Behind the Scenes: The AyosDito.ph iBall
Working with AyosDito.ph is not a joke. Being with the marketing team is not just about photoshoots, smiling for the cameras, interviews, planning parties, meeting celebrities – it’s about knowing your brand, loving your brand and communicating it to others the best way you can and as my direct boss and Marketing Manager of AyosDito.ph, Tanya Cabbab, tells me, “See, breathe, smell, feel and even dream about your brand.” And I do. I am in love with AyosDito.ph, the great deals that come in the site (and John Lloyd and Solenn and John Medina, haha).
Just a brief background on AyosDito.ph;
AyosDito.ph is an online classified ads website catering to the Filipino market. AyosDito.ph is developed for Pinoys by Pinoys from 701 Search, Inc. It is a joint venture between Singapore Press Holdings Limited and Schibsted ASA. Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SPH) is Southeast Asia’s leading media organization with a roster of 17 newspaper titles in 4 languages; over 100 magazine titles and numerous websites. SPH is also involved in the fields of broadcasting, outdoor advertising and properties. Through its subsidiary Schibsted Classified Media (SCM), Schibsted ASA is currently the biggest online classified advertising company in Europe. It has activities in mature markets such as Belgium, France, Spain and Sweden, as well as growth markets like Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
(Taken from:http://www.ayosdito.ph/about/index.htm?ca=5_s)
I remember asking during my final interview, “What is the difference of AyosDito.ph from all the other classified online sites?”. The Chief Operating Officer of 701search, Inc. answered me with a smile and, “The team knows what they are doing.” Now that I am with the 2011 No. 1 Classified Ads website (as awarded by Digital Filipino Search Profile Index) , I totally understand what he meant. That is what I love about AyosDito.ph – the team knows what they are doing. They are not after the number of people using the site – the team’s main goal is to give the best service they can to its users. AyosDito.ph wants its user to feel satisfied with all great deals that they can find in the site and at the same time makes sure that the sellers tap a wide range of market. What's great about this is that the services of the site are FREE! Posting an ad and looking for great deals are both free and easy!
When asked about scam and fraud cases, well, we all know that we can not totally avoid them. It happens everywhere. What does AyosDito.ph do about it? We review the ads. This is for the very reason that we would like to minimize scammers and fraud cases if not totally erase them. The team is very particular of dubious ads – we call sellers to confirm if need be or send them an email regarding their postings. To keep the site clean and updated, ads are deleted after 60 days but not before confirming with the seller if they want to continue posting the ad or the product was already sold.
Aside from the past months exciting work responsibilities, I was given the task by Miss Tanya Cabbab, to organize a Blogger’s night. So why Bloggers? “This event is (also) to say thank you to the community closest to our hearts. Bloggers who have experienced using the website have shared their hassle –free shopping experience online, and were instrumental in bringing other users to our site”, Jon Santico, our General Manager said.
For a young and admittedly, gimikera girl (lady?) like me, the Blogger’s night is an excuse to look cute (haha), meet people and and party while working! But no, I remember again what Miss Tanya told me – See, breathe, smell, feel and even dream about your brand. So I didn’t get drunk nor danced the whole night because I was scared I might make a fool out of myself. Yet, I still had a blast at the “AyosDito.ph iBall: A CELEBRATION OF THE NEW PINOY LIFESTYLE!
So what is the New Pinoy Lifestyle? Who are the new Pinoys? The new Pinoys are the ones who take something and make it unique. With the internet right now, there are lots of possibilities for us Pinoys – we can watch movies, videos, get work done, write blogs, meet people through social networks. And of course, buy and sell. With AyosDito.ph, buying and selling online is free and easy! Think sari-sari store online version! Ayos di ba?
Every element of the event revolved around the NEW PINOY LIFESTYLE – food, venue, hosts, Click girls and boys, games, music and even the lootbag!
