Name of your website?Eyes Of Asia
Your name?
Irene Mylene Kasilag
Your Location (city, etc)
Pasig City
When did you start your website and why?
We started the Eyes Of Asia website May of 2006. Prior to this project, our team created the Filipino Photographers Journey (FPJ)in 1999 and PHILIPPINES, a royalty free CD in 2001. We kept looking for ways to promote and market the work of Filipino photographers, simply because it is synonymous to marketing our rich Philippine culture and resources by means of images.
Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc
Eyes of Asia is a general stock photography agency providing service to online customers and managed accounts worldwide. Organized to promote tourism and local investment opportunities in Asian countries, it acts as agent to all member photographers.
Eyes of Asia caters to various photo requirements for corporate websites, internet and CD publications, print publications and advertising materials such as brochure, calendar, billboard, TV commercial, and others.
What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?
There were programming features integrated in the website that were not included in the initial plan. Which means, more data sheets to work on. In our desire to pamper our Filipino/ Asian customers, we challenged our own creativity and capability of our programmers. There was enormous pressure to do a good job because our members are renowned photographers like Willy Abcede, Mario Babiera, George Cabig, Noli Gabilo, Orly Punzalan, Francis Rivera, Donald Tapan, Joseph Uy, Ghani Zaman, and others.
What has been the easist part of operating your website?
The easiest part of operating the website was the recent accessibility and affordability of servers, e-commerce payment systems that were not available back in 1999. The best part is having a team led by managers who have worked together since 1996.
What was your biggest mistake?
We made this mistake of investing heavily on salaries while we were doing trial and error until we could establish the ideal SOP. Sustaining the set up operations was financially draining. Eyes Of Asia is the first Filipino company to set up a professional digital image library and there's no point of reference. I have been country manager for 2 foreign libraries, however, as a marketing personnel, I had no access to the actual production operation so we had nobody to guide us except to use our best judgement and a lot of dedication.
Who maintains your website and why?
Brand Equity maintains the Eyes Of Asia website headed by IT directors, Tyrone Paynor and Shibaram Mishra. In the future, we hope to pass it on to a company who will provide the technology muscle and resources so that we can continue to create great website brands. While it is so tempting to make it attractive for commercial purpose, we had to maintain its socio-cultural content and provide value to researchers and publishers.
Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?
The website makes our online image library accessible to all photo users such as graphic designers, interior designers, and print producers. Overseas clients are able to search online, get online quotes, pay online, and download instantly.
What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?
E-commerce has propelled many favorable changes in the way we conduct business. It has opened doors to opportunities that were not possible years ago. Ths is a very exciting stage for internet users.
What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
SEO is a very significant tool. It is a major challenge to internet analysts. Since it is very much software-based, whatever updates in browsers and engines will totally affect the page results. The SEO experts are continuously faced with the quick turn over of this fast-paced industry.
What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?
I do not think any search engine could hinder a website's success. It is good for those who benefit from being on the top results but like all other businesses, some websites have their own niche market and they have their own strategy for reaching such market.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Links and mailers to advertising agencies, publishing houses, and tourism offices are proving to be very helpful while we have not yet engaged the services of an SEO company.
What method has been least successful for promoting your website?
At this point that we have just started to go into the marketing stage, it is too early to know which could be the the least successful in promoting the website.
What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?
I would like to experience more reliable, stable internet service in the Philippines.
You can enter a question of your choice and the answer here:
Thank you for these free services from Philippines World Directory. We hope to return your kindness in the near future. In the meantime, we are placing a link to your website in this URL http://www.thebrandequity.com/specialprojects.html
What is your website address?
Eyes Of Asia
