Azleen’s Platform Helps Content Creators Gain Exposure Across Asia
What’s your story?
I am the co-founder of Marketing In Asia, a content-sharing platform. Our mission is to give Asian people and brands a voice, through their content. To date, the platform has more than 200 content creators uploading their articles, infographics, podcasts, slides, and videos, at least once a month. If you’re a blogger, podcaster, YouTuber, speaker or presenter, graphic designer, or a combination of these, and keen to get Asia to notice you, upload your content on Marketing In Asia today. It’s free!
What excites you most about your industry?
Realizing that average people like us have so many interesting stories and cool things to share, and we can learn a lot from them. On the Marketing In Asia platform, people upload things like insights, stories, opinions, ideas, and statistics, on an almost monthly basis. It is exciting to create a platform for knowledge and information exchange. I should have created this platform long ago.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I’m a proud Asian guy, and through Marketing In Asia, I wish to serve the underserved. I wish to serve the average Joes and Janes by getting Asia to notice them through the content they post on Marketing In Asia.
Favorite city in Asia for business and why?
I have two favorite cities. For business and opportunity, it’s Singapore’s hands down. Being a platform, both NSE and Marketing In Asia need access to top brands and their executives for collaborations. And, the only city where I can find them all, is Singapore.
When it comes to building a strong and engaging community, my favorite city is Manila. The Filipinos are very friendly, always positive, and supportive of one another. Personally I haven’t found similar traits elsewhere in Asia.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Be very close to HIM and the world will follow you.
Who inspires you?
Not a person, per se. It’s more like what inspires me. The internet economy inspires me a lot. Internet brands like YouTube, Medium, Spotify, Canva, Waze, and Netflix are inspirational. I have learned a lot from them, especially from their narrative and unique business models. They pretty much dictate my entrepreneurship beliefs and direction.
What have you just learned recently that blew you away?
Only help people who want to be helped and who are hungry for it. For years I’ve been wasting my time trying to help people who somehow looked like they needed help but in actual fact, they didn’t.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I would start my entrepreneurship journey sooner, and go straight to the one I am doing today, bypassing decades of unnecessary mistakes.
How do you unwind?
A long drive helps unclutter my thoughts. I might drive 4-5 hours north, east, or south, and stay there for a few days just to unwind. I often feel the need to be in motion in fresh surroundings. Staying at the same place for too long can make me a little cranky.
Favorite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Langkawi Island, Malaysia, by far. I’m there twice a year during the off-peak seasons. Why? First, the beach is simply stunning. Second, the chocolates there are freakin’ cheap. There are so many varieties available and can be found everywhere on the island. Third, I find that the ambiance around the area called Cenang Beach is very relaxing for me, especially for watching the sunset and stargazing at night. And finally, it is economical. I can rent a bike for MYR40 a day with MYR10 worth of fuel that can last for a week while touring the entire island and enjoying the breeze.
Everyone in business should read this book:
“iCon: Steve Jobs, The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business,” by Jeffrey S. Young and William L. Simon. I love autobiographical books and this one is my all-time favorite. I also think Sir Alex Ferguson’s biography is a good read. Each man’s journeys and mistakes made and shared are unique, inspiring, and worth the time to have a go at them.
Shameless plug for your business:
Marketing In Asia is becoming the Asian content creators’ favorite platform to build their voice and brand presence. It is slowly but surely becoming a YouTube for articles, podcasts, and others. The creators are also taking advantage of the platform’s SEO that is searchable on search engines so they can stretch their reach on social media and across Asia too.
Ask yourself these two questions. Why work alone when we can collaborate and grow together? The second question is, why limit yourself to building your brand’s authority locally when you can reach out to all of Asia, beyond the borders of the country you’re in?
It’s no longer difficult to do this. Create your content and start uploading it on Marketing In Asia today. We will send traffic your way and eventually get Asia to notice you.
How can people connect with you?
Simply connect with me on LinkedIn. Search for Azleen Abdul Rahim, you’ll find me.
Twitter handle?
It’s azleenabdrahim_
To hear how entrepreneurs around the world overcome their challenges, search your favorite podcast platform for ‘CallumConnects’ to hear a 5-minute daily breakdown.
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started, built, and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder and CEO of MBH Corporation PLC. He is the author of three best-selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’, ‘Agglomerate’, and ‘Entrepreneurial Investing’.
Connect with Callum on Twitter and LinkedIn
Download free copies of his books at www.callumlaing.com
