Don’t Be An AdSense Blogger – Tunny Ogunnowo (Exclusive Interview With Ink and Pen's Blog- Rapport Naija)
Ink & Pen’s Blog – Rapport Naija had an opportunity to sit with one of the best Blogger, Writer, and Digital Marketer in the Nigerian internet world. If you plan to start a blog or you have already started and would like to hear vital tips from one of the Pro-Bloggers in Naija, then you have to read this interview attentively.
This is an exclusive interview with the one and only Babatunde ‘Tunny’ Ogunnowo, CEO of Absolute Heart Media. Read the full interview below as he takes us through his blogging, writing, and digital marketing journey:
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| Blogger Tunny Ogunnowo |
PS: The numbered paragraph in bold is the Interviewer, while the paragraphs that follow are Mr Tunny’s replies.
1. Good day sir. It is nice to have you find some time to grant our platform a wonderful opportunity to interview you. You are highly welcome. Please, can you tell our readers about yourself and your blog?
Hello, readers, I am honoured to be here today. My names are Babatunde ‘Tunny’ Ogunnowo. I’m from Ijebu Igbo, Ogun state. I am a graduate of Economics Education from Olabisi Onabanjo University and also a graduate member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (with a proficiency certificate in management). I am a Digital & Social Media Marketing Executive, brand strategist, writer, public speaker, an award-winning blogger, online public relations executive/publicist and a contributor on social media with interest in management, developmental economics and the media (both conventional and new media).
I am the team lead for Absolute Hearts Media (AHM), a digital marketing and media company. The founder of Digital Marketing Training Class (DMTClassNG), Nigeria’s first practical digital marketing training institute, and I am also the chief editor of Absolute Hearts Blog (AHB), a lifestyle and entertainment website.
Absolute Hearts Media is a registered full blown Digital Marketing and Online Media company. We specialise in offering Digital and Social Media Marketing services to our clients and also online advertising services on our online media platforms with over 60,000 active audiences.
Absolute Hearts Blog is a subsidiary of Absolute Hearts Media. It is the Online Media part of the company. It’s an entertainment, movies, sports, lifestyle news website.
The Digital Marketing Training Class (DMTClassNG) was birthed out if the need to add value to young individuals, equip them with skills to survive in this digital age and help them to be able to add value to other individuals and brands. Our next Digital Marketing Training is coming up in June, which is June 17 and 24th 2017. Those interested in the training can contact 08027922363 for more info or register at > http://bit.ly/dmtclassng.
2. I see you are a man of many things (laughs). Can you describe how you first get into blogging and digital marketing?
Well, I have always been someone who loves the internet and digital devices. Back in 2012, I was spending time surfing the internet and stumbled one a way to open a blog, so I started, but then I was only a blogger, not a full blown digital marketer, and as time went on, I read more and developed myself on opportunities available on the internet. I just thought if I could be spending so much time on the internet, I should channel it into doing something worthwhile. There weren’t much training I could go for at the time because countries like Nigeria hadn’t keyed into the digital media, so all I did was search for materials on the internet and that was how I developed myself. Years passed, I later attended a few trainings but most of what I know today learnt on my own but anyway I am where I am today.
3. Can you tell us some of your strengths that really helped you in blogging and teaching digital marketing?
First, it is my passion for what I do. I generally love the media (whether online media or the conventional media). I am also a Radio presenter and broadcaster. My passion for the media is one thing that has kept me going. Second, it is my passion for teaching and empowering people. Nigeria is rocked with high unemployment rate but many do not know that they are actually businesses you can do or career prospects that will make them useful for themselves, the society and the nation at large. So, this is why I have decided to toll this path to empower as many individuals as possible and of course with God’s grace.
4. What type of networking do you think is better to enhance your traffic to the blog?
The thing is that a lot of Bloggers just care about getting traffic to their blog and don’t know they should be building a brand. Don’t get me wrong, of course, you should care about getting traffic to your blog but that’s a short-term goal. Getting traffic to a blog is way easier than building an online media brand that people will fall in love with. That’s why sometimes you ask Bloggers if they utilise Instagram or SnapChat for their blog and the next response you get is ‘oh Instagram won’t bring traffic to me blog abeg, who Instagram epp’.
