VBS Student Blog | Insights, Experiences & for Personal Growth

Gone are the days when people used to actually get out there for Shopping. A new era of online shopping has pounced on the traditional markets and traditional ways of shopping. Earlier days there was a fear of buying without feeling and touching the product, the security of payments and the overall buying experience in the mind of consumers. But with the increasing number of technological advancements, the fear started fading away. Plus, there are way more secure options of buying products online and paying for that of those. It is welcoming new opportunities and bringing the world closer.

While there are many platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, etc. performing their best, there is an addition to the list which is one of the most trending social media platforms among the Millennials - Instagram. The platform which was only popular as a social media app for posting pictures, is now focusing on becoming a more business friendly platform. Selling on Instagram has got a lot easier with the launch of Instagram’s Shoppable Posts feature. Instagram has launched this feature, a native integration that makes it easy to tag and shop products directly from the organic Instagram Posts. The testing of the feature has been going on since 2016, which has officially launched for the users now.

All you need to do is create a Facebook catalog with Facebook Business Manager, create a Shop with the help of Shopify or BigCommerce and connect the online shop to your Business’ Instagram account. After which you can upload the photos you want to tag by setting up Post settings, Upload and you’re done! It’s that easy, quick and simple.

According to a research, 32% of Internet users are using Instagram. Which means that there are chances for a good amount of engagement on the platform. It’s also worth noting that Women typically spend more time on Instagram than Men. Also, 59% of the Instagram users are between the age 18 to 29 years. This data shows that there is a great opportunity to build brand awareness, which means there are greater opportunities to make Sales. With the advanced tools offered by Instagram, you can see detailed analytics of who is viewing your posts as a seller, customize your storefront, examine the engagement of viewers etc. Also, there are Hashtags which lets you search through content and discover new posts related to the topics you are interested in. You can directly Chat with buyers or partner with Influencers for indirect sales. With shoppable posts, customers can picture themselves with the product easily, see the relevant information they need to determine whether they are interested or not, without even leaving the app. What a powerful tool for businesses.

Shoppable posts are the best that can happen to any e-commerce business, small or big. Shoppers enjoy the convenience of this digital marketing trend, which helps them to receive relevant items directly to their Instagram feed and make purchases with ease. Shoppable posts help you gather data about shoppers to improve the effectiveness of your social media marketing. The more relevant data you have about your target audience, the more effective your marketing would be. By using images and videos, Shoppable posts leverage storytelling to help you sell your product visually. Storytelling manages to set an emotional response and improves the consumer’s memory of your products. The new feature shortens customer journeys. It only takes two clicks to go from Instagram to the desired product in the seller's store. Shoppable posts create a direct transaction between your e-commerce brand and consumers. It’s all in the past when retailers seemed like they could never be reached or were too high for customers to reach. You can learn more about your customers by using Shoppable posts. You can have an idea about what they love and what they don’t, what they are obsessed with and makes them stick to their screens to scroll continuously.

Businesses have seen a significant rise in both traffic and sales since launching the shopping feature on Instagram. 75% of Instagram users take action after seeing an advertising post on Instagram. Instagram has become a search engine for consumer desires due to its strong interaction. If you look at Instagram as a search engine for your consumer’s interest, you can curate products that will sell better on Instagram compared to your e-commerce site. It’s a great time to be on Instagram, that’s for sure!
Nowadays a large chunk of internet users use Instagram daily. In this digital age, consumers are looking for easy and superior online experience. This feature helps your brand leverage the power of social media in increasing brand awareness, engagement and sales. Instagram is all about sharing stories and showcasing lifestyles. Eventually, you want to place your brand apart from the competition and make it the most appealing. You can generate tons of sales if you play your cards right!.

- Vaishnavi Wagh
PGDM-Batch: 2020-2022
Vivekanand Business School

 “Humour in advertising is like a gun in the hands of a child. You have to know how to use it. Otherwise, it can blow up on you.” (Miller, 1992)

 As the new era of digitalization continues to evolve and grow, modern businesses are stretching the traditional media to digital means of marketing. New technology has made it much easier to collect information on consumer actions, desires, and wishes, from a marketing point of view. Because of the rise of the internet and e-commerce, marketing tactics have changed. Marketing is a business activity that includes recognising, anticipating, and fulfilling the needs of consumers. Advertising is a form of marketing in which a business pays to have its messaging or brand advertised in a specific location. Consumers' purchasing decisions are influenced by advertising, which has a psychological effect on them. Advertisement, if performed correctly and strategically, will improve consumer retention and sales.

