Culver Songalia

I attended the 3rd Internet and Mobile Marketing summit last August 25-26, 2009 in SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia and the conference was very loaded with information regarding digital marketing.

Some people out there, myself included, have voiced the opinion that social media is just a fad. That it will fade away in a few years like discman and cassette tapes. And I think in some cases, they’re right – not every type of social media will be around in 10 years, not every new website or idea out there will survive, but there is no doubt in my mind that social media like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have become a cultural phenomenon like nothing we’ve seen in recent history.

The fact that these websites have grown to such gargantuan proportions in such a short time is a true testament to their power as marketing tools. Maybe you’re a doubter too – maybe you don’t want everyone knowing what you’re doing every second of the day…but don’t you want them to know what YOUR BUSINESS is up to? Wouldn’t you kill to have a television commercial that ran all day on the exact channels and shows that your customers watch most? Wouldn’t you like to be able to contact a customer that’s thinking about buying your product by sending a little message to their cell phone while they’re shopping?

Sure, I’ll be the first to admit I’ve doubted some of the options out there (friendster, myspace, for various reasons) – but there is no denying the power of hundreds of millions of subscribers…especially in such a short amount of time.

So take a look at how Facebook, YouTube and Twitter can impact your company. But BE CAREFUL – just as with any other form of media, if you’re not using it right, you may as well not be using it at all. Make sure you’re leveraging social media in the best way possible.

Why digital marketing is more efficient than traditional marketing? Because it has a personal relationship with the consumer. It informs the consumer- educate-connect and make them participate.

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When I was a kid, I have so many dreams. I dreamt of becoming a priest but because someone stolen my opportunity to become a scholar of our parish priest, it did not pursue, and now I am a family man. I dreamt of becoming a lawyer but because of poverty and an irresponsible father, I landed on enrolling BSMT which the money I used for enrolling came from a good friend. And I am 25 then. And later I enrolled in BSCOE but I didn’t finish it because I realized then I am just wasting my money and time. And now I become an entrepreneur.

The lesson I’ve got on my past experiences is “I should have protect always my dreams.” No matter what. I remember the movie The Pursuit of Happyness when Chris Gardner spoke to his son “Don´t ever let somebody tell you, you can´t do something. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can’t do it. You want something? Go get it. Period.”

Here is a short clip I have found, I recommend watching it.

By the way, this is a true story of Chris Gardner.

Unfortunately our world is filled with dream snatchers. Many who fail take comfort in seeing others fail. They don’t want to see you do something that they couldn’t achieve. Dream snatchers come from all walks of life. They are not necessarily enemies or strangers. Often times the dream snatcher doesn’t realize that he or she fits the mold. It could be a friend, coach, or even a family member.

Don’t let dream snatchers bring you down. Use their negativity to spark new motivation. If someone tells me that I can’t do something, I work that much harder to prove them wrong. I am the only person who lives inside my skin. No one knows what I can or cannot do. We as people are often not as smart as we’d like to believe. No one truly knows what others are capable of achieving. We can’t look into a crystal ball to see the future. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. No one knows how bad you want it. No one knows how hard you are willing to work. No one knows how much you are willing to sacrifice. These are unique (individual) factors that differentiate you from everyone in the world. The individual writes his own future. Don’t let anyone steal your pen. You need to take ownership and then live with the decisions that you make.

Perhaps the best advice you’ll ever hear is to believe in yourself. This advice applies to all facets of life (ex. school, career, sport, etc.). You can only go so far when you live a life of doubt. When you actually believe in yourself and refuse to give up, you’ll often surprise yourself and others.

There is a saying “If you think you can, you’re right. if you think you can’t, you’re right.”

+Ciao

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