Educating a Technologically-Challenged Blogger: The Ben Francia Seminar Review
What happens when a technologically-challenged individual decides to enter the blogging world? A whole lot of confusion and frustration, that’s what. But enter I did about a year ago because of my new-found love for writing which developed from taking on an unexpected challenge to become a freelance content writer seven years earlier.
The Technologically-Challenged
The dictionary defines a technologically-challenged individual as a person who is totally unable to work with technology. Another more humorous definition states that a technologically-challenged person is someone who cannot, do not, and will not adapt to modern changes particularly in technology. Based on this definition, it would appear that I am not technologically challenged at all since I have been working with technology for almost eight years now as a website content writer and for more than a year as a blogger.
I feel rather uneasy though about technology. My brain literally freezes when confronted with technological gobbledygook. I am not particularly adept with the use of different social media platforms. I even find myself longing for the good old-fashioned typewriter (notice my header design) and good quality paper and pen every so often. From the time though that I became an accidental writer, I knew I had to learn the ways of technology and what better way to learn than to attend seminars and workshops about it.
The Ben Francia Seminar
Seminar Contents
Internet Marketing Consultant and Outsourcing Expert Ben Francia shared his secret for the second time to the Second batch of participants to his seminar on “The Secret to Getting Customers and Clients Online”. The seminar focused on Internet Marketing, what it is, its three pillars and the truths about the Internet Marketing Revolution. It likewise included a comparison between the two generations of Internet Marketing.
It also sought to explain why it is difficult to get customers online and to help seminar participants in finding their own Internet Marketing road map. Ben Francia enumerated what he believes are the five essential elements of getting customers and clients online. He likewise discussed how to build a magnetic online presence. Participants were also asked to fill up details for the Mini-Market Research Simulation activity.
Seminar-Related Details
Date and Time: January 30, 2012 9-12 am
Venue: Prestige Tower Roofdeck Function Hall at F.Ortigas Ave., Pasig City (moved from OCCI)
Food Served: Lunch
Seminar fee: Regular Rate: P 1.500/00 Discounted Rate: P 1,000.00
My Say
Ben Francia and his group were ready before the appointed time although the seminar/workshop had to start a little late to accommodate some participants who were still coming after the scheduled 9 am start. The time was adjusted accordingly towards the end to compensate for it. The venue, which was a last minute transfer decision was very comfortable and conducive for learning. The food served was good and filling. Water and coffee were free-flowing. The seminar fee was reasonable and deemed a good deal when the discounted rate is availed of.
The seminar was conducted in a way that can be understood by the participants most of whom, including me, are not digital marketing experts. There were a number who admitted to being technologically-challenged like me and yet who are still interested in learning about Internet Marketing either for personal or business use. Reading and writing materials were provided to the participants.
If there was any area that could probably benefit from improvement, it would be the time allotted for the seminar which came out short for the load of information that is still being offered by the speaker. Of course, this would have to be considered with cost since time extension would result to additional time for the use of the venue and the need to provide additional refreshments. It would have been great to have had a certificate for attending the seminar. To sum it up, joining the Ben Francia seminar/workshop was a very positive learning experience for me.
claire
Its really nice to attend seminars like this in order to broaden our perspective in terms of writing articles and blogging as well.
Teresa Martinez
Yes, there are some things that we think are obvious but only come to our attention when pointed out by others. I believe learning never ends.
JessicaWCassidy (@wifetoalineman)
You look so lovely Ms. Teresa 🙂 I would love to join seminars like that to learn new things about writing wonderful article :-
Teresa Martinez
Thanks very much for the compliment. It is very enriching to attend seminars like this.
ralph
it’s nice to enrich yourself attending such seminar… but maybe you can share to us na lang the secrets in getting clients… hahaha. thanks in advance. Yahweh bless.
Teresa Martinez
If you are directing the question to me on how I get clients, I use my blogs as a showcase of what I can offer as a writer and researcher. Every post that I include in my blogs forms part of a marketing strategy that hopes to present a reliable writer. I am not quite knowledgeable on techie strategies thus my interest in this kind of seminars.
marri
I don’t consider myself as technologically-challenged individual though I’m not that highly inclined compared to the youths of today who are so techie and can easily adapt to the fast-paced digital environment.
This seminar somehow enlightened the minds of people with less knowledge when it comes to marketing through business outsourcing.
Teresa Martinez
Every learning opportunity is a chance to discover, relearn, and improve on existing knowledge.
Cha Sy
It was for beginners. Very basic seminar.
Teresa Martinez
For people who are more than newbies in internet marketing, it can be seen as very basic but to people who are trying to get a grasp of the basic idea of the topic, it can be very enlightening.
che
Interesting topic. Very relevant to bloggers and even people who uses internet as their marketing tool.
Teresa Martinez
It was quite interesting especially to my line of work.
mariegizellemichel
Sounds like a fun and beneficial seminar. I was once a newbie in blogging and everything tech but with the help of tutorials, things became handy….would have been nice if I have attended such a seminar too and I could also widen my reach re: as a digital marketing expert.
Teresa Martinez
Learning has always been one of my ideas of fun especially when it is related to writing and blogging which I really enjoy doing.
Gemma|My Dailies
yay! for targeting dummies of internet marketing!! mmm, i had an 89 year old sped teacher once, who knew her way to applications! smarty!
Teresa Martinez
Obviously, age does not prevent a person from being technologically-adept.
Journey Ni Ikoy
How I wish they also conduct this kind of seminar here in Davao City. I am pretty sure a lot will be interested to attend and I am one of them =)
Teresa Martinez
Maybe in time Ben Francia and other experts in the field will consider taking their seminars to Davao City although it is possible that there are already offered seminars that you may not know of.
Jam Kuh
i do not know if i am one of the technologically challenged individual because i still do not know a lot of things about internet marketing.. and this kind of seminar is a help to be knowledgeable and to promote your site, or your products.
Teresa Martinez
Anyone who wishes to establish relevant online presence should consider learning the ways.
Franc Ramon
I’m not necessarily technology-challenged but when I started blogging it was all trial and error yet somehow, I was able to learn a lot. It’s good that there are seminars like this which makes it easier to adopt to technology.
Teresa Martinez
Yes, seminars like this put an end to the guessing game although of course we will still have trials and errors since every blog is different from the other.
traveling morion
Now I clearly understand what a technologically-challenged individual is. I am an avid reader of this blog. Sarap basahin mam teresa
Teresa Martinez
Thanks very much, it sure makes me glad to know someone actually enjoys reading my posts here.
Mary Jane Tauyan Fitzsimmons
So i am glad to say that i am not technically challenged at all too. hihi I am sure you learned a lot from this seminar form digital marketing and all! xx
Teresa Martinez
I sure did. Learning is the only way to cope with the fast changes in technology.