Advertising is like a one-way channel of communication. There are various benefits of a successful advertising campaign. A company can achieve following means through advertising;

• Persuade consumers that the products or services are better.
• Provide product or service information to customers.
• Set or Boost the Brand's Perception
• Draw new customers while maintaining the ones you already have
• Create product or service requirements or desires for customers.
• Make new products or services recognized.

While the facts mentioned above are well known, using humour in ads is a new trend in the advertising world. According to Fugate D., “Advertising humour refers primarily to the ability of audiences to respond positively when one or others are portrayed in a playful manner”. Although humour is by no means a guarantee of better advertising, its effect can be enhanced if the intention is carefully considered. Advertisers have experimented with targeting humour in dozens of experiments over the last few years. Humour is a complex concept that is influenced by a variety of factors.

However, the query of humour's utility in advertisement remains unanswered, we may put together records of humour research in the context of appropriate constraints to gain new insights into its resources.

Three factors affect the effectiveness of humour as a marketing tool:

Humour causes consumers to;

1. Watch
2. Laugh
3. Remember

A reference from famous American Sitcom FRIENDS

Humour is a common concept that is easy to understand and appreciate, and it often triggers people to laugh. Simply put, it's the consistency of being funny or comic. There is no widely agreed classification of humour types, but sorting humour into philosophical, theoretical, or realistic categories is considered to be significant. The categories are sarcasm, puns, personifications, comparison, exaggeration, silliness or even black humour. In magazines, sarcasm is the most popular type of humour, while on television, silliness comes out on top. Humour has the power to relax an audience, break the ice, and create a bond between the communicator and the audience.       

According to surveys, 94 percent of advertising professionals think humour is an excellent thing to get audience's attention. Besides that, 55% of advertising research executives agree that humour is more effective than non-humour in drawing consumers' attention. Around 30% of all commercials contain some sort of humour. Nowadays, the creative ability of using humour in ads has no limits. Consumers should be made to laugh, but the commercial should also influence their actions and attitude toward the product or service. It needs to make them remember the product, so that when they make a purchase, the product or the brand will come to their mind.

Humour can benefit in a lot of scenarios. It has the potential to make or break your brand image. We are bombarded with ads on a daily basis. It would be fascinating to learn why we respond to certain ads and ignore others. Humour is a perfect way to attract and hold people's attention. Consumers enjoy advertisements that make them laugh. Funny things have an intrusive nature and can draw attention. According to Abraham Maslow, people tend to develop a more comedic view of life as they mature. Laughter helps people to detach from reality. However, comedy is culturally specific: what is humorous in one country cannot be amusing or understood in another. It is not acceptable to make jokes about everything in advertising, particularly sensitive items, because the commercial can offend someone.

However, influencing the human’s mind is never easy. One of the quotes from advertising genius David Ogilvy is “The consumer is not a moron; she is your wife. Don’t insult her intelligence”. Even though there are a lot of techniques about using humorous appeal, advertisers must spend the time and effort necessary to understand their target audience, much like one has to understand his wife.

Vaishnavi Wagh
PGDM-Batch: 2020-2022
Vivekanand Business School 

Mumbai, formerly Bombay, is India's financial, commercial, and entertainment capital. Mumbai is the city of dreams; for many people, it is here that their professional careers begin. Mumbai is a paradise for everyone, and one city you'll end up falling in love with, whether it's because of Bollywood, the unique corporate culture, or the fast-paced busy life. Major financial institutions and top firms have headquarters in Mumbai, providing business opportunities and the potential for a higher standard of living. 

Many top MBA colleges or business schools (B-schools) in Mumbai like Vivekanand Business School, generate tomorrow's entrepreneurs and business leaders. Building a successful management career usually requires the implementation of certain well-defined tactics, and enrolling in a PGDM course at one of the best colleges is the best option. Finding the best college that will prepare you well to keep ahead of the competition in a highly competitive market is one such tactic.

Why PGDM?

PGDM is one of India's most excellently advanced courses, catering to business needs and assisting management aspirants in developing specific skills to become industry-ready professionals. PGDM services add value to the standard MBA curriculum, which is strongly sought after by employers. It is important for a management aspirant to choose the appropriate programme and management college for their relevant career goals. To get the most out of their degree, one should try to get into one of the best schools. India has a multitude of successful PGDM colleges to help management aspirants pursue their potential.

However, if you want to pursue this course in Mumbai, you can look through the list of top PGDM colleges in Mumbai that have maintained their management education standards. In today's intensely competitive global business environment, these colleges are assisting students in standing out. There is a growing demand for management graduates with a special expertise for business and strong people management skills. Management students at top business schools are provided with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle themselves before they manage others. While not all successful business people have a management degree, such as a PGDM, having a management degree gives you an advantage in moving ahead to have a successful career.

