This week we’re featuring Open Ideas, a digital marketing agency based out of Spain. They equally weigh implementation of technology and its usage in actually growing the business of their clients. Open-Ideas offers plethora of services ranging from web designing, SEO, PPC, social media, app development to digital strategy formulation. Let’s learn more about them from Director General, Leonard Pera.

What’s the focus area of Open-Ideas? How did your business start?
[LP] I was leading a commercial department in a big ICT multinational. Then the big crisis arrived and I was fired. I had to re-invent myself; so I created Open-Ideas with my partners so that we could help SMEs in improving their web presence. The idea was to mix technology and marketing.

In your experience, what are the key elements of a successful online marketing strategy?
[LP] Clearly differentiate yourself from competitors, offer something unique and be market oriented. Most of our competitors are technology oriented, while the customers want someone who can help them in improving their business, i.e., the outcome should always be about adding business value to the client.

In the recent past, what is the smallest change you’ve made that had the biggest impact?
[LP] Added Web TV service to our portfolio. Technologically it is nothing too complicated, but the acceptance rate from our customer has been great.

What are your goals for the company over the next 3-5 years?
[LP]

• Increase our footprint in Spain by getting into the regions where we don’t have any presence right now.
• Significant increase in the number of our customer.

If you could go back in time to the first day that you started your business, what’s the one piece of advice you would give yourself
[LP] Be aware of “bad customers”, the ones who have difficulties in paying their debts.