Toral: Thinking big

Last Nov. 29, I launched the DigitalFilipino E-Commerce Boot Camp online (http://digitalfilipino.com/ecom/) It is a free e-learning program for people, regardless of age, interested to gain more knowledge about e-commerce. It is supported by 36 live webinar series where interaction is fostered with online participants.

Janette Toral

Digital Filipino

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From Dec. 26 onwards, I pushed the webinar series further by having it four to five times a week. I was surprised with the results as some really do their best to attend it.

To make each session interesting, actual demonstration and getting participants to react to the ideas being presented is fostered.

In 2003 to 2006, I had my earlier experiments in online and blended e-learning. Most of it were done through email and platforms like Moodle. But in 2009, I ventured into webinars upon the encouragement of Jam Mayer who just joined DigitalFilipino Club at that time. Everything has change since.

I started using the webinar format since the start of Certified Blog and Social Media Entrepreneur Program (http://digitalfilipino.com/bsm/) a few years back and our experience paved the way for numerous online courses, done by others, to use it as well.

But when e-learning reaches a commercial point, its attractiveness begins to dim. We risk becoming ordinary in the process or long run. One has to look hard and assess the market.

I did that and realized that my arsenal is limited in so far as marketing is concerned. Even though I have knowledge, the opportunities are limited and a lot are wasted if not shared to benefit others.

This gave birth to the free E-Commerce Boot Camp and on Jan. 17, aDigital Influencers Boot Camp will also go live. This will be more focused on providing free digital marketing knowledge to anyone interested.

I guess it is true. When you give so much of yourself, with the intent of empowering others, the return comes in a variety of ways. At this point, I can only be so thankful.

So Happy New Year to all of us in 2013. May you think of big ideas and strive for goals outside of your comfort zone. Push yourself to take things to the next level.

(www.DigitalFilipino.com)