Filipinos and WeChat

Philippines is the networking capital of the world and one achievement I supposed for this developing country. So why Filipinos like social media? One thing is that we are a very close knit family. Filipinos likes to be with the relatives and into extended family so using different Social Media accounts is very Filipinos, it’s the way of life. Based on statistics, 100% Filipinos have mobile phones and 30% are using the internet, imagine those who can afford with two or more mobile phones? No wonder that Telecommunication companies like Elabram Systems Group is expanding in the Philippines, the business is here. 

Bloggers during the WeChat event at Craft Bar in Taguig

As for the fast growing social messaging app WeChat, Filipinos likes freebies and with the internet or data in our mobile phones, Filipinos can use it right away with so many features to enjoy.

WeChat, with a wide range of social features including Live Chat, Video Call, Moments, Voice Chat, Group Chat, Shake, Look Around, Friend Radar, and Sticker Shop, integrates ease and convenience into the whole mobile experience making it more enjoyable and worthwhile. But more than an enhanced way of interacting with our peers, WeChat, through partnerships with brands that have become part of the Filipino lifestyle, is now a gateway to everything that Filipinos love and enjoy.

WeChat and FHM now and joined forces for a more exciting social media activity.

Mobile Shopping Made Fun

With online shopping brands like ZaloraPH and Lazada now having their own official WeChat accounts, WeChat offers users exclusive access to updates, sales, and promos—even discounts on best-selling items. What is arguably the next face of mobile shopping, WeChat offers its users access to Zalora’s over 500 top international and local brands of more than 15,000 apparel, shoes, accessories and beauty products, and Lazada’s wide array of mobiles, tablets, consumer electronic and household goods including toys, fashion and sport equipment.

It's easy to find friends around in the area using WeChat features. 

 

Your Own Mobile Fan Page

The Official Accounts feature is maximized to its full potential with WeChat now having accounts for personalities that every member of the household can relate to. Everyone from YouTube sensation Mikey Bustos, local comedian Vice Ganda, and tv host Phoemela Barranda, to WeChat brand ambassadors Iya Villania, Drew Arellano, and Laureen Uy have their own official WeChat accounts, connecting users further into the who’s who of Philippine entertainment.

 

WeChat is for the whole family because of the group messaging. 

In addition, with FHM now having its Official Account on WeChat, users are able to receive updates and photos of their favorite FHM girls. This latest partnership gives them a one-click way to interact with the country’s leading authority on women, men’s fashion, sports, technology, and entertainment.

Creating relationships between users and said brands makes WeChat the only social messaging app that considers it their mission to deepen the relationships of its users to the rest of the local scene. This makes WeChat the only mobile platform that seamlessly rides to the beat of Filipino lifestyles.

About WeChat

WeChat envisions and innovates new ways for people to connect, communicate and share. A mobile social communication app designed for smartphone users, WeChat is the world's fastest growing social app with hundreds of millions of users internationally. WeChat empowers users in fun and dynamic ways, by bringing together messaging, social communication and games in one seamless, interactive experience, with comprehensive privacy and security settings that can be tailored as needed. WeChat is available free for download on Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian and Windows operating system. 

Filipinos and WeChat

Learn more about WeChat and download the app at www.wechat.com

WeChat Philippines Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WeChatPH

10 Blogging Best Practices

As a PR myself and at the same time part of the media (online and print), I worked at Philippine Information Agency as Regional Media Coordinator (It is part of the Communication arm of the President of the Philippines), I came across with these practices from different media practitioners. Whether you like it or not, these are the things that is really happening and some of these practices are not only for bloggers but to those who are seeking to get them as media partner..the companies represented by Public Relation Officers. Let's give the credit where the credit is due. Check out my 10 Blogging Best Practices.

Companies I represent are expecting for an output. As a PR, I need to deliver what is due and as a Blogger, I need to write a good content.

