#AOTYAwards 2021 spills: OOm's secret sauce to building a healthy work culture

Founded in 2006, OOm is a digital performance marketing company in Singapore that provides businesses with digital marketing services such as SEO, SEM and social media marketing. Among the list of brands the agency has worked with include Amity Global Institute, Decathlon, Harvey Norman, Hitachi and Singtel. In addition to clinching gold for Lead Generation Agency of the Year and Search Marketing Agency of the Year at MARKETING-INTERACTIVE's AOTY Awards 2021, it was also awarded Local Hero of the Year. 

OOm's CEO and co-founder Ian Cheow (pictured) told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE that businesses benefited from digital advertising by opening up new revenue streams as they pivoted online. He also shared about the importance of upskilling and training employees to ensure they are prepared for the changes that lie ahead.

This interview is done as part of MARKETING-INTERACTIVE’s winners' and finalists’ interview series for AOTY Awards 2021. To find out more about the awards, click here.

Tell us what these wins mean for you?

Cheow: We are truly honoured to acquire double wins (Gold and Local Hero) for both Search Marketing and Lead Generation categories in the Agency Of The Year Awards. On top of that, the recognition as Local Hero Of The Year is a pleasant surprise. The past year has not been easy with the pandemic. We tried our best to pivot while ensuring that we maintain and exceed the level of service we provide to our clients. We are heartened that our hard work as a local agency has paid off and we are acknowledged to be among the best in the industry.

What makes you proudest about being part of your agency?

Cheow: As part of the agency’s co-founding team, I am filled with pride as I witness its growth over the past 15 years. Operating in the dynamic digital marketing landscape, we have continually adapted to the evolving needs of clients by expanding our service offerings, streamlining our work processes, and developing our pool of professionals. From the humble beginnings of three employees to more than 80 headcount today, it is heartening to have a growing team that works towards the same goal through thick and thin.

What are some of the initiatives you have in place to ensure your staff feel proud to be associated with your agency?

Cheow: For every achievement that we accomplish, including awards that we have won, we give recognition to each and everyone in the team as we acknowledge that it is everyone’s effort that makes it possible. As such, we make it a point to submit our best work every year. Each win is a morale booster and the pride belongs to all in the agency. 

How are you attracting talent to your agency?

Cheow: We believe that a healthy work culture is key to attracting talents to our agency. We place great emphasis on creating a collaborative environment with transparent communication. We value our staff’s personal development as well as professional growth and are committed to equip them with the essential skill sets to reach their full potential. We also make the effort to be involved in one another’s lives beyond work and celebrate individual milestones together.

We encourage referrals from our employees. Recommending their friends for suitable openings is a testament to the trust that they have in the agency.

What are your hopes for the Singapore advertising scene in 2021?

Cheow: The pandemic propelled the need for many businesses to go digital. As we have seen over the past year, many businesses have benefited from digital advertising by opening up new revenue streams as they pivoted online. We hope to see more businesses that have yet to embrace digital transformation to start their journey now.