words by Mikee Lim
As 2020 draws to a close, one can’t help but reflect on how tumultuous and transformative of a year it has been. Businesses in particular have had to make fundamental changes—from everyday operations, to short and long term goals—in order to adapt. The same can be said for Katapult Digital, an agency that has always turned challenges into opportunities for meaningful change. In the spirit of Yuletide gratitude, the team is counting down their victories, whether big or small.
- Katapult Turns Three
Katapult Digital is now in its third year of delivering excellent service to its growing clientele. Since their founding, the agency has imbibed their core values in everything they do. Because of their love for learning, self-improvement, commitment to joyful work, and sensitivity to fairness, they have been able to nurture their mindset of Playing-To-Win despite the odds. Such is the reason for their successes in forging partnerships and cultivating authentic relationships with clients and organizations. - Hitting 20 in 2020
What was once an agency of one full-time employee is now a budding family of more than 20 members. Quarantine measures have not deterred their ability to recruit and retain talent, since the team’s unbreakable bond and undeniable synergy make it easy for them to work safely and efficiently from home. They are fortunate enough to have been able to hire eight proficient individuals who serve as reliable and trustworthy additions this year, namely: Mikey Labrador as Multimedia Creator, Gerald De Asis as Performance Marketing Specialist, Precious Salvador as Marketing Specialist, Theodore Rashid as E-Commerce Senior Specialist, Nika Basa as Senior Performance Marketing Manager, Jom Villanueva and Eunice Valdez as Digital Marketing Specialists, and Bianca Policarpio as Finance Officer. This milestone has allowed Katapult Digital to not only grow their team, but also to expand the expertise that they can offer to their clients.
- New Digital Services
Growth is the name of the game for Katapult Digital, and having more professionals with different specializations and perspectives on board has paved the way for them to develop newfound capabilities in Photo and Video Production, Web Development, Chatbot Capabilities, and PR Strategies.These new offerings have made it possible for them to provide a more holistic, end-to-end digital service for all their clients. More than data-driven strategies, their expansion into creative production and enhanced media research can now create space for moments that truly matter to online customers in ways that are more inventive and out-of-the-box.
- Growing Clientele
With over 30 brands in their portfolio of clients to date, the company is grateful to add digi-VORTEX and Royal Canin Philippines to their list of global clients, along with local powerhouses such as Famous Belgian Waffles, Yi Fang Fruit Tea, and Super8. Notably, they have also been able to achieve a whopping 90x return on ad spend for a digital media campaign for a retail client, as well as 40% Brand Lift for a social media campaign for a food & beverage client. Katapult Digital may be spreading their wings a little bit wider these days, but the agency’s standard of delivering above and beyond expectations will always be the cornerstone of a job well done. - Awards Nominations
Their determination to do valuable work has not gone unnoticed, and Katapult Digital’s CEO Albet Buddahim is honored to have received nominations from several award-giving bodies, including the 41st Agora Award for Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship, as well as the Asia Marketing Federation’s Asia’s Top Outstanding Netizen (Digital) Of The Year. Such awards recognize the innovation and hardwork it takes for marketing strategies to yield profitable growth. More than anything, these nominations have encouraged them to continue investing in passionate individuals, cultivating a happy work environment puts people first, and maintaining their path towards contributing lasting changes in the digital industry.
- Livestream Launch
In the wake of a global lockdown, creating meaningful engagement with audiences became even more of a challenge for business owners. As the world was rapidly shifting to alternative means of connecting, Katapult Digital had to adapt and develop their own livestreaming capabilities—a service that has now become essential for organizations to be able to connect with their audiences from a distance. The team has hosted several talks and events for clients such as Corteva, the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA), Britory, Zerocol, Mark Prof Foundation, Inc, and many others. Although nothing beats face to face encounters, this has arguably been one of the more accessible ways for people to gain deeper consumer knowledge from organizations and brands that matter most to them.
- A Culture of Constant Learning
Katapult Digital believes that growth is only made possible through constant learning. Part of the ethos that courses through their daily operations is the belief that having a teachable mind is the only way to evolve in your craft. This is what inspires them to share their expertise and pave the way for future generations of responsible marketers. For the love of education, the company sponsored the 17th MarkProf Bootcamp, an online training course that searches for the Top 25 Young Marketing Leaders from all over the country.
CEO Albet Buddahim, together with Research & Analytics Specialist David Rosario (Who is now MarkProf’s newly elected President for 2021), are notable alumni of the foundation. They also hosted livestreams for episodes of MarkProf Mondays–an online learning webinar featuring some of marketing’s most reputable names such as Lazada PH’s CMO Niel Trinidad, and Nestle PH’s VP for Corporate Communications Michelle Pador. - Forging a Community of Allies
It’s thanks to the ecosystem of support and healthy competition that Katapult Digital has been able to flourish. Forging alliances with key organizations such as the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA), the Analytics Association of the Philippines (AAP), and People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), has allowed them to gain a bigger perspective of the community that they exist in, as well as collaborate with like-minded and more experienced professionals. - Digital Certification Awards
What makes Katapult deserving of the “Digital” in their name is their constant drive towards strengthening their digital campaigns. As of writing, they are a certified Google Partner Agency, a Shopify Partner Agency, and a Facebook Managed Agency. As a testament to their commitment to best digital practices, they have also been named as the Facebook Agency League Winner for Q3 and Q4. Additionally, five of their members are now Certified Facebook Blueprint Planning Professionals–and counting. - Paving The Way for Future Trailblazers
Each year, the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) conducts the search for the Top 25 Young Marketing Leaders of the Philippines where 25 from hundreds of applicants nationwide qualify to attend an exclusive Marketing and Sales Bootcamp called PANAnaw. As part of the curriculum, Katapult Digital was invited to be the agency for finalists to build their marketing and business plans on. This served an insightful experience for both the company and the students, with the former gaining fresh input from new eyes, and the latter having the chance to create their own strategies. - Global Expansion
One of Katapult’s long-term goals is to expand their brand globally, and that is slowly but surely coming to fruition. Katapult Digital’s Singapore branch was established in March 2020, with former P&G Executive Leader Aubrey Young at the helm.. The infant stages of this expansion provide an exciting peek into the successful future that’s in store for this young start up. First, Singapore. Next…? The possibilities are bright, and endless! - Living & Thriving
The simplest successes can at times be the most noteworthy. For Katapult, there is no greater achievement than seeing their members flourish in an otherwise challenging time. Getting through a difficult year while staying united and healthy, as well as being able to explore personal passions outside of work, is an immense luxury that they will never take for granted. Although the next year is sure to bring its own set of challenges, the team rests in the knowledge that they will always have each other’s backs, and that they will always strive to support their peers in the industry (and vice versa). The trust that they have in each other is more than enough to keep them optimistic for the future ahead.
Katapult Digital is seeking for partners in its growth. Interested parties who want to work with passionate and happy professionals, as well as reach new horizons may visit here.
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