'Digital Leadership Insight Interview' with Otoabasi Umonting by Sofie Sandell March 2014

http://www.sofiesandell.com/9-key-insights-from-the-digital-leadership-insight-interview-with-otoabasi-umonting/ Social media is about people, not technology. I met Otoabasi through a public speaking club we both went along to called Pony Express. We are both passionate about social media, branding and marketing strategies so we have a lot to talk about. Otoabasi is a Nigerian-Londoner and as an expat living in the UK he knows what effect social media has on your connections online, new and old. For businesses, social media adds a new layer of potential connections and you can make your brand reach further. In this interview we will be sharing some amazing social media tips with you, so tune in. Read more about Otoabasi at http://www.h264media.com & https://www.facebook.com/H264MediaLimited Nine key insights from the Digital Leadership Insight Interview with Otoabasi Umonting Social media connects us on a global level with one click. I met Otoabasi Umonting, a social media trainer and consultant, at an event about public speaking and I had the chance to interview him recently on my Digital Leadership Insights Interview talk show. 

We are both Londoners, but with different backgrounds. Otoabasi grew up in Nigeria and I in Sweden. Being able to use social media to keep in touch with people all over the world makes life easier as an expat and when you want to stay in touch with all the friends and people you meet in business. The internet and the World Wide Web are here to help us to share our knowledge, insights and skills, and to help us to connect with each other. I am sure that we are just at the beginning of what will come, and I encourage you to explore new ways to connect and collaborate online. In this post I will share some of the insights from the interview. 
 1) How to stay on top and keep learning We started the interview by talking about change and speed. The speed at which social media platforms evolve is very quick, they are improving and changing all the time and it’s hard to keep up-to-date. 

‘It’s the human rules of interaction that you need to learn to master social media tools’, says Otoabasi. We love to stay connected and our ability to connect has driven humanity forward to where we are today. 

Otoabasi added that when you have basic fundamental knowledge about how social media works you will find it much easier to use all platforms; even new platforms and those that tend to continually change. 2) Don’t procrastinate when it comes to your social media presence In many cases brands avoid social media because they are afraid of being judged by their audience. They remain quiet and prefer to keep a low profile. 

This strategy is not very productive; you better get over your shyness and define who you are and what your core values are. Otoabasi and I discussed the importance of you as a brand creating content that tells the world who you are. If you don’t do this there’s a risk that other people’s views and comments will be featured online and will be more visible than your own message. 3) Your promise to your customers
‘Your projection to the public defines your brand’, says Otoabasi. How you deliver your content will determine how people perceive you as well as how they connect with you. This insight led me to think about how you must help people to connect with your brand and that everyone is different. Some like to call you on their phone, others prefer Twitter.