Senator Trillanes on New Media in Politics

Carlo Ople — Sat, 09 May 2009 04:57:54 +0000

I had the chance to visit Senator Antonio Trillanes in Camp Crame a few days ago. We talked a lot about different topics but mostly on the current political landscape. I know a lot of people have branded Senator Trillanes negatively due to his stint at the Manila Peninsula, but after meeting him face-to-face and hearing him speak, you will know that this guy really loves his country and that he puts it above everything else. Anyway, we also talked about the role of the internet in the 2007 elections, and how big it’s impact will be in 2010. I sent him follow-up questions after I left and he was kind enough to answer them. Check it out after the break.

Author’s Note: Since his holding area is in a maximum security area, I couldn’t take pictures or videos. In fact, the guards took all of my gadgets at the gate.

New Media Philippines (NMP): How did you use the internet in your campaign for the 2007 senatorial elections? Was it effective?

Senator Trillanes (ST): During my campaign in ’07, I used the internet, primarily, in three ways. First, as a source of information for myself when I was preparing my legislative agenda and, through my website, as a source of information about my candidacy/person that can be accessed by the internet-using electorate and, of course, the media.

Second, internet was used in my campaign to actively disseminate information about my candidacy. We did this through email blasts and the social networking sites.

Third, we used it as a means to communicate and coordinate with our network of campaign operators nationwide.

NMP: How big a role do you think the internet will play in the upcoming 2010 elections?

ST: Since the ’07 elections, the internet has become the fastest growing medium of communications and, hence, will play a significant role in the coming elections. Still, it is expected to remain a distant second to TV as a primary source of information as far as the electorate is concerned.

NMP: Any message for the readers of New Media Philippines?

ST: The coming elections in 2010 will be a turning point in our nation’s history. Our country’s future is at stake. We must participate. We must choose responsibly our country’s next leader.

Thanks to Senator Trillanes and his staff.

Marketer Feature: Francis Simsim, VP BlueWater Day Spa

Carlo Ople — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:44:39 +0000

Other than blogger features, I will also make it a point to interview and showcase Marketers or business owners who have tapped various New Media channels to promote their products and services. For the first feature, I was able to do a quick e-mail interview with the Vice-President of BlueWater Day Spa, Francis Simsim. We were able to discuss how they were able to generate thousands of visits and queries from their website because of blogger-based events. Read the transcript after the break.

New Media Philippines (NMP): Hi Francis! Thanks for accepting this e-mail interview. Maybe we can start off with you introducing yourselves to everyone here at New Media Philippines.
Francis Simsim (FS): Hi, I’m Francis Simisim, Vice-President of BlueWater Day Spa and President of Gang Ventures

Francis Simsim, VP BlueWater Day Spa

NMP: How did you use New Media to promote your product?
FS: We use the new media to spread the word out to our target market. We specifically target the internet social media (blogs, social networks, forums etc) to create buzz and spread the word about our great services, facilities and customer service. My initial campaigns was generally focused towards bloggers, by inviting them to events and making events just for them.

NMP: How effective were the blogger parties? Was there good ROI? Was it cost effective?
FS: The blogger parties were great, we managed to hit a huge market searching the web for great spas and have found us thru the process. Yes it was good ROI and was very cost effective (compared to other mediums) to us that’s why I’m going to keep doing events for bloggers in the future.

NMP: Did you see an incremental increase in sales after the blogger events?
FS: Not right away, it would take time for search engines to index the pages of the blogs. But after that, you’d get lots of queries and visits to our websites,

NMP: What was the most effective campaign that you’ve run so far?
FS: The BlueWater Day Spa’s movie theater blogger party was the most successful, attracting lots of bloggers to join but at the same time, drawn thousands of visitors from different search engines to our website which later became our clients.

NMP: Any comments regarding the New Media Philippines Blog?
FS: First of all, I love the design and layout. It’s very clean, simple and relaxing to read the contents. Second, I love the local topics. I found it hard to find specific local ‘new media’ news that I could read and this would definitely help me out. Contents are really helpful especially to SME’s wanting to get into the new media. Third, I’ve got great respect for Carlo, to his experience in new media here in the Philippines and I really hope to learn more from the ‘master’.

NMP: Wow, thanks for the kind words bro, haha
FS: No problem!

FYI: Francis is currently running another blogging competition wherein you can win a free massage from their newest BlueWater Day Spa branch in Capitol Hills. Click here to visit the mechanics.

New Media Philippines » Marketer Feature

Senator Trillanes on New Media in Politics

Marketer Feature: Francis Simsim, VP BlueWater Day Spa