But these guys do not know that Blogging is not just about getting traffic to a site anymore. Blogging is now highly competitive. Your long term goal should be building a brand because most bloggers are traffic bloggers and only a few cares about building a brand. To be successful in Blogging, you have to go the extra mile to do what most aren’t doing.
But, I will still answer your question; to get traffic to a blog first you need to build an active social media audience. You also need few social media campaigns and Ads here and there and you could also leverage online advertising platforms.
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| Babatunde Tunny Ogunnowo |
5. Wow, I would have to admit the Instagram and SnapChat thing for branding is an eye opener for me- so true. Tell us about your proudest achievement?
WOW! I have so many achievements that I can’t even choose which I am most proud of. I have received three achievement and honorary awards this year. I was nominated alongside Linda Ikeji in the Nigerian Writers Awards this year. I think my biggest achievement is Absolute Hearts Media. Another achievement for me is growing the company from just me to a three-man team company. So many achievements but I’ll stop here for now.
6. Hmmm, Linda Ikeji. You should marry her oh (Laughs). Tell us about your greatest challenge in blogging?
Well, there were few challenges when I started but some have been conquered. Back then, the rate of internet subscription was a challenge, and as time went on, the prices of data got cheaper, except for recently when NCC came with price hike and thank God it failed, but one challenge that still lingers is that because we majorly use digital platforms and devices in my line of career, one major challenge has been the epileptic power supply in Nigeria and we have to revert to using generators and spending high on petrol (smiles) I know most Nigerians can relate to that.
7. The power supply in Nigeria is something else, may God save us. Who has impacted you the most in blogging/digital marketing, and how?
Many individuals I must admit. Some of them know me personally and others don’t. Some of these individuals are CEO Gtext Enterprises, Stephen Akintayo who I learnt from as a novice back in 2012. Also is the CEO Simmyideas Tech Hub, Moyosore Ogunbuyide who has been a brother. Another person is a brother from another mother, the CEO Kayshow Concept, Mr Kayode Showole who inspires me a lot. Also, my mum for her support and prayers. And, lastly the assistant director at Absolute Hearts Media, Hafeez Onitilo.
8. What is your greatest achievement outside of blogging?
My biggest achievement outside my work is growing to be the kind of man I have developed into. A lot of times people come in contact with me and they tell me I am one of the best people they’ve met. They tell me I can bring happiness to a sad atmosphere, very lively and fun loving. Above every other achievement I had, that’s the most overwhelming for me.
9. Have you met anyone interesting/famous on your blogging journey?
Haha (Laughs). I have met a lot of them. Stephen Akintayo, Olufemi ‘Penzaar’ Oguntamu, Sola Contagious and so much more. The funny thing is that most of them even attended the same University I attended.
10. A lot of people think that blogging is an easy way to make money online. Do you have some tips for those people who are interested in making money from the blog?
Start right; don’t just get into Blogging because everyone is doing it. Know your passion. Make your passion your niche. Don’t focus too much on posting forgetting that you need to market your posts. Build your brand, learn, start small, and grow fast. Use the right monetization platforms. And don’t be an AdSense Blogger; AdSense Bloggers are those who think the only way to make money from Blogging is through AdSense. There are more than a million and one ways to make money from Blogging, that’s if you really care about building a brand. Above all don’t ever forget GOD.
11. Thanks, Mr Tunny for these in-depth revelations about your blogging and digital marketing journey. It was wonderful, and I am sure a lot of people reading this will learn one or two things. Thanks once again. You can go on and share your contacts to Ink and Pen’s Blog readers.
Thanks. It was nice to discuss my experience in the internet blogosphere. So, friends, you can follow me on Social Media: @tunnyogunnowo (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, SnapChat, Google+ etc.)
Follow Absolute Hearts Media on Social Media: @absolutehearts (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, SnapChat, Google+ etc.)
Also, remember to visit our Blog http://absolutehearts.com
Absolute Hearts Media (Phone/Whatsapp: 08027922363)
Goodbye.
NB: If you enjoyed this Interview, and you think you would like to be interviewed like this too, then email us at rapportnaija@gmail.com.
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