Orchan Consulting | Asia Sdn Bhd

In a technology-saturated environment, it is undoubtedly that businesses today are keeping up with the massive social media movement as part of their business growth. According to a recent survey by Adobe, Malaysia shows a strong online penetration of 66% with around 20 million users, with approximately 70% of Malaysian users checking on a brand’s social media presence before making a purchase decision. It is no surprise that business owners are embracing profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, which could significantly attract a significant quantity of customer traffic. Nonetheless, it is distressing that many businesses still struggle with the misconceptions that exist within this powerful tool of communication effort. From a PR and marketing perspective, a major number of business owners jump right in before they fully understand on the ways to harness the true potential from social media platforms. Social media myths do exists, but the falsehoods have to be...

The by-product of having great talent in painting and photography mixed with bad trips in the past, would lead one to produce praiseworthy artworks that might catch someone’s interest to have it on display. Tya, an astonishing young lady with an immense gift in the arts, was chosen to have her artworks displayed at Hartamas Shopping Centre (HSC). The exhibition, called The Giving Art, was sponsored by Mayland as part of the Advertising & Promotion initiatives by the mall management. Now this exhibition has a bit of a twist to it. The artist got the inspiration for the artworks from her agonising journey through multiple surgeries and physiotherapy, after she became a victim of a serious road accident in 2007. This odyssey she went through didn’t leave her to give up on life. Instead, she rose back up by learning to express her thoughts, imagination and deeper self through her new found hobbies; photography and painting. Who would have guessed that a psychedelic ps...

The foundation of the PR industry was not built on getting press coverage for clients. The history of the profession started with PR professionals championing the practice of two-way communication with the public, along with informing, educating and influencing audiences. Media coverage was only a means to an end; not a stand-alone goal, which helped many early PR practitioners to reach people. The tide has turned in today’s PR. Many practitioners consider media coverage as a goal in itself. Sometimes a PR plans consist entirely of coverage, considering it as a tactic, strategy, goal and even an objective. This wrong practice in developing a plan happens frequently. Why is that? Source - PR Daily A version of this story originally appeared on the writer's firm's blog . It might shock you to hear this, but “media relations” is not synonymous with “public relations.” The Public Relations Society of America defines public relations as “a strategic communica...

床前明月光， 疑是地上霜。 举头望明月， 低头思故乡。               A Chinese poem written by the famous poet, 李 白 ( Li Bai) Mid-Autumn Festival is always the time of the year where mooncakes and lanterns take the centre stage of the celebration during the fullmoon on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. There’s folklore, namely Chang’E Flying to the Moon ( 嫦娥奔月 ); which revolved around the festival when Chang’E drank the elixir of immortality that she kept for her husband, Hou Yi to keep it away from those who would abuse it; and flew out of the window and up into the sky. This festival is mostly celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese, where generally, it is a day for family and friends to get together for mooncakes while enjoying the full, bright moon. In creating a more vibrant and lively ambience for the festival, the annually organised event, Lantern-Making Competition is one that should not be missed. Ipoh Parade ...

Klang mall hosts Chess Competition by The Star Klang Parade and DAT Chess Centre, in collaboration with the Chess Association of Selangor, featured an overwhelming silence that cut through the heat of its Annual Chess Tournament on the 5 and 6 April 2014. Spirited chess players from across the country made plays against one another, competing for the championship. Aside from local players, the enthralling part of this national event was the inclusion of international chess players from the Philippines and Bangladesh, who had travelled their way for the battle. The motivation of the organiser to coordinate this tournament for the past twelve (12) years was solely their passion for the game among its patrons. Life is like a game of chess, changing with each move. Any chess player can reap these three life lessons during a chess game; patience, logic and humility during their chess playing experience. The spectators were able to witness these life lessons across the six (6) round...

With the internet comes all these new ways of connecting ideas with people, or does it? Rising in popularity is the recent ‘trend’, resulting from ease of access to social media, being the “Open Letter”. Well, let’s contextualise this first. Before digital platforms became the norm (and the avenue of venting for the general public, newspapers had “letters to the editor” and “agony aunt” columns as key outlets for laymen discussions of everyday issues and frustrations. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the origin of the “open letter” – same concept, new channel. We have to ask ourselves then, is anything different? Well, NO! Same stuff, different medium – except; speed and accessibility, and ‘viral potential’. The real difference is in the viral possibilities associated with social media. Thirty years ago friends may share a newspaper, but it would be thrown away within a couple of days. Now, friends share posts, multiplying potential exposure, and it’s for something that lasts on...

In 2015, Orchan Consulting Asia was honoured with two significant accolades at Advertising + Marketing Magazine’s Agency of the Year (AOTY) Awards: PR Agency of the Year (Bronze) and the Local Hero Award . The Bronze recognition was awarded based on three key measures: client success, agency performance, and contributions to the broader communications industry. This reflected the body of work Orchan delivered throughout 2014, underscoring our commitment to cost-effective solutions, measurable results, and high-quality campaign execution. Equally meaningful was the Local Hero Award , which celebrates outstanding Malaysian-owned agencies competing in a field often dominated by international players. This acknowledgment highlighted Orchan’s position as a boutique agency that has consistently delivered value, demonstrated thought leadership, and contributed to the development of the local communications landscape. Managing Director, Craig J Selby and Founding Director, Farrell Tan st...

The very recent move by the tax man in Singapore to force bloggers to declare gifts in exchange as a form of taxable income will no doubt have an echoing effect through the Public relations industry. Source - www.amiehu.com   It’s not about whether or not the blogger should pay income tax, or whether the blogger is doing this for commercial venture or hobby; for our industry it is now going to become about how to engage with bloggers as KOL’s, ambassadors, and/or even reviewers in such a way that does not expose them to undue tax obligations. Such a fundamental change to the system will have its flow on effects – and one source of traditionally cost-effective publicity for us, bloggers, may now end up having to be engaged in a very different way. For the lay-blogger, the impact will probably be nil – they will continue with their social commentaries on their own, pay-as-they-go and honest review approach – great for PR (assuming they like their purchase experience). ...