Blue

lazy daisy weekend

I love weekends! They have been usually productive lately kicking off with wedding planning last night. We've finished finalizing the entourage and principal sponsors list plus which vendors to prioritize. This morning we finished doing the laundry, lounged around in bed a bit while enjoying the sunny day from the big windows. I did a little cleaning too but injured myself in the process. I hate that I am such a klutz. I cut my index finger and it bled. Ugh. 

And then when we were getting too sleepy again from the music we've been soundtripping to, we decided to take a walk outside to enjoy the lovely weather. I initially wanted to walk to Dunkin' Donuts because I've been craving for it since last week but when we got there I said I think I just want McDonald's because I've been craving for that too. I was surprised to see the Big Tasty on the menu. I remember it being called Big N' Tasty both in Hong Kong and Manila. I first tasted the Big N' Tasty in Hong Kong for about three years ago. And then last year it was introduced in Manila. Now it's here in the MIddle East but of all the Big N' Tasty I got to have, this one is the biggest! The cheese is different too. I think I like this the most and it's so big! Anyway, it definitely hit the spot. I felt so guilty after this burger I wanted to run it off.

Today I started on The Magic too. Read the other Rhona Byrne books too (The Secret and The Power). I like this so far and I love how there are everyday tasks. It's funny how I've wanted to start a gratitude journal since end of last year but never got around starting it. This is a good time to start. I already started the first list of things I am thankful for and can't wait for more lists. It's supposed to run for 28 days but I think I want to continue it for longer. 

I just love weekends when there's so much time to be lazy and productive at the same time. But tomorrow I go back to work so I better be catching some sleep now. 

Valentine's Day 2013

I am the least Valentine's Day fan I know but this year I wanted to make people smile so I went a little crazy putting together mini Ferrero and strawberry bouquets for my in-laws and a strawberry-dipped-in-Nutella bouquet for my husband. I went to the mall straight after work to gather supplies and did a little Amazing Race at the mall buying things in a hurry for my Valentine's Day project. When I got home, straight to work I went for hours until it was time to go to bed. By then I was so tired yet extremely fulfilled after writing on post-its on the finished products and getting them ready for Valentine's Day.

I found some ink pads at the local Daiso and used my old

eraser stamps I carved.

Strawberries dipped in Nutella bouquet for my husband

The Ferrero and strawberries bouquet for the ladies

Finished product! 

Man-food dinner and some dessert at home

Arm party for Valentine's Day

Crafting is great therapy but lately I seem to not have time for anything else but to eat and sleep when I get home. Just kidding. I have a few afters after work at night, just need to find more energy to do something else rather than catch up on t.v. shows and then sleep a few hours later. 

Marketing Tug of War between Internet and T.V.

I am one of those people who can live without television. I don't remember a time when I used to spend hours on t.v. because for as long as I can remember, I'm okay without a t.v. In fact, there is no t.v. in our room because everything I need there is my laptop or my smart phone for it. And it helped a lot that I switched my phone to a "phablet", a phone that doubles as a tablet because of it's size. It has actually become my e-reader now too aside from obvious reading, phone, and note-taking capabilities. Turns out that I'm not the only person who thinks so. More and more people, especially the younger generation, are slowly steering away from the t.v. because of the availability of tablets, smartphones, personal computers, and laptop computers. A lot of internet users have also gone mobile with their social networking and other Internet needs, which is why if an average person spends almost seven hours a day on the Internet, who has time to switch on the t.v. and stay glued to it? Even if people do watch t.v. they are still surfing on their tablets, smartphones, or computer. Who isn't guilty of that? I, for one, has admittedly short attention span when it comes to watching t.v., which is why I am always simultaneously surfing the Internet while watching. Most times I just give it up altogether and just stay online either Tweeting, posting/browsing Facebook news feeds, and reading stuff on the web. 

According to this article on Mashable, people are spending more time online than on t.v. as illustrated by the infographic below: 

(Click on image for larger size)

  

What effect does this have on marketing? 

According to survey data conducted by Harris Interactive and Belkin, a majority of the older generation (ages fifty-five and above) prefer getting information from their t.v. over computers and handheld devices. However, for the younger generation (18-24 age group) t.v. and laptops are competing for their attention. Thirty percent of respondents chose t.v. as main source of information while twenty-eight preferred laptops. Seventeen percent of these youngsters prefer smartphones as primary source of information. 

