When I was a kid I was already fascinated with data. I would leaf through the yellow pages and wonder how it helped people connect. I lived that dream and now it's no longer just about connecting, but searching and getting found. This blog is about my work as a "stitcher". There's so much we could do here at home and I am just plain happy whenever I manage to stitch people together.(Oh, BTW everything here is my personal opinion.)
Showing posts with label new media business tools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new media business tools. Show all posts
When my Mom and I were exporting furniture back in the late 90s one of the things that I had a difficult time in was researching the right market. The furniture we were producing served a niche market and the only way to get information was to go to the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion library. It would take me a whole day just to get the right data and the info wasn't usually updated. It was hard and when you are a start-up company it's even harder when your target market is out of your reach.
When my Mom and I gave up on our export business, my interest on it stayed on. I eventually found work that allowed me to help exporters and I've been on a look-out for things that would be interesting. I recently found out about Google's Global Market Finder. The research tool provides exporters data on possible markets that they can tap for their products. Here's an example of a search I did for rattan specifically for the Americas market:
Aside from locations it provides information on export opportunity, local monthly searches (on that country), suggested keyword bid (if you're doing a Google Adwords campaign) and competition (a gauge on whether competitors are targeting that market too).
I've been trying to watch TV again lately since I've been trying to stay offline after 10 in the evening since I usually start at around 8 in the morning. Fair enough right? Yeah right, it's 11:30 in the evening, I'm watching TV in my bedroom but I have my laptop on my lap and I'm feeding off from the wifi coming from my study room. Pfffttt...
Anyway, I was delighted to watch quite a number of TV commercials. They're all new to me since I haven't been really watching TV. What caught my attention tonight was PLDT's cutesy TV ad for its wireless landline (they're following Bayantel's lead now). It's where a guy is on the phone courting a girl and then he finally manages to tell her his feelings and then he asks if they were an item already. Then he kinda falls off his seat - because his Dad hits on the brakes - and the girl tells him that she has a boyfriend. Dad then teases him about the moves he was taking. Guy ends the scene by saying "I'm hurt... ouch!"
I have a good feeling that this line will pick up, the same way "Suportahan taka" picked up a couple of years ago. Remember the ad? -
Aside from catchy lines and ad slogans, there are other things that you should mind when doing ads. I learned these things on the job when I launched a brand from scratch by doing a full media campaign and when I did consultancy work for a property developer. I realized that I learned so much when I was looking at some flyers last night at Cafea. Here are some things to remember when producing ads:
1. When making flyers or other print collaterals, be OC (obsessive compulsive) about the images you are using. Looking at several flyers of properties I noticed that the images used were the same for different properties of the same developer. If your developments all look the same, then you should just have one flyer and just state the different locations instead of trying to fool consumers that they all look different.
2. When making radio ads, especially for mobile services make sure that the syntax you are trying to communicate will be easily understood by listeners. When reviewing your ads, do not wear your brand manager's hat, put yourself in the shoes of your target market. If you're the only one in your company who can remember all the syntax/codes, then your service offering has some serious problems.
3. The KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid) is very much applicable when doing TV ads, or any kind of ad for that matter. Sometimes it is so tempting to show off your intellect by making puzzle-like ads, but with the short attention span of consumers (like me), then better keep it simple. Your ad is only as good as the few seconds that a consumer will actually pay attention to it.
And, now I shall plug my upcoming business workshops and activities - November 19 - De La Salle Lipa/Google TechTalk November 23 - 20th Advertising Congress November 27 - Marketing Your Business Online at PTTC November 29 - Google University for STI in Baguio December 1 - Google Analytics at PHP Philippines December 6 - Google Apps for Education and Tools for Education December 10 & 11 - Marketing Your Business Online at PTTC (hands-on)
I was privileged to address almost 200 business owners for the Chinese-Filipino Business Club last week in Binondo. It is always a pleasure to spend time with SMEs and entrepreneurs since they have an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
So much education is still needed to bring all Philippine businesses online (I am hoping and praying for free wi-fi all over the country! Hehehe), but I am sure with staunch warriors such as Yehey.com and Jonas there would be significant growth in this arena in the internet industry. Now that’s a lot of good news.
So, let’s say you have a business and you’d like to put some presence online, what tools should you use:
(1) Gmail – the basic form of online communication
(3) Drive traffic to your website through a. Google AddURL - Submitting your URL/website address to Google b. Google Adwords - Advertising on Google
(4) Be more interactive with your customers through blogging a. Blogger – create your blog/online business journal b. Picasa – share your photos free c. Youtube – need to show off your product through demos, upload those videos on Youtube d. Myspace – put up a Myspace page and use this for podcasts as well
Here's Eric Schmidt (Google's CEO) and Terrence Merrill talking about Google Apps -
Now that’s a lot of FREE stuff! What are you waiting for? Sign-up today.
