A World Brought Together Via the Web: G’day, Mate!
The Small Business Trends experts (and their expertise) come from all over the world, even “down under.” The Web makes the world a very small place.
Susan Oakes, director and co-founder of Marketing for Business Success Pty Ltd., hails all the way from (yep, you guessed it) Australia.
You may know Susan from being a frequent commenter here at Small Business Trends.
Susan recently began writing as part of the Small Business Trends Expert network over at the SMB Marketing Guide site. Congratulations, Susan! Her recent contributions, “Does Your Brand Have a Strong Identity?” and “How NOT to Do Direct Marketing Campaigns” are real ‘corkers’! (Australian for ‘excellent’).
Those down under might say, “This Sheila gives us seppos good oil and makes a quid via her bizzo, M4B Marketing. She’s a Dinky-di, alright!”
The American translation for the last Aussie slang line is, “Susan gives us Americans useful advice and earns a living via her business, M4B Marketing. She’s the real deal, alright!”
(Translation courtesy of the Aussie Slang Dictionary.)
Groan…Australians don’t talk like that at all.
This might sound funny but it’s tedious – the terms you’ve dredged up are from the 50′s – a long time ago!
Ken, I’m sure that is true and no harm was meant by Staci.
People are always joking about how I speak “Pittsburghese” being a Pittsburgh native. “Yoonz gonna get some jumbo sanguiches with an Arn City before you redd up the house?” (Translation: Are you going to get some bologna sandwiches with an Iron City beer before you clean up the house?”)
I never take offense because I know they’re just having some fun and don’t mean it in a disparaging way. I joke along with them.
Apparently I do have a rather distinct accent even after having moved away from Pittsburgh years ago and people who know the accent pick it up within 2 or 3 sentences when I speak. For instance, several people have said they pegged me as a Pittsburgher because of the way I pronounce the word “downtown.” But for the life of me, I can’t hear any difference between the way I say it and the way anyone from another area pronounces it.
Anyway, back to Australians. Absolutely no offense was meant toward Susan — on the contrary, we’re all very proud to be associated with her. And no offense was meant toward anyone from Australia.
– Anita
Staci,
Thank you very much for the post, very unexpected and I feel honoured to be part of the Small Business Trends Network. The web is making it easier to enjoy great associations around the world.
Ken, Aussies are known for their sense of humour and absolutely no offence was taken as we do not take ourselves too seriously.
Susan
Awe, I didn’t mean to offend anyone. My apologies. (No sense of humor Ken?)
I, too, am from “Da Burgh” (Pittsburgh) and have been asked many times if I am from the South due to my accent. People poke fun and I have a laugh right along with them. I don’t take myself too seriously and frankly, when I hear others mimicking me, its even more funny to me to hear the way “Pittsburghese” must sound to them.
Susan, I’m honoured to be part of the Small Biz team with you!
I like this short post since it reminds me that this community of experts is from all over the world. We’re all from different locations with different accents but we can (well, most times) come to agreement for business sake. Susan adds great value here and in her writings elsewhere.
I’m going stay out of the accent and lingo discussion as I’m from New York and it took me years to get to a place where people often can’t guess where I’m from! Not to say that I’m not proud of being from NY, I am, but for me having less accent made life easier.
The main thing I wanted to comment on was Susan’s branding post and highlight the Flying Solo site she mentioned in her post. I found that link and brand to be very clean and energizing. It is about running a small/micro biz and had some very helpful articles. Thanks for mentioning it Susan.
http://www.smbmarketingguide.com/brand-strategy/does-your-brand-have-a-strong-identity/
I looked at starting a business in New Zealand at one time and this site would have helped me navigate some of the pieces of operating in a different country. There are nuances to every place, right, even when the speak the same base language.
I agree TJ, let’s focus on the positive. Thank you for reminding us of what a good asset Susan is to the business world. I really enjoyed reading the articles she has posted on her own site.
TJ, I agree, that was a very useful link and I thought both of the writings had some great insights, too.
I think its wonderful how the Net unites the world – literally
I think its wonderful how the Net unites the world – literally — Really wondrous, Chris!
Hi Susan, we’re just a few miles away. I’m from the Philippines. Nice knowing you.
I thought all experts here in Small Business Trends are from US and occasionally have some physical meetups. It’s nice knowing Small Business Trends extended to different parts of the globe!
Just wanted to say thanks for the kind comments and they are appreciated.
Susan
Somehow I am getting thirsty when I read the word “corkers”…
Susan: Do you like Syrah / Shiraz wine?
Talking about cultural stuff. Soon you will be able to listen to a Swede and American in spirit, interviewing an American freelance journalist from sunny California. The podcast is directed and producing by an Australian by the Greek name Prodos!
Hi Martin,
I don’t mind a good Shiraz, but prefer white wine, especially Sav Blancs from New Zealand.
Susan, That’s good to know!
I remember I had a great Shiraz wine from my favorite place called Leaf & Vine in Troy, OH. It was produced by a famous Australian golfer. I don’t remember his name now, but his mark of distinction was a big hat and I think it was a shark a symbol on the wine label.
Great to see you on here Susan!