Go Digital Cyprus Conference Key Takeaways
On Saturday 24th September, the atmosphere at the 16th floor of the Radisson was electric with excitement. Professionals and business people gathered at the first Go digital Cyprus conference and were enthusiastic to mingle and full of desire to learn from the experts. The 9 speakers shared their valuable content that will surely elevate businesses and helped keep participants engaged throughout and submerged in this interactive event. The bonus was the excellent networking opportunities to give cards and promotional material creating a synergy and exchange of ideas, questions and solutions. The participants left feeling stimulated and ready to implement strategies armed with new tools and knowledge.
Philip Ammerman
Digital Utopia / Digital Dystopya
The changes launched by technology over the past 20 years have been transformative. Web 1.0 and then 2.0; the emergence of artificial intelligence and machine learning; the Internet of Things; the first attempts at virtual and augmented reality; gaming; robotics and automation: all these are fundamentally changing the way we think, interact, work and socialise. The next 20 years will see even more transformational changes taking place, as these and other technologies become mainstream.
On the one hand, this promises a DigitalUtopia: a time of unprecedented prosperity, longer lifespans, and better health for those companies and entrepreneurs able to master the transformation. But for many who cannot adapt, this promises a Digital Dystopia, as manual labour is replaced with robotics and artificial intelligence, and as traditional businesses and professions are rapidly replaced and outmoded by emerging technology. It is our responsibility, as citizens and entrepreneurs, to understand the opportunities and threats of this brave new world, and act accordingly.
Jade William Dagher
Top Entrepreneurs Build Strategies
Outline: Always make sure to document every part of the process, especially the sales pitches!
- Documentation could be through written documents, presentation but most importantly, use videos.
- Videos could be done in different formats, what is important is to deliver the message in a simple and clean way
- Upload that video to youtube, generate a url and then embed it in the website or landing page
- Create a form through the ERP – Enterprise Resource Planner or simply using Google forms, JotForm or Survey Monkey
- Communicate with people through different social media platforms in order to save time on repeating the same sales pitch, and invest that time in generating new marketing material or networking opportunities
- Using email newsletter to create different segments, and communicate with each segment based on their profile
- Connect your CRM to your website in order to receive the forms, understand the journey of the client on your platform and customize sequential emails to follow up on your offering or raise awareness
- Sell in bulk, by organizing sales events or sales webinars, explain your presentation for the mass and then filter through the form created the interest of every person to focus on the most interesting ones o Book the one to one meetings with the most potential candidates and customize your offering accordingly
- Keep communicating with your database, of course by respecting GDPR regulations
- Make sure to set a strategy, a structure, a system in order to generate the right sales.
- Keep upgrading the process to uplift your numbers and result
Raluca Ioana Man
In a world that is constantly transforming let's discuss something that is permanent: THE 7 PRINCIPLES OF BRANDING
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” -Warren Buffett-
Your number one branding objective? Company expansion!
Food for thought:
A solid brand should offer consistency, clarity, continuity, authenticity and visibility.
1. Be different, not better.
Don’t fall into the “better trap”
What usually happens? Desire to outperform your competitors. How?
• By attempting to be simpler, faster, less expensive, voted number one, superior service, quality guaranteed, and so on.
• You may be doomed if you focus your brand on this business model.” Why? Because you are not creating your own identity in this manner; rather, you are tying your identity to your competitors, which is quite ironic: you commit to something you want to get rid of!
• Be distinctive. Create your own set of standards, methods, and rules to outperform your competitors. Shift the emphasis from utility to lifestyle branding. Because branding is a way of life!
2. Mission, vision, purpose and values are not just advertised, but lived out daily.
An organization is successful when its purpose and mission are clearly defined, and it has active values that support the purpose and mission.
• Brand positioning entails deciding how and where you want to position yourself.
• Purpose, mission, and values are strategic business elements that, when effectively developed and implemented, serve as a road map for the organization.
3. Internal branding must come first.
The most powerful brands emerge from within.
How?
• By actively educating your new and existing employees about the brand, its culture-what it stands for, which niche, industry, category, and, most importantly, its purpose-why it exists. Do you understand why this is significant? Because emotionally involved employees are more loyal, motivated, productive, fulfilled, and inspired by unity and a sense of purpose.
4. Your brand should be a lasting and dynamic entity.
What exactly do I mean? We discuss adaptability, flexibility, and variability. It is a method of distinguishing yourself from competitors while increasing customer understanding and loyalty. Don’t forget that your brand kit will be extremely useful in developing your long-lasting and dynamic entity.
5. Your brand should be the promise you make to your customers.
Take 2 minutes to consider yours. What is your pledge?
Because it isn’t just about “being out there.” It’s all about them and how you can meet their needs.
6. Story over product or service.
In an overly digitalized and automated world, humanity is the new luxury.
We have internet access, so we automatically have access to convenience. What effect does this have? It is obliterating the human touch…Someone else will write your story if you don’t write it yourself. I’m not sure that’s what you want.
Brand storytelling is the story that connects the facts and emotions that your brand evokes. Brand storytelling is not something you should consider, but it is something you must have!
7. Align tactics with strategy on a regular basis.
Do you know why over half of all projects fail? Because businesses do not have strategic alignment. It is critical to have strategic alignment with your projects, company objectives, decisions, and actions! Strategic alignment is an excellent business strategy that can help a company become more efficient, effective, and profitable. Tip: Alignment should include both internal and external teams!
Bonus Principle: Personal Branding
Personal branding is a never-ending process. It is all about how you project your brand’s values to the rest of the world. Personal branding entails not only marketing but also being your own marketeer. It is about standing up for yourself and your company.