Muhammad Asif Mansoor
CEO – InfoZonePK
[http://www.infozonepk.com](http://www.infozonepk.com)
The Flare panel interviewed Muhammad Asif Mansoor, CEO of InfoZonePK, an IT professional and blogging enthusiast. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science (MSCS). What began as a personal passion for blogging has developed into a digital platform known as InfoZonePK.
Flare: What inspired the launch of InfoZonePK and how has the platform evolved since 2012?
Muhammad Asif Mansoor: In 2012, a new venture was established with the objective of delivering news concerning IT and telecommunications. During that period, the IT sector was experiencing significant growth in Pakistan; hence, it was a responsibility to report on developments in these fields, keeping the public informed about ongoing events and future initiatives. InfoZonePK emerged in response to the inspiration drawn from ProPakistani, which at the time was the sole reliable source for IT and telecommunications news in Pakistan. Today, the scope of InfoZonePK has expanded beyond IT and telecommunications, encompassing various areas of journalism, including Business, Education, Fashion, Food, and Lifestyle, among others.
Flare: What is your content focus and target audience?
Muhammad Asif Mansoor: Given the present time, there is a greater emphasis on video content; however, the significance of print media also remains. I believe that videos cannot adequately convey the intricate aspects of a topic, and reading materials offer comprehensive information. We are aiming to transition the news published on our websites into short videos, allowing viewers to grasp the essence of each story. At the same time, we continue to prioritise our reading audience.
Flare: What are the biggest challenges facing independent digital publishers in Pakistan?
Muhammad Asif Mansoor: As I said above, the audience at this point in time, are more shifted to video content due to the busy life and short time available for reading. This is the challenge all the independent digital publishers are facing about losing their readers as they are shifting to watching the video content.
Moreover, the advertisers are shifted mostly to the video content publishers. So the revenue from print content has also come down.
Flare: How have social media and changing reader habits affected online news and information websites?
Muhammad Asif Mansoor: No doubt, this era of social media as it is easily available and more popular platforms for the spread of news. People just go for the shortcuts and not focus mostly of the details of a news. Social media can provide the information in one line of a 10 seconds video but detailed information can only be provided in the print media. So it affected half-n-half the online news and information websites because there are still a section which loves reading to get more detailed news and information.
“This era is an era of social media, as it is easily available and a more popular platform for spreading news. People just go for shortcuts and do not focus on the details of the news”
Furthermore, weekly or monthly newsletters are also a good source of growth to provide a collective update of weekly or monthly basis to the audience. Mobile apps of your digital media is also an excellent option to get it available for the mobile users.
Flare: What steps do you take to maintain credibility and distinguish verified information from misinformation?
Muhammad Asif Mansoor: A reporting team makes a vital role in exact, accurate and timely information. My Reporting team visit any news conferences, meetups and even online meetups to cover the story. If the news reports come from online sources, it is cross checked through media department of the concerned organisation about which that report has to be published.
Flare: How important are SEO, social platforms and mobile audiences to your growth strategy?
Muhammad Asif Mansoor: Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) plays an important role in your online media growth and sustainability. Obviously you can survive in the industry with a good revenue. Further, more internet users have shifted to mobiles and use social media so these platforms are helpful to spread the news across the internet and play a good role in your platform’s growth.
Flare: What is your view about the advertising and revenue environment for Pakistani digital publishers?
Muhammad Asif Mansoor: If your growth is good, website traffic is handsome and you are active on all social media platforms then you can get advertisements from different publishers. However the advertisement rate in Pakistan is yet less than expectations. If you increase the views, visits and hits of your digital platform like a website then you can earn a handsome amount.
Flare: How do you see AI changing online journalism and content publishing?
Muhammad Asif Mansoor: AI is a helpful tool to increase your reporting, writing and editorial capabilities. It can provide a smart search and targeted ads options for your websites in which readers can search the exact articles on the basis of their natural search style and you can put the ads bases on the interest of the readers.
Flare: What are your plans for expanding InfoZonePK over the next few years?
Muhammad Asif Mansoor: My plans are to expand InfoZonePK to the international level and cover the reports from International media. Make a Mobile App which not only provides the news section but different options according to the interest of the reader.
Flare: What advice would you give young Pakistani digital publishers and content entrepreneurs?
Muhammad Asif Mansoor: As a young Pakistani digital publisher and content entrepreneur you must first focus on a specific niche, robust monetisation diversification and platform resilience to navigate a fast-evolving local. First cover the local and then go the international level. To go for an international level a lot of research is required to get authentic news.