How choosing the reputed B-school for PGDM is important?

Pursuing a PGDM at a reputable B-school provides a comprehensive knowledge of management principles and market strategies across a wide range of industries. The true essence of a management journey is to face business challenges, and the best PGDM colleges in Mumbai train students to face these challenges, helping them to make wise decisions. Students that earn a PGDM degree focus on a variety of topics, including management concepts, marketing management, human resources, organisational behaviour, and more. This often facilitates them in obtaining place in various fields of interest.

Recruiters are likely to be looking for applicants who have shown good leadership and management abilities. They also look for management graduates from top B-schools, as they know these students model themselves exquisitely. You will learn how to interact with people, how a business organisation functions, the challenges that come with it, and the best business practises that a manager can pursue if you choose the right institute. The best B-schools make sure that their students are properly mentored by teaching them about the intricate details of management. There are many students who want to pursue PGDM programmes, and narrowing down the best colleges in the country is difficult since there are no set criteria.

Students who pursue a PGDM from top management institutes in Mumbai, such as VBS Mumbai, will acquire extensive knowledge in business management. This will help them not only develop their skill sets, but also find the right jobs in their chosen specialization.

Here is our list of the top 12 best PGDM colleges in Mumbai.

S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR)

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)

VES Business School (VBS)

Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS)

Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research & Entrepreneurship Education (SIMSREE)

Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WE School)

IES’s Management College & Research Centre (IES MCRC)

N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies & Research

Lala Lajpatrai Institute of Management (LLIM)

Vidyalankar Institute of Technology (VIT)

K J Somaiya Institute of Management

SIES College of Management Studies

So, these are some of the top-ranked colleges in Mumbai which one may consider for PGDM.    

My personal experience at VES Business School is enriching as it offers all the necessary facilities to students, they took their time to design the courses meticulously that help to aspiring business professionals to achieve their goals. Also, The PGDM programme is designed keeping in mind the current industry requirements. It encourages students in interpersonal skills which involve time management, communication, active listening and thinking creatively, developing new strategies and objectives, analyzing data and information, and more. All these skills learned during PGDM can differentiate you from others. The best colleges in Mumbai for PGDM are helping students develop such skills and prepare them for the global corporate sector.

Vaishnavi Wagh
PGDM 1^st Year
Vivekanand Business School

The amount of data we have at our disposal is exponentially growing, and making use of it to derive useful observations and interpretations has become increasingly necessary. This is where the field of business analytics comes into play. Business Analytics is the analysis of big data using analytics, statistics, predictive analytics, and other optimization methods and strategies to relay information to specific stakeholders. Business analysts may assist an organization in making critical choices such as cost reduction, customer loyalty, and benefit enhancement. Let's look at the different career opportunities available after completing a PGDM in Business Analytics program.

What is Business Analytics?

The sales and marketing data from the same time span reveals a lot about how goods were received in various markets and what factors contributed to their success or failure. Similarly, historical data from various industries, such as banking and finance, automobile and healthcare, education, and legal services, is a valuable source of market intelligence. They also have sufficient clues about current and underlying patterns. Business analytics entails applying applicable knowledge and technology to historical data to gain useful knowledge and intelligence for forecasting and decision-making. For its purposes, it employs a variety of data collection methodologies and solutions. Some of the most common facets of business analytics are data processing, mathematical analysis, and predictive analytics.

Where to study?

A business analytics management program is commonly available in PGDM courses. In India, numerous PGDM colleges deliver postgraduate diploma programs in business analytics. To train for a PGDM diploma at a PGDM institute, you must first pass their admissions process. However, you should be vigilant and selective in your choice of the institute. PGDM and Business Analytics are also very competitive fields. You can only enroll in what is genuinely a decent institution if you want to find a good start in your career after completing the course.

PGDM Course in Business Analytics at Vivekanand Business School

Vivekanand Business School is rewarded as one of the best management schools in India, if not the entire South Asian country. It provides PGDM programs in a variety of specializations, including Business Analytics. Rather, the PGDM in Business Analytics offered by Vivekanand Business School is among the best. The institute has a strong reputation for including all of its students in high-paying jobs. The previous batch of PGDM students was offered campus placement at an average wage of Rs 6 lakh per year, with the highest package offered at Rs 12.4 lakh per year.

What Would You Expect from a PGDM in Business Analytics?

When you want to pursue a PGDM in Business Analytics, you are committing to a career that requires you to work with large volumes of data. It will be your responsibility to sift through it and find important and appropriate material. Let's not forget that a vast amount of data is produced even when you're working. That's something you can't afford to overlook. This means that your work can include data processing, data aggregation, and other similar tasks. Data analytics, which includes business analytics, is a wider concept for arranging data for research and discovery. Data and enterprise analytics encompass a wide range of advanced features. Computer scientists and data developers are among them.

