The power to create and persuade through design and branding is like playing with magic for me
Let’s get to know Dot a little better! Dot took time out of her schedule to answer in more detail some of the questions she receives via DM, or comments, and live and in person during her appearances.
Was it hard to make the decision and commitment financially to invest in your own personal branding?
The most neglected part of any entrepreneurs life, especially if you provide a consulting service is taking the time and money to invest in yourself. We spend so much time helping others execute, we neglect our own house! It was a tough first step, because I invested a large amount of my own personal money I made through my work and hired a professional team of creatives (photographer, content, graphic design, programmers). They were people I had worked with in the past, rather than doing just the typical 5 minute WordPress website. But you know what? That investment has paid off because when people visit my website, it works so much better than any business card I might hand them. The lesson is, picking the right quality people with the specialties you require to enhance your message, allows you to focus on what you do best.
How much time did it take to launch your campaign and the website?
The whole process took about 9 months! The time it takes a new baby to pop out of the oven! I met my designer (Sofia Papadopoulou) in Greece when I was speaking at the Digitized 2017 conference in Athens. I had been following her extraordinary work online and when we met in person we totally “clicked”. It was love at first sight on and offline!!! It took 2-3 months for the final branding and designs with Sofia and then coding & web development followed with my kickass friends at Vool. We launched June 1st when I was traveling to Tokyo for the first time. I remember landing in Tokyo and making the first announcement in the train ride from Narita Airport into the city! It’s super exhilarating to share your baby with the world while you’re halfway around the world!
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What were the most important elements of your launch campaign?
We prepped all the campaign content and elements way in advance in order to reveal the branding in tandem with a press campaign. We also submitted the design into several competitions in order to attract interest from one of my niche client groups. It worked 100% and generated not only direct business, but more brand awareness.
What was the first community manager job you did, and what was it like at the time?
My first community manager job was at OFFF Festival. I started their Instagram account at the time, as they didn’t have one yet! I didn’t even know that “social media management” was a real job, because up until then, I enjoyed interacting and posting like you would enjoy any other hobby. I barely made enough for rent, because it was still something not treated as a “real profession”, more like an extension of the traditional marketing team, but slowly but surely somehow I built my social media street cred as I was able to grow their Instagram account following at the time to 10,000 followers in less than 3 months! From there, I was hooked.
What is your favourite part of working in social media?
Being human. You can ask me in person what that exactly means, if you don’t get it. Ha!
How do you balance traveling, working and socialising during the work process in person?
I am socializing 24/7 on and offline, so for me it really doesn’t have a stop or start, it all blends together. Because of this I don’t really have to balance it, really, because it just flows together. But, if I take a weekend off, I do love to play the recluse and take a digital detox in a nice resort spa somewhere exotic. I’m accepting invites 😉
What are some of the things you look for in people you collaborate with on you projects?
I look for people who want to achieve the same end result, but that may take a different path to get there. I also look for people who share similar morals, ethics, and can execute when they say they will. When it comes to execution, I’ve been burned in the past by giving people way too many chances because I respect their intelligence and passion (and their uniqueness) but you still have to follow through with your commitments that you have accepted contracts on, so there’s no room for freeloaders on the Dot bus. When it comes to projects, I’m big on selecting clients that are contributing to education and creative arts to promote building a better future for our coming generations.
Why do you enjoy working with creatives and developing their personal branding?
The power to create and persuade through design and branding is like playing with magic for me. I just fucking love it. The world is your stage and I can make you any costume you want designed to play your dream role. As Walt Whitman asks, “what will your verse be?” My passion is to help people deliver that verse through digital design, branding and social media!
What is the most important advice you give to your students who want to pursue work in social media?
Building a social media empire doesn’t happen overnight. There is about 1% chance you make a viral video and become an overnight success. Plan long term, and plan for the marathon, not a sprint.
Festivals can be distracting, how do you stay focused on the tasks at hand?
Good thing it’s literally my job to be a professional festivaleer! It’s not an easy task working and covering festivals live, but its one of my passions. Capturing the moment and being able to share it with the world …. I think its my way to spread and share happiness globally and have specialized professionally in festival promotion and spreading the good vibes!
What is the most satisfying part of doing what you do?
The authority to teach and inspire others is extremely rewarding. I really hope to work on more high impact projects and be able to teach thousands of more students in the future. My legacy is to leave a world a little bit happier than where I found it.