THE FOOD and DESSERT. We didn’t serve the usual pika-pika to the Bloggers. We made sure that it would be something new to them but familiar at the same time. Food served was a twist on regular Pinoy comfort food. The Plaza served Tempura Quail Eggs (a modern take on streetfood favorite - Kwek kwek), Mexico meets Pampanga’s best Sisig Tacos, Atay Pate on Fita (a childhood favorite), Tuyo Pasta (the simple tuyo, glammed up), Angus Corned Beef in Pan de sal! The honey-mansi iced tea served by Nestea served was so refreshing. Another special treat was the the kakanin ice cream in 3 flavors – Champorado, Mangga’t Suman and Sapin Sapin ice cream by Sebastian’s. Alcohol was served also in 5 different flavors; Buco-Lychee Martini, Mangga-rita, Pink Cotton Candy, Caramel Beer Shots, Rainbow Shots! Something new naman, di ba?
THE VENUE. COWO Asia is actually a virtual office where individuals can meet up and work with other entrepreneurs, freelancers, designers and professionals in a creative environment. Members can actually use free wifi, landline and the work area. It’s like an office of your own! You have your own café also! We decided to put the celebration there because the venue has a new concept and at the same time it has a friendly feel to it! Perfect for the new Pinoys!
THE HOSTs. Being on the stage as the co-host of the wholesome (that night he tried! haha) DJ Tony Toni, was one of my most memorable experiences ever! It was my first time to host and I was so scared and nervous but DJ Tony Toni was so nice and he even gave me tips! He told me to pretend like I’m just talking to my bestfriend so I won’t get scared! And that’s what I did! It worked! Looking at the official photos of the event, most of my shots on stage was doing a laughing-my-as*-off! Even though we had cue cards with us, most of the stuff said on stage was candid. O di ba? A wholesome DJ Tony Toni and my first time to host? New for everyone!
THE CLICK GIRLS and BOYS. Models usually grace and serve as ushers/usherettes during events. Not us! Instead of hiring boys and girls to take care of our Bloggers, employees of AyosDito.ph were the ones who attended to the needs of guests. This is also our way to introduce to our users the faces behind the site plus they are the ones who can best answer the questions of the guests as well. New experience for the team and new learnings for the blogger’s part!
THE GAMES and RAFFLE. The Bloggers all participated to two games that night! One was the “Win the Best Deal”, the prizes were GCs and for the lady winner, flowers from John Medina and for the guy winner, a 1-minute date with Solenn Heussaff. Swerte naman! The other game was a “Digital Bring Me”. We posted photos from existing ads on the site, gave clues and the first one to find the ad gets to win a prize! Ambilis! In less than 15 seconds, someone comes up to me and Dj Tony Toni to show us the exact ad! Mind you people, Ipads and Mobiles ang gamit ng Bloggers! We also gave away a Samsung phone, a Mini-Fuji instax and an Ipad! Bago nanaman to for everyone!
THE MUSIC. HARANA.PH is the first and only professional serenade and surprise service in the country that allows you to send the traditional harana in a fun and exciting way. They sang their own versions of APO’s "Panalangin", Maroon5’s "Moves Like Jagger", etc. Old and new songs but definitely Pinoy pa din ang dating!
THE LOOTBAG. It contained an AyosDito.ph shirt, notebook, COWO flyer and one-day pass, Coffee tumbler, and the USB Pen which contains the presskit, behind-the-scene video of the TVC shoots, Solenn and Lloydie official AyosDito.ph photos, point-of-sale materials, and the 4 TVCs of AyosDito.ph. We veered away from the usual printed in bond paper materials because new Pinoys are always on the go. Everywhere the Bloggers are, they can actually read and check the materials anywhere they are!
More photos from the iBall;
Our Special Guests: Solenn Heussaff and John Medina
All in all, I can say that it was a great event. We were able to meet new friends and of course, tell everyone that AyosDito.ph cares. Even Solenn and John mingled with the Bloggers, took photos and entertained questions! It was not just a party, it was a celebration of the new Pinoy lifestyle, it was a thank you to all the Bloggers who helped AyosDito.ph in every way they can. Thank you to FLEISHMAN, NUFFNANG, COWO, HARANA.PH, NESTEA, SEBASTIAN'S, THE PLAZA, DJ TONY TONI, SOLENN and JOHN M, THINKPADD and WILDFIRE! Until the next event everyone! Thank you for your support and don’t forget,
“Basta buying and selling online, AyosDito!”
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