You have a vast experience in Ad & PR. From Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) point of view...Brand or Product - which is more important?
Jignesh Maniar: In the long run, both matter obviously. A brand cannot survive unless it's backed by a product that adds value to a consumer's life and in the current competitive market  - no matter how good your product is - it has to be supported by a Brand that stands out and connects with the consumer. From an SME point of view also, what you must have is faith in your product that it is useful and beneficial to a consumer and then devote your energies into creating a Brand for it so that it sells.

What are brand marketing strategies and how can implementing brand marketing strategies help SMEs?
Jignesh Maniar: A good marketing strategy allows the brand to gain a competitive edge in the market and reach it's target customers at the right touch points to create a customer connect. The main idea is your brand should be at the top of the customers mind when he thinks of purchasing the product or service you offer. Implementing the right strategy to market your brand can make all the difference that is required to win over the competition.

We often hear marketing gurus extolling the virtues of branding, but it's difficult to convince small business owners. Only a handful of SMEs believe in branding. There are many other misconceptions small businesses have about branding. What is your said on this?
Jignesh Maniar: I don't think it is misconceptions but rather a concern that will the SME get returns for their marketing initiatives and spends. The fact is that building brands means considerable investment and patience. But it also involves finding the right advertising partner.

Capital in hand is a big issues for most of SMEs in India. In that case what kind of marketing strategy is the best for them?
Jignesh Maniar: The most important part about marketing is understanding your Target Group (TG) and ensuring that the money is spent well targeting the correct TG. So prioritising and dedicating your resources towards the right avenues is the key. I would strongly recommend Digital Marketing for SMEs.

What kind of branding solutions do you provide to SMEs?
Jignesh Maniar: We're a 360 degree communications agency.  We do everything from retail packaging, advertising across all mediums including digital advertising and marketing solutions.

How you see the Social & Digital Marketing?
Jignesh Maniar: Social and Digital Marketing is the most cost effective way of marketing. It's growing fast and it will only continue to grow. Everyone owns a cell phone now and is connected to the world. Media habits are rapidly changing. The way we spend our free time has changed, we are more social than ever before but our social engagements are growing more and more digitally. Hence marketing your product or service online helps you reach out to your customers doing the same thing they are doing - going digital.

Your group - Onads Communications also helps in aligning product and channels to deliver the brand promise to customers and help clients build strong footprints. Please tell something about your group. (How do you do this?)
Jignesh Maniar: Onads Communications is part of Onads Group. We see ourselves as solution providers. We have a team of experienced professionals who are very passionate about what they do. Simply put we are in the business of Ideas. Ideas that grow your business. Ideas that add business to your business.

What do you have for start-up companies?
Jignesh Maniar: For start-up and SMEs we have a complete marketing package which can be customised to their business. Because we are a 360 degree communications we can give just the right mix of mass media, digital marketing , on ground activations and retail branding to the company depending on the nature of business and business objectives.

Also suggest that what kind of advertising tool they must apply in their plan so they can generate more and more business?
Jignesh Maniar: There is no 'one shoe fits all'. Each business problem or opportunity translates into a unique marketing challenge and hence a unique solution.

Could you tell us about your network and how are you planning to expand it?
Jignesh Maniar: Onads Communications is a full service creative agency offering both Mainline as well as Digital communication services. We offer Creative Brand Services - everything from print to tv and radio and everything in between as well as Digital Marketing - guiding brands through cyberspace ; spanning Social media, SEO, Website building and Digital Innovation. And our vertical for retail activation brings branding efforts to the final frontier of communication : the point of purchase.

What are your future plans?
Jignesh Maniar: We're planning to diversify more in the future and expand our horizons to help better serve the growing SME's segment. We are endeavouring to make Onads group as an inseparable link that works as an effective solution provider by coming up with more innovations and creative ways to help the SME.