Ilongga Women Soaring High: Connected Women; #SheMeansBusiness

It all started with a cup of coffee and a bowl of soup, the experience begun. I entered the premise with a bundle of adrenaline rushing because I was a little bit late. I was not bothered and just went straight to the registration booth and saw some friendly fellows who organized the event. I gladly smiled to the usherette who led me to the table filled with women wearing different styles of suits but surely with the same goal like mine, to learn.

Connected Women Iloilo | The Mansion, Iloilo City

Connected Women was founded to create an interactive group of strong empowered women to share tips, stories, ideas and provide unlimited opportunities available for every woman. Gina Romero is the CEO and Co-Founder of Connected Women and now gradually growing across the Asia and soon to the whole world. She aims to let every woman empower each other by connecting to the world, share and help whatever means possible.

Gina Romero, CEO & Co-founder of Connected Women

 During the #SheMeansBusiness event held in Iloilo City, a sweet city in the heart of the Philippines, Gina believes that it is the inspiration behind building a community of tech-powered women entrepreneurs, freelancers and professionals.

Also, Anton Villaluz spoke to hundreds of women explaining that social media such as Facebook and Instagram are now becoming very popular and as life goes easy, women should embrace change. In the Philippines, more and more people are using it and benefiting from it for any purpose. Connected Women pushes Ilongga Women to utilize the advantages technology can bring.

One quick and fun talk given by the COO and Co-Founder of Connected Women Ruth Yu Owen as she introduced the main speaker of the event, Facebook PH Lead Trainer Professor Aries Patawaran who will discuss Facebook content strategy, branding, and marketing.

Ruth Yu Owen, COO & Co-Founder of Connected Women

Prof. Aries Patawaran, Lead Trainer Facebook Philippines

Professor Aries is so passionate about teaching what he knew especially about online marketing, specifically with the use of top 2 social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. In his topic, we were able to understand the difference between Marketing vs Branding vs Advertising. He also discussed the 4 key questions to ask ourselves before marketing a business. We were reminded to be always clear on our "why"we should do online marketing. Organic and paid marketing was also mentioned in his talk.

Prof. Aries pointed out so many things for us to remember in putting up a business and for an effective marketing. Here are some of his useful insights I rephrased and I surely didn't missed:

• In putting up a business, you should understand your business' product-life-cycle.
• All business or product will come to a point that you needed to push really hard in order to save your sales or your business itself.
• You should always find something (a product, etc.) with value.
• To always be mindful of using useful and valuable preferences.
• Choose reliable ways.
• Know the reason why you prefer things.
• Be specific.
• Remember that business not about bigger pictures, pay attention to the small details.
• Start a business on your own.
• Is your business model working?
• Avoid being a "copy-cat", in business it will not work.
• Know how long to recover your profit after investment.
• Go with "long-term" businesses.
• Avoid business that will exhaust you right away.
• Pay attention to small things.
• Know how to alter directions or preference of clients.
• Always know your business logic.
• Assign and adapt a system.

Online Marketing 

Marketing is comprised by 4 Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.

Important things I learned during the Connected Women, #SheMeansBusiness (Online Marketing by Prof. Aries):

• You can create a good product if you know the need. Businesses are made to answer a problem or a need.
• As a business person, we encourage you to stop impulsive buying. 
• Make sure that your business items are intimate.
• Stop producing impulse products.
• Product development-servicized product.
• Avoid "sell and forget" items.
• Sincerity in business is very important.
• Positioning is clear. Position yourself or your business the way you want it to be.
• Differentiate yourself.
• Put a very good substance.
• Know your business objectives.
• Sale does not come, you create it.
• "Archeotyping" is very useful. Know your audience or your client better.
• Put a purchase pattern.
• Classify your customers. Know their wants and needs.
• Be consistent of your brand.
• Manage perceptions well.
• There must have stories in everything.

and so many things.

Learning never stops. Our time must embrace technology.

The time I step out of the room, I learned so many things. I also gained new friends, empowered and strong women from many different industries. Curate all the great things and intensify your passion.

Application is the next key! Hurray!