Since the field of analytics is expanding, combining a management course with the acquisition of analytical skills will help you succeed in your career. You will learn the following skills as a result of pursuing a PGDM in Business Analytics: SQL databases , Python and R, Survey/query software, Business intelligence and reporting software, Data visualization, Database design, Problem-solving skills, Effective Communication, Creative Thinking, Industry Knowledge.

After completing your course, you will be able to join one of three major domains. Descriptive analysis, prescriptive analysis, and predictive analysis are the three types of analysis. Companies assign you to a role based on your qualifications, domain expertise, and work experience. From multinational corporations to e-commerce businesses, every industry is looking to recruit an MBA with analytical skills because it is the way of the future.

Job Opportunities after PGDM in Business Analytics

1. Data Analyst

The day-to-day duties of a data analyst vary depending on the sector or specialization under consideration. Data analysts are often expected to collaborate with data scientists, IT teams, and management to assess organizational priorities.

2. Supply Chain Analyst

Improving an operation's output is one of a supply chain analyst's main duty. They do this by determining the criteria for a specific project and integrating them with the rest of the team. A supply chain analyst communicates the information to engineers and quality assurance practitioners because they are expected to test their new supply chain methods.

3. Big Data Analyst

A Big Data Analyst's job is to research the market by identifying, collecting, analysing, and communicating data that can be used to guide potential business decisions. A Big Data Analyst deals with unstructured data, patterns, and secret trends, among other things. To become a good Big Data Analyst, you'll need problem-solving skills, the ability to think creatively in difficult situations, and innovative thinking.

4. Business Analyst

Understanding evolving market needs, assessing the effect of these changes, defining and analysing requirements, and recording and promoting cooperation among all stakeholders are all things that business analysts do.

This concludes the section on career opportunities after a PGDM in Business Analytics. The sector is growing in popularity, and more employers are searching for PGDM graduates with analytical skills. The specialization has a bright future.

Thank You
Yashna Bhagchandani
PGDM A (2020-2022)

 While taking admissions, we have the habit of going to the college, giving an interview and then waiting for a list to come for god knows how many days. With the similar mindset, after our graduation, looking forward to do a PGDM, our hunt for colleges began, looking forward to go to the college and going on with the procedures, little did we know that everything is going to be digital. Exactly a year ago, WHO declared the spread of coronavirus a worldwide pandemic. As a result of the outbreak, colleges at all levels were forced to be closed. Virtual learning was adopted by institutions all over the world, with teachers, students, and local leaders rapidly adjusting to a completely new way of life. 

With the admissions flawlessly conducted, our college started on 3^rd of August. Being skeptical about how colleges will function, or will digital learning benefit us? With all these questions in mind we started our journey in VES Business School. Generally, we have a notion that classroom teaching is the best way to learn and achieve something, but during this pandemic it has shown that if we have to survive, we need to learn, we need to adapt to change and that is what our faculty did, their age didn’t matter, they learnt the technology even when they weren’t tech-savvy, they did everything they could to give us a better learning and space to grow. 

Digitalization of education was something we never really thought will happen, but the pandemic has taught us a lot of things, we thought through digitalization we won't really get the growth in ourselves and we’ll definitely be a couch potato, but on the contrary, the VBS college conducted leadership series, various workshops and seminars, also gave us a hands-on experience on designing through a competition called M.A.D- Mad about Design, A facility layout competition. Conducting competitions such as Sarvoday, giving us an insight on Social Entrepreneurship. The college encouraged us to also participate in various intra-college competitions, I personally have participated in various blog writing competitions where 2 of my blogs have been published. I along with my classmate won Markswiz- A marketing case study, this competition made us learn that where individual Participation is important but also team participation is something that taught us to work in a team, handle team conflicts and achieve success.

By heading the Alumni Cell, and successfully conducting its first event of our academic year by inviting the alumnus gave us a platform to interact with industry leaders, know about their journey and their thoughts on the ongoing pandemic and its effect on various industries helped us to widen our horizon and think with a very open mind. I am thankful to the VBS faculties for being very supportive and being helpful in every phase of our journey till now.

It is not necessary that we can reach our potential through the traditional method of teaching and the typical way of sitting in a classroom and expecting us to grow, this pandemic has been a lesson to us that even when there are barriers to your growth, there is always some or the other way to grow, and to reach our potential. Digital learning is not bad provided we have the resources we need and most importantly the intent you have in your mind to prosper and spread your wings. 

Thank You
Yashna Bhagchandani
PGDM A (2020-2022)
Vivekanand Business School