ASMIS speakers outline how social media can promote initiatives in diverse fields
Sisters Huda and Mona Kattan, co-founders of the cosmetics line Huda Beauty, shared their thoughts on how entrepreneurs can use social media to build a business
Speakers at the ‘Dardachat’ series of sessions at the third Arab Social media Influencers Summit (ASMIS) held today spoke about the valuable platform offered by social media to promote initiatives in diverse fields including business, media, culture and literature.
Sisters Huda and Mona Kattan, co-founders of the cosmetics line Huda Beauty, shared their thoughts on how entrepreneurs can use social media to build a business. Speaking at a ‘Dardachat’ session titled ‘Becoming a Beauty Entrepreneur’, Huda Kattan said that in order to stand out, you need social media content that is different from what you see in the crowded marketplace. She said that entrepreneurs need to find a unique perspective and create content that has a specific voice that is true to who you are.
Mona Kattan said that persistence is key. It is important to keep pushing yourself. Each of us are very motivated, she said. The secret to entrepreneurial success in the beauty business is to stay true to yourself. “Stay focused, have laser-like focus on something that you truly love,” she added. Huda said that having a long term focus has helped her. Entrepreneurs should be thinking about brand identity and what it will be in 5-10 years. Huda further said that Dubai was a place where she felt she belongs because it has an international culture and is appreciative of cultures from elsewhere in the world.
Russian photographer couple Murad and Nataly Osmann spoke about their experiences of sharing their stunning photographs shot around the world on Instagram. During their session titled ‘An Image that Changed the World’, Murad and Nataly spoke about the random photo they took in Barcelona in 2011, which catapulted them to global fame. They advised social media influencers to not jump at the first commercial opportunity they receive. “We rejected 90% of commercial proposals since they didn’t match our values,” Murad said.
The ‘Dardachat’ session titled ‘Entertainment and Social Media’ saw Egyptian superstar Mohamed Henedy sharing his personal experiences of engaging with his followers on social media. Most of the engagement features feedback from followers on the movies he has acted in. He said social media platforms have become a mirror for people’s thinking and opinions. Movie producers gain inspiration and ideas from social media, he said.
The ‘Poetry and Social Media’ session highlighted the role of digital platforms in promoting poetry and poetic talent in the Arab world. Panelists, who included prominent poets, Mohammed Jarallah Alsahly, Saeed bin Manea, and Faisal Al Adwani, said that social media outlets have offered poets an opportunity to showcase their talent and reach a wider section of poetry enthusiasts. This has led to the emergence of a new phenomenon called ‘Twitter Poetry”, where short-format poems are published on Twitter.
The third edition of the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit, which attracted 70 speakers from 25 countries, featured 20 interactive sessions. Speakers shared their perspectives on social media with an audience of over 1,000 from across the region and the world at the Summit organised by Dubai Press Club (DPC).
