Facebook? LinkedIn? Twitter? Blog? Webinar? Years ago when I started hearing those words and surely ringing back and forth like church bells in the Manila cathedral; my curiosity led me to “investigate” what were they? In fact, keeping up is like being a runner in Greenhills who can no longer keep up with young people. However, as my late grandfather Luis Olivares Sr. would say “It is only the Carabao that gets old”. Determination and positive thinking are two ingredients that must prevail. Like Clark Kent, I ventured out and always make sure to catch up with whoever is in the game. Of course, I make sure my body is tuned and certified by my doctors.
So I signed up for a Twitter account a few months ago and have been entertained by the news, the weather, and even the opinions of the people I follow. I also use Facebook to keep in touch with my clients, especially those who don’t open their emails but post photos to Facebook regularly. Even at international events, Twitter and Facebook accounts are de rigueur if you want to reach the largest number of people locally and internationally. To keep up with the phase, I partnered with a young and dynamic person who works from home but dynamically redesigns the websites of international companies from Australia and the United States. Apart from Twitter, I signed up for Linked In and created a Facebook fan page. Poor me! These serve as a repository for all my articles to share with everyone.
Speaking of international events, we are proud to announce that Chit Juan was invited by none other than Harvard Business School- Social Enterprise Conference 2012 to present the sustainable lifestyle ECHOstore, his social enterprise that is just over three years old. ECHOstore is a social enterprise providing market access to many underserved groups and communities who used to sell their products only at trade shows and parties. With ECHOstore sourcing from these groups, they are provided free sessions of design criticism and mentoring in entrepreneurship, especially in marketing, which is Chit Juan’s favorite topic.
We also learned that Chit is speaking at another conference, this time in Bangalore, India, on the topic “Women and Technology.” As we know, Chit has been active in the social media circuit, having a Twitter and Facebook account and even Linked In, which puts her in touch with her partners, sponsors and now international groups who want to know her business experience. We believe CEOs should take time to learn about Twitter and other social media, if their company should keep up with the times. It is never too late to participate in Twitter and Facebook, if you really want to feel the pulse of your market. What a shame those people who always say: “They are too old for that”!
I have always been an early adopter of technology. Telecommunications companies have approached me to test their upcoming devices and give my honest opinion from an entrepreneur’s point of view. Learning technology is keeping up with new marketing techniques. In the early days, having a closed circuit television (closed circuit television) was a rare thing and it can be for banks or places, which are sensitive in nature. Today, with such advancement and affordability, even kiosks like Baliwag Lechon Manok and Liempo have cameras with sound. With an active Facebook page, management can easily monitor business flow and verify customer service. If people used to write about “word of mouth” marketing, today it is more than “word of mouth”. It is faster and more viral than WOM. Today, you can even follow DOST Pagasa on Twitter. MMDA has even released traffic reports and continues to fine-tune them. Now there are applications (short for applications) for all types of OS (operating systems).
I keep Blackberry due to the BBM feature and social media accessibility in the palm of my hand. I can tweet and update my Facebook while on the road. I can send and reply to emails with a flick of my finger even without Wi-Fi signals. A couple of months ago I ventured to have a webinar (webinar). I couldn’t believe the benefit as I had around 200 people who came from all over the world listening to my 45 minute live talk. Now that I think about it, I was mobile traveling to another province. The signal was stable and the audio loud and clear. Ah, technology. And we think it’s just for the youngsters! It is people my age who should learn to use social media. We have to be thankful that the people who created social networks like Facebook and Google are bright young minds. Like Bill Gates, society often mistakes them for strangers. But who is laughing now at the banks that rake in millions of dollars? Recently, we now have virtual assistants like Siri and Vlingo. Oh I’m starting to appreciate your presence for Android and iPhone OS devices available 24/7 with no request for a raise!
So wake up as the Dick Tracey and Flash Gordon scenes are now among us! Take advantage and claim the success of your company!