Really- time flies.
And as The Whiz Times comes closer to being a one year old company (technically speaking)- we are now focussing on marketing, business development, partnerships and monetization.
First months where the months when the product was taking shape, ideas were taking shape and really we did not focus much on acquisition of (droves of) users or customers. Talking to potential users (parents, moms, kids, schools) and customers (Brands, advertisers, media agencies) for feedback? Yes. Other stuff? Not really.
The business is new to us and we are crossing the river by feeling the stones. No real damage there. Except for the fact that progress is slow and learnings are slow- but we also get to learn and get fundamentals strong. We also have a unique – an-almost-outsider’s-view of looking at media publishing and that is hopefully refreshing for the users and potential advertisers.
So the next few months will obviously have focus on product (lots of exciting things in the pipeline) but also a renewed focus on marketing and partnerships.
On partnerships, we have got feelers from some really big brands in the business, and we are open to anyone and everyone in the ‘Parents and Kids together’ ecosystem. The Whiz Times is a platform open to all to plug-in their regular content to us.
On marketing- apart from our regular digital marketing activities, an interesting thing happened recently.
The Global Indian International School, East Coast, Singapore, got in touch with us on whether we wanted to be a part of an international event they came up with, called ‘Innovation in Education’. It was a great chance to meet educators, moms, dads and kids and get first hand feedback. Plus also get users registered on to The Whiz Times.
We had just about 4 days to go and we had pretty much no merchandise (banners, posters, the works…). Plus there was no use getting an exhibit without engaging the visitors.
Forget getting registrations or feedback, just getting people’s attention would be tough. And, since it was an event with a theme focused around ‘innovation’ we wanted to cut through the clutter and be a little innovative. We had the very basic exhibition by the way. The lowest cost one. And we were nested INSIDE a classroom.
But there was an opportunity, something new to do, get in the face of potential customers and we grabbed the opportunity.
We had a concept. The thought was- since The Whiz Times is about, well, Whiz people and getting to Know your world. There’s so much happening! why not make that as a premise for engagement?
So we had the ‘Flash Whiz Quiz’. We had about 5 hours display time. We got a few posters printed announcing a Flash Whiz Quiz every hour! People could come, register on the spot (and an opt-in registration to the site) and participate in a Flash Whiz Quiz. All the answers could be found on The Whiz Times.
So if you knew there was a Quiz in the next hour or so, you could look around on The Whiz Times, maybe just the Quiz section – and read up on a few stories. More importantly, it hammered the concept – and you could use the site again when you went back home.
Further, we printed certificates of participation and certificates of winners. Every participant would get a certified ‘The Whiz Times’ certificate of participation. The Winners would get A special winners certificates PLUS gift vouchers from a bookstore. Not really high value, but something the kids would love (and they did!)
So- all in all, a low cost, high engagement affair. I had anticipated 5 quizzes with about 20 odd participants- but we ended up having about 35 active participants- who actually participated in the quiz- and many pulled their friends, actively campaigning for us (it was a carnival type environment). We had some registrations on the site, interaction with parents and overall, a lot of happy people.
Get a glimpse of the event in pictures
Whiz Kids in deep thought
May the force be with the Whiz Quizzers
Certificates, Gift vouchers and kudos. It doesn’t get any better!