Festival Indonesia, Australia’s largest Indonesian-Australian exhibition, was staged over three days at the Royal Exhibition Building in August. Working with the Indonesian Consulate and Festival Indonesia Inc., CI developed a campaign to promote the astonishing breadth and diversity of Indonesia’s culinary and cultural delights, its breathtaking tourism destinations and outstanding business opportunities. Two-way trade between the two countries in 2006-2007 was estimated to be $10.4 billion, and it is predicted that by 2020, Indonesia will be the world’s fifth largest economy.

We worked with Festival Indonesia Inc. to develop its key messages and communication goals, source and write up successful case studies and run an effective online publicity campaign – e-newsletters and blogs targeted to appropriate communities – together with a highly successful print and broadcast media campaign, which helped draw the crowds. We also assisted in confirming a key Gold Sponsor for the event, Villa and Hut.

“Festival Indonesia is a great opportunity for Australian businesses to secure one-on-one time with Indonesian exporters, business and government leaders,” said Franz Madlener, Director Villa and Hut, who believes some of Australia’s biggest opportunities lie “not only in what Indonesia can make for us, but in the businesses we can set up in Indonesia”. Put simply, he says, “Indonesia is the next China” (The Age, Aug.28 2008).

SBS played a major role in the pre-publicity of the event, as well as setting up an onsite broadcast over the weekend. Twenty-eight interviews with performers and delegates were recorded during that time, bringing colour and fun to the Museum forecourt.

Feature articles appearing in The Age, Herald Sun, MX, Asian Executive and local papers were supported by radio advertising and pre-event interviews. Festival Indonesia was highlighted on Channel 9’s Postcards, and also made international headlines in The Jakata Post.

Connecting Images prepared a comprehensive report of the 2008 event, and has developed a detailed timeline to assist a seamless production in 2009.

Have an upcoming event that would benefit from a professional promotion strategy? Arrange to come in for a chat by calling (03) 9819 2566.

Future Fibre Technologies (FFT) is an Australian company that manufactures and markets a range of fibre optic intrusion detection and location systems - amazingly effective solutions for securing high value assets and critical infrastructure.

Focused totally on the security industry, FFT is a world leader in fibre optic perimeter intrusion detection, detecting third party interference (TPI) on oil and gas pipelines, and protecting sensitive data communications cables.

Early in 2008, FFT engaged Connecting Images for an initial media campaign to support the company’s presence at the IFSEC tradeshow in the UK, where it showcased its unique perimeter protection products.
With little or no previous media awareness of FFT, our brief was to identify appropriate media, build relationships with relevant journalists, introduce them to the FFT products and capabilities with the view to achieving editorial exposure. The outcomes were most rewarding, and FFT has now appointed Connecting Images as its marketing and PR agency on a 12 month retainer.

FFT’s fibre optic perimeter intrusion detection systems protect hundreds of critical infrastructures around the world - including some airports.

While spending on explosive detection and passenger screening at major commercial airports around the world has increased massively in the years since the terrorist attacks on September 11, nothing has changed regarding the security surrounding Australia’s major airports themselves.

Connecting Images developed a media campaign around this issue, securing great media uptake and interest. Recently three more European airports commissioned FFT Secure Fence(tm) - this single system protects an entire airport perimeter and can pinpoint intrusions to within 25 metres.

Our focus now is on developing more web content, quarterly newsletters and regular blogs, strengthening FFT’s online presence and SEO, maintaining a prominent presence in national and international target publications, and supporting the company with its marketing and promotional activities at trade shows around the world. FFT is represented in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish and Japanese translations.

FFT is also very progressive with its customer induction and training. Our first project in 2009 will be to work with FFT to develop a new 2 hour training DVD, designed to enable integrators of the FFT systems to install them in the most effective manner, thus reducing the need for direct FFT involvement in installations. This training video will be available to all FFT installers - both new and existing.

As mentioned earlier last month, it is becoming more economically viable for a business to create or re-develop a website. As your website is more than likely to be the first point of contact most potential clients will have with your business, it is so important that it makes a good first impression. It is important also that your website represents the values and direction of your business, for now and into the future.

We recently partnered with Heat Beads^® to redesign their website, www.heatbeads.com.au. The goals included creating a better user experience, allowing visitors to the website to find what they want - quickly - and for the site to be an appropriate reflection of the market leader in solid BBQ fuel. This was achieved with a clean design, succinct copy and ‘fresh’ images all working hard to reflect the BBQ Culture of the Heat Beads^® Company and its community.

We specialise in creating websites that are search engine friendly and contain effective sales and marketing content. To find out more, give Cal Tod a call on (03) 9819 2566.