Interview With Oren Todoros - Founder Of HYPick.com

Here is an interesting interview with Oren Todoros - founder of HYPick.com:

1] How did you get started in your business?

A little over 7 years ago, I landed a job as a web translator between English, French and Italian just as I had finished my B.A. in Industrial design, a field which I’ve never worked in a day in my life. This was just as SEO techniques were starting to be understood and implemented. The whole aspect of online marketing really caught my interest from the start because of it’s the instantaneous results. So my experiences both in the SEO and SEM field evolved quickly from project to project. Now with the advance of social media marketing, I felt it was time to launch my services as a freelancer and offer a complete solution both in the traditional online marketing methods as well as the new media ways.

My passion for online grew from sharing new media marketing tips through video posts on seovice.com to launching my new media marketing consultation services on orentodoros.com and most recently launching a social interaction site over at HYPick.com

One thing is clear; I’m the type of person that needs several happening at the same time.

Boredom is my kryptonite.

2] What three pieces of advice would you offer entrepreneurs starting out today?

1. Research. Find out what makes other sites successful, what makes other bloggers successful, what is it about them that make’s their fans keep coming back? Ask yourself the right questions, like why are people buying? Instead of questions like how can I sell to them?

2. Define your goals, what are your short and long term goals? If you’re list ends up being too long, shorten it, be laser focused on what you know you can achieve within a defined timeframe.

3. Take the plunge. At some point in time, your competitors had no idea if they would succeed. They made the 1st steps towards their goals. So believe in your original idea but be flexible enough to build on audience feedback.

3] What outsiders here in Israel have been most important to your business? (e.g., bankers, accountants, suppliers, mentor, etc.) And can you recommend anyone?

I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of people that come from the old school sales industry. As much as I’m crazy about new marketing methods, we have to take a lesson from the people that have been closing deals until now. The guys picking up the phone, calling potential clients, socializing with them, there’s a lot to learn from the old school methods of doing business. Combine that with social media and it’s a very powerful tool.

4] What sources of information such as books, seminars, cd’s, etc.. Can you recommend for other starting entrepreneurs?

With the endless amount of available and free information online, I rarely had the need to buy books but I will name a few that I think are very beneficial. The 1st is Groundswell, winning in a world transformed by social technologies. The second is The Dip, by Seth Godin which talks about the importance of crossing the chasm towards success. But there’s really an endless amount of free information available to you. Get involved with bloggers in your niche, they love to talk and share information with others. Find social groups on Facebook or Linkedin that relate to your industry and introduce yourself.

5) Anything else?

Yes, two words, Video Media. That’s where we’re going. Blogs have given startups a voice. Video blogs are giving startups and Identity. Incorporating video as part of your social media arsenal is quickly becoming not just the norm, but a must! How-to videos are being shown within universal search results. You can’t afford not to be there.

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