1. Don't advertise two same products of competing companies at the same time (week,month) if you are still committed with the other. -- It's common sense, how can you promote or campaign two competing products? It's like how can you work with two competing companies. We must know that, it's not about the quantity of post or products we are promoting, it's the quality and our good relationship with these companies we are protecting. e.g. Promoting two Pizza Companies is like promoting two boxers inside the ring. 

Don't advertise two same products of competing companies at the same time. 

2. Choose only invites where you are interested so that you will write about it, PR are expecting an output for media mileage. -- We can't enjoy all events and we definitely can't write all especially if there's 5 invites within a day. PR chose us with only one thing in mind, media mileage. They are expecting an output as soon as possible after the event, it's a task too required for them by their companies. It's definitely work and an automatic expected output. We truly are excited to write about the events or products we like so to prevent a bad reputation like for bloggers who just attend events but doesn't write about it, just go to events you definitely like to write about. 

You can attend all events and go around the world but I suggested to go to events you are passionate to write about. 

3. Focus on the niche to have a brand--you can attend all events but make sure, you have the right blogs where to write them. e.g. Writing a food article to your gadget blog where you have specific readers. 

Lloyd Luna is known as the Inspirational Blogger, me for EmpoweredGrace, Tony Ahn as PR, Rod Magaru as Lifestyle Blogger and The VoiceMaster Pocholo De Leon Gonzales

4. Have Integrity, start with a real profile picture and always RSVP, don't gate crash, PRs are counting how many are coming because of the availability of venue, food to prepare and compensation. If you did RSVP, please be on time and be there. Most of the time, Presscon or events are invitational, If you commit to attend, please be there or cancelled the invite two days in advance so that the slot will be given to other blogger. 

Your profile picture is your ID and could be your brand

5. Be unique, avoid a content copycat. -- You went to the event or you checked the products, so share your observation, whether it's good or bad, anyway, it's a review. Press Releases can just give us the comprehensive information or details but it's still best to have your own review based on your experienced. 

6. Don't be a hog--It's still customarily for PR to give a token but don't ask for more unless there's an open negotiation. The Blogging community still doesn't have a strong standards for compensation. Though Compensation must be given especially if the company will use the bloggers as their marketing partners. Bloggers on the other hand are Online Journalist not affiliated mostly with companies unlike reporters or writers from leading networks. For bloggers same as salaried reporters/writers,  there's effort, there's transportation cost, there's allotted time to write about the event/product/services and there's definitely expenses. A nice compensation as marketing partner must be given to these bloggers and as bloggers, they must do their part. 

Companies have a budget for marketing, let's just give what is due. For Bloggers, write a good content.

7. Do your part--Maximize your Social Networks; Tweet, Post at FB, IG the event you attended. Public Relations Officers are usually part of the companies Marketing team. If the blogger commit to attend or participate, as much as possible, being a Social Media practitioner must disseminate information to all networking sites.  

Talk about it on Twitter, mention at Facebook, make it viral at Youtube or share photos at Instagram.

8. Don't talk badly against the PR, everyone's unique, do your thing, it's business to the companies, be professional. If you did, don't expect you are still in their mailing list. Also, the netizens know each other, bad mounting for sure will reach the destination and it will ruin your reputation. 

At Gardenia Bread Philippines Inc with the Public Relations Managers. The company sponsored most of my events and meetings. It's about relationships. 

9. Honesty--your online self must be your offline self. What you're doing or talking outside the computer world must be what you're writing or texting too. Definitely, especially if you are projecting to be somebody you are not online, overtime or for sure, because of word of mouth and because online is the extension of our offline life, it will be reveal. It's easy to be honest than to lie. Be yourself. 

                                                                                           Meeting offline with online friends

10. Give the credit where credit is due.-- cite sources. For legal purposes and as a good netizen. Write down where you copy a nice article and acknowledge the writer for the good work. If its a Press Release, cite the source. 

The future is Digital Marketing whether we like it or not, it's the technology that drives us to this fast paced age. In just a minute the product could be up or down depending on the strategy or content not really about the demand because the demand usually is the cause of the marketing. The Blogging Community must continue to work hand in hand in a common ground, give and take with ethics as the foundation or just a plain....common sense.