concepteur of the specialist marketing intellectual property, capital and asset creation and development company Marketing Sans Frontires. He was an early innovator in modern digital and technology-led marketing, has served on the UKs Marketing and Sales Standards Setting Body, the manufacturing group CompetitiveScotland, and is a Guest Lecturer at the University of Glasgow and a professional member of the Global Marketing Network's Advisory Council. He was in demand as a Speaker during the dotcom and e-everything bubble, and saw that the marketing world was wanting.... And stepped up to the mark. It was during his term as Chair of the Chartered Institute of Marketings Technology group that he clearly saw some imperfections in marketing, and took up the challenge to help improve marketing as an art and a science. Existing practices that fell way short of the Marketers aspirations bedevilled the profession and he set out to do something about them. David is leading the development of the online professional marketer community MyMarketingLifeTM that is dedicated to sensing and serving the Marketer to bring forward new knowledge, products and services that are evidentially required by the Marketer, are critical to their personal and corporate success, and create real C.P.D. David has a postgraduate diploma in International Marketing and a postgraduate diploma in Enterprise Development; is a professional member and sits on the Advisory Council of the Global Marketing Network and is passionate about Scottish history, music and politics, anything French, and the interdependent business and societal activities between people and organisations. http://ie.linkedin.com/in/davidjameshood Images of the Author and Books are available upon request.

Advanced Information Sheet | futureSME TM | ISBN: 9781849141079 2011

Publication / Pre and Post Launch Information

This is being managed through a dedicated Twitter, the futureSME and futureSME book web site and through the MyMarketingLife and Global Marketing Network professional Marketer communities. To keep abreast of developments, please email the publisher and follow on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/futuresmebook www.mymarketinglife.com www.gmnhome.com

futureSME TM

The futureSME device, marquee, brand and term are trademarks of the futureSME programme and owned by it and used under license. All rights are reserved. The project is being coordinated by the team at the University of Strathclyde.

Web site: Contact:

http://www.futuresme.eu/ http://www.futuresme.eu/contact

Book Contact / Further Information / Images for Editorial and Features

T: E:

0131 202 6090 (UK) / 01657 1440 (IRE) info@marketingsansfrontieres.com

This document is a summary and for illustrative purposes only. It does not represent a contract or compact and the publication details and content may change at any time, and the Publisher / Author reserves the right to change any of these details at any time. The Publishers details are list at the top of this document. The text within this document is copyright. futureSME as a term, brand and device is the property of the futureSME project.

Advanced Information Sheet | futureSME TM | ISBN: 9781849141079 2011