
Writer, Thinker, Planner
New Zealand

Writer, Thinker, Planner
New Zealand
I'm a highly experienced writer and strategist with particular interest in marketing and advertising. Although I'm based in a small country (New Zealand) I've spent my professional career observing global trends and issues and applying those insights to my own endeavours and those of my clients. I intend to keep on learning and keep on thinking.
writing, emarketing, ecommerce, planning, strategic thinking
(Marketing and Advertising industry)
March 2009 — Present (5 months)
Michael is currently working on MARKETING REBOOTED, a new book designed to solve marketers' biggest problem, limited knowledge of new generation marketing tools and techniques.
Today's marketers have spent most of their business lives in an environment dominated by traditional media -- television, newspapers, magazines, radio and the rest. They have a comprehensive understanding of how those media work, and how to make the most of the current crop of tools. But now all that's changed.
Now marketers everywhere need to know more about the latest marketing tools and techniques (mostly web-driven) -- and they've been losing the battle.
It's a global problem -- traditional media are losing their impact and far too many marketers don't know how to master the new marketing paradigm. They're also (rightly) concerned about venturing into new channels and doing the wrong thing.
What they need is some sort of guide to today's communications environment, written from a marketer's point of view.
That's what they'll find in the pages of MARKETING REBOOTED.
http://www.MarketingRebooted.com
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)
April 2008 — Present (1 year 4 months)
My responsibilities encompass strategic planning, thought leadership, research, analysis and communications.
(Self-Employed; Myself Only; Writing and Editing industry)
1998 — Present (11 years)
I'm a published author (TRADE ME SUCCESS SECRETS, an in-depth guide to New Zealand's online auction marketplace, now in its second edition), an occasional playwright (especially comedy and children's theatre) and a regular writer of newsletters, articles, web copy, reports, powerpoints, newspaper columns, etc. My portfolio also includes press & magazine ads, radio commercials and a few TV commercials. My particular skill: explaining complicated topics to make them more accessible. I've worked in advertising and marketing for thirty-something years, mostly in ad agencies, and I'm still going strong.
(Public Company; 11-50 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)
September 2006 — April 2008 (1 year 8 months)
G2 New Zealand, one of the operating units of GREYgroup in New Zealand, is part of the WPP group of companies worldwide. I moved to G2 in 2006 from sister company MediaCom. My role at G2 encompasses brand planning, communications strategies, new business and developing thought leadership for the company in the advertising and marketing space. I write, edit and publish a regular newsletter, the MARKETING DIGEST, which circulates via email to advertising and marketing professionals in New Zealand and elsewhere.
(Writing and Editing industry)
December 2004 — November 2007 (3 years)
I researched and wrote TRADE ME SUCCESS SECRETS, a book about New Zealand's leading online auction website Trade Me. The process began in December 2004 when I first had the idea and contacted Trade Me to gain their permission for the book. Research followed, including interviewing many of Trade Me's top buyers and sellers; and the whole process gained momentum in April 2005 when I signed a contract with Martin Taylor and Russell Brown to publish the book under the imprint of Activity Press.
The first edition was released in late October 2005 -- and sold out in six weeks. A second printing followed, and the ongoing demand was enough to result in a Second Edition, published in November 2007.
(Public Company; 1-10 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)
April 2003 — August 2006 (3 years 5 months)
MediaCom New Zealand, one of the operating units of GREYgroup in New Zealand, is part of the WPP group of companies worldwide. I worked at MediaCom for three and a half years, planning and placing media, before moving to sister company G2 in 2006.
(Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Marketing and Advertising industry)
September 1998 — March 2003 (4 years 7 months)
My role involved a mix of projects: writing, producing and then selling online marketing information and resources around the world; writing and sending out weekly email newsletters to a number of different special interest groups; advising clients on their internet marketing activities; planning and placing online advertising; and even building (rudimentary) websites for a small number of clients.
1972 — 1973
writing, new technology, theatre, the arts