The Night I Became a Politician (Starry Starry Night)

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Haha I just couldn’t resist writing that title. Anyhow this was the New Media Malay Focus Group I attended yesterday. Good to see some of my buddies there, plus meet new spunky ones too. Oh, let’s not forget the opportunity with the MPs too.

The discussion hovered around anticipating the strengths, weaknesses, possible opportunities and threats that new media (specifically the net) poses to the Malay community. Here are my main takeaways from the discussion:

• The new generation of netizens (now in their teens) will be a tour de force.
• Netizens shape policies. This can be a nightmare if you’re in the business of influencing.
• The worst thing you could do is to use the "Ban Website" trump card when the time comes. Hence, this early active engagement by the members of parliament is good.

Here are my 3 tips for our friends in the office:

• Identify influence domains, not influencers. Chatrooms should be studied.
• Let the young know how savvy you can be with new media as well. The recent showing of PM Lee using new media for his national day speech is a step in the right direction.
• Be active in blogging. Have your own blog. And blog.

Were you there too? Please share your thoughts.

Photos from My Outward Bound Trip [3-6 Nov 08]

Asian Muslim Consumer Showcase 2008

Event: The Asian Muslim Consumer Showcase 2008

Venue: Singapore Expo Hall 5A

Date: 24th - 27 October 2008

Review: Honestly I expected more crowd on a Sunday. The products were diverse, with certain booths clearly monopolozing (notably bridal and food). Some newmedia stalls were there too, such as Fadzuli’s IslamicSg Networks. His yummy tv screen which was connected to his laptop caught my attention, and of course I couldn’t resist thickening my skin and asked if I could have the pleasure of looking at my site through that yummy rectangular thing…

When you’re in these sort of settings, do try and stand up. The evidence is there; booths with the sellers lazily sitting down won’t get much good impression and presence from transit customers. In these sort of settings, first contact is extremely crucial.

Also, get your theme together. Maximise as much of that space which you’ve spent, and decorate every corner you can to fit your product. Cost per square inch versus presence per square inch worth pondering.

Were you there too?

http://www.amcsmegasale.com/

Selamat Hari Raya (Turn Up The Volume)

(Rarely you hear music on Hafihz.com … but what the heck, rejoice!)

PS: Here’s a rather out-of-point but good food tip for households celebrating Eidil Fitr in Singapore: Cook something else other than ketupat / lontong and your guests will love you. ; )

The Art of The Forum

So today I was at Bugis, near Masjid Sultan, on stage together with AbangAbu, Fadzuli and Shaheed. A forum of some sorts, where the stall owners and anyone in that area could ask questions related to business. Think Forum Perdana meets The Apprentice, with a pinch of rojak.

It was going well, all smiles and all as we tried to answer as best as we could (looking as best as we could) amidst the humid weather. Then this “ha-you-gen” (the streetfighter fireball sound that Ryu and Ken make… oh come on, don’t pretend you don’t know!) like question came salvo-ing at me, a question that I think will haunt me for some time to come…

“What is the best marketing strategy you have for me?”

A giant gong-like sound went in my head.

I did not answer the question as well as I expected myself to. Then in the bus and walking home I was still thinking of my response. The question itself was okay, no points deducted for the generality of it (it is a public forum, so what do you expect Hafihz?). However what followed came the realization of how to answer forum questions when you’re a panelist.

The Art of The Forum: Answer with Finesse.

Marketing Course 10 July 2008

As part of Fadzuli’s blogging course. Topics covered included the marketing plan, SWOT Analysis, segmentation, targeting, positioning, the four Ps (Product, Price, Place, Promotion) and specific strategies for home based businesses.

Two thumbs up for their 1)learning spirit and 2)ability to absorb the new info. My measure of success for the talk was customer satisfaction based on highly scientific marketing metrics. Here are the results:

1. Mean Number of Shoes Thrown at Me: Zero
2. Number of Yawns: Zero (Really!)

For your personal set of notes discussed in the talk, contact me.

Video and Photos of Shaykh Khalil Moore in Singapore

Here is a link to photos of Shaykh Khalil Moore in Singapore.

Did you attend any of his talks? Share with me your thoughts and experience.

Feu De Joie

A feu de joie (French for “fire of joy”) is a salute described as a “running fire of guns”, on occasions of public rejoicing. It can also mean symbols lit in a public place as a token of joy.

My Family

Receiving from 77th Street CEO Miss Elim Chu

My Partners in War

Feu De Joie

When, comes the Help of Allah, and Victory, (1) And thou dost see the People enter Allah’s Religion in crowds, (2) Celebrate the Praises of thy Lord, and pray for His Forgiveness: for He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy). (3)

[Quran: An-Nasr]

Internet Marketing Talk Preview (100708)

Ad Source: The Berita Harian, 4 July 2008

Event: Internet Marketing 101

Date: Thursday 10 July 2008, 7.45PM

Location: Near Tanjong Pagar MRT

Fees: Free (for blog course participants AND subscribers of Hafihz.com)

–

RE: Personal Note from Hafihz to Valued Subscribers

Dear friends,

Like my marketing articles? Then try and attend the above talk.  Just like my site articles, I will give as much value as I can on issues of internet marketing in that 1 hour (or more… you have to stop me, I’ve been known to exceed time limits when sharing advice and tips). It’s also a great time to catch up with you, and exciting for me personally to meet the faces and talents (more exciting than looking at just your email addresses definitely).

Of course, if you’re unable to attend, then I will update you as well of how it went. But just like any concert, nothing beats being live in the event itself. =)

(Psss… If you’ve not registered for the blogging course, and you wish to attend, then why not subscribe to get your free pass too? )

Subscribers, email me for more details.

Sincerely.

Shaykh Khalil Moore in Singapore (June 27th - July 6th, 2008)

Shaykh Khalil Moore is an upcoming Islamic scholar who has learned in the hands of professors and shaykhs in Madinah, Mauritania, Morocco, Emirates, Egypt and Yemen. He studied the Maliki and Shafi’i jurisprudence (fiqh), Arabic language and has translated and edited several classical and contemporary Islamic books. Here is Shaykh Khalil Moore’s website.

Here are two pictures taken during his da’wah visit to Singapore, specifically at his talk entitled “A Rose in The Desert - (Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)”.

“Give mutual gifts and you will generate love amongst yourselves.” - Shaykh Khalil Moore, 2008

Shaykh Khalil also advised to download The Seminal Advice by Habib Umar bin Hafihz .

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