What do these figures imply? This means that the age of television is declining because the availability and convenience of the Internet. In fact, the latest models of t.v. are also trying to keep up with the trend by incorporating the use of Internet through t.v. With more viable options today rather than just relying on t.v. alone, people are choosing the most convenient way to access information online because it is faster, more up-to-date, and interactive. From a marketing perspective, businesses today are choosing to invest on social media marketing rather than the more traditional channel such as print and t.v. ads that could cost so much more than investing online. This is why experts and P.R. professionals strongly urge business to go online and be quick to adapt to the fast changing world of communication and marketing. However, businesses must not be complacent on this study alone because if they focus on one target market they might miss the fact that the target market these days have different desires and customers are more choosy because they know they have a lot of options to choose from. 

Furthermore, consumers have more power to choose what they want to see or hear more than ever because they have more choices now and more control over what they want to accept as new information. This survey also indicates that the way consumers interact with media is quickly changing and businesses have to learn to adapt to this change. They need to think of better strategies in order to get their message to the target market and not be blocked off.

How can business adapt to the changing landscape of marketing? 

1. Invest in social media. It is as simple as that. However, unlike the traditional way of marketing pre-social media marketing period, they need to learn to humanize their brand name instead of blatantly marketing their products and services with sales pitches with the social media network contacts. This will only drive them away from gaining trust from prospects because people on social networks engage with people they trust and nobody likes feeling violated with sales pitches especially if that person is a stranger.

Social media marketing has to be done slowly and by humanizing the brand name, this means you need to add personal touch to your company first. Stop tweeting or posting status messages like a robot because nobody likes that and instead of gaining friends or followers, they will block you and shut you out even before setting foot on their doorsteps.

2. Listen to what people are talking about. Rather than straightforwardly mentioning a brand name, don't turn people off by outwardly selling a brand. Listen to what people are saying first and know what your target market wants, what they need, and how they want products and services to treat them. Establishing rapport is essential in social media marketing because a business has to gain trust first within a social network before even selling the product to them. By gaining their trust, they might even be the ones to ask questions first.

3. Humanize your brand. By putting a face to your brand, for example, speaking like a normal person would rather than preparing a corporate formal sales pitch, you gain the trust of prospects on social media networks by sending out the message that you are a person too.

4. Engage in social media network(s) activities. Aside from listening, be involved and create content-- photos, blog posts, articles, and videos that are entertaining, share-worthy, knowledgeable, and something worth sharing. People are looking for more interactive experiences online that entertains as well as educates and businesses can create such content to engage prospects and current customers to their brand.

5. Adapt, adapt, and adapt. The fundamental shift in communication in the world of marketing is ever-changing and a businesses needs to learn to adapt if it wants to tap into the endless possibilities of social media marketing. Their approach must be fresh, engaging, and user-friendly. Their content and the information they share must be easily accessed through different channels.

Even the big brands of today are enjoying the benefits of investing in social media marketing. A lot of companies are already online and these smart brands know that engaging in the social networking culture can have great rewards if only one knows how to utilize it.

(Sources:
http://www.ragan.com/SocialMedia/Articles/46231.aspx#
http://mashable.com/2012/11/28/social-media-time/)

Fun Workplace

I love my new job, my new office, and the new boss. The office is quirky with pristine white walls, comfy chairs, and a comfortable work conducive environment. We jave big windows too that lets in a lot of light, which is very important because low lighting can make one feel very sleepy and just groggy, in general.

So far I am into my second week on the job and loving it so far. I'm just still adjusting to the exhaustion from being at work the whole day and it doesn't help that it's hard to wake up because of the cold weather these days.

I am hoping that I will do well on this job because I like it here. Blessed!

Abu Dhabi Breakwater

Love it here! Nice breeze, good food, and great view! The Heritage Village is also here. I am yet to explore that. One of these weekends I will!

this is here

New blog! I've decided to create a new blog for my new (mis)adventure in this city-- Abu Dhabi! I've always loved this city and its culture. I feel that there is the entire country to explore and peel its skin one by one and get to know the UAE so what better way to do that than to chronicle my adventure too!

I've lived three years of my high school life here before. My family moved here when I was thirteen because my late father worked for the Philippine Embassy back then. His post brought us here and I spent three years as a teenager in Abu Dhabi. Now I am back as an adult, married to my husband and my high school sweetheart, and we are both expats here now. Funny where life took us-- back home to Manila and then reunited us in this city again.

My husband works onsite a few hours from Abu Dhabi and I work as a Social Media Specialist in the city. We're newlyweds preparing for our church wedding this November. In between work and wedding planning, I am still trying to enjoy life as it goes along without stressing too much.

Welcome to my blog!