...TheMarketingblog was the official blogger at the 2008 Marketing Forum aboard the Aurora. From the first meeting with Ross Page of  Tom International (aboard the shuttle bus on the way to the harbour) to the final farewells to Nicola Newall of Cogent Elliott it was a wonderful opportunity to engage in networking par excellence.

Nicola Newall of Cogent Elliott gives her feedback on The Marketing Forum 2008.

"37 back to back meets and greets with client delegates later, and I'm still in a bit of a spin following this year's Marketing Forum on board The Aurora!

From the fabulous opening address by Mark Price of Waitrose on Wednesday night through to the battle weary breakfast on Saturday morning before disembarkation a few key themes emerged.

With the onset of tightening budgets in light of the credit crunch, more and more clients were asking how to use CRM more effectively to build relationships with their clients, how to build brands online as effectively as offline, and how to demonstrate to their bosses and boards that they should continue to invest in marketing through these tight times.

This is an important message
from the team at The Marketing Forum.

If you are a senior marketing executive:

Join us at The Marketing Forum in 2009 and we'll give you a world class conference programme, amazing networking opportunities and access to product and service providers who can deliver your upcoming projects!

Read more about the 2008 conference sessions 

If you provide marketing services and solutions:

Gain access to 300 senior marketing executives through pre-scheduled one to one meetings and unrivalled networking opportunities. We'll put you in front of senior buyers in a professional business environment. For many companies it is the most cost effective route to new business. 

We met Intelligent Marketing’s Tricia Weener at The Marketing Forum and she was excited about her cycle challenge to raise £10,000

Pedalling a mountainous 400km route across South Africa – George to Cape Town – over the course of five days will put Tricia’s stamina to the test. But a punishing training schedule of 75 hours cycling per week should ensure that she is up to the challenge.

Tricia says: “This trip will be incredibly tough. I’ll be cycling for seven hours per day in temperatures above 30ºC but the Norwood cause justifies all the hard work I’ve put in. I’m making steady progress.....

....Introducing Digi-products, electronic marketing technology designed to dramatically reduce design and print costs, significantly increase sales through better and faster targeting, comply with legislation and manage your online brand.

A marketer’s dream for your company! Digi-products - the video

Guerrilla marketing was taken to the next level in South Africa when morrisjones&co and Durex collaborated to create a quick turnaround billboard campaign.

Shortly after the press exposed the story about the defacing of billboards containing adult entertainment advertising, which were slashed to ribbons by an angry member of the public, the team quickly created a response.

A fantastic opportunity to explore new possibilities through debate and discussion in seminars and with suppliers.

Exhausting yet energising - an essential 2 days in any marketers diary who really want to improve their brand proposition and delivery.

It's excellent to have the opportunity to step out of the work environment and meet potential suppliers in a focused environment.

The Marketing Forum provides a great opportunity to network and discuss business issues with other marketing professional's.

The experience has proven to be invaluable and I've now got some great contacts who I'm going to be working with in the future.

I will definitely be booking to go next year!