Deniz Enberker Karakış, Setur Marinas Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager talks about the idea behind "Highlights" and its future plans

 

Question: How did the Highlights project come about?

 

Deniz Enberker Karakış: Well, it's been on our minds for a long time! We wanted to create a content platform and carry out studies that would further develop the maritime culture.

At the heart of your idea lies the expectations of our guests. Our guests do not only expect service from us, they also attach great importance to communication. Classic advertising messages, familiar advertising language are a thing of the past. Our guests want to receive messages that interest them from us. They expect us to enrich and even personalize the way we reach them. They even want them to contribute to the messages we give them.

On the other side, marina guests can create a special community. As people who are passionate about the sea, we enjoy growing and sharing this common interest of ours. We love to read the sea, to understand the sea, in short, to experience the sea in all its dimensions as much as we love setting sail to sea. Therefore, every original content about the sea excites us all.

We wanted to bring all these together on a content platform, and so Highlights came out.

 

Question: The cultural and traditional aspect of it is very important. In this sense, what kind of task do you assign to yourself?

 

DEK: We are an organization that has pioneered the establishment and development of marina business in Turkey. Our priority has always been the development and spread of marine culture. We feel responsible in this regard and wish to do even more.

 

We have an outstanding maritime history. This subject has great traces and examples in literature and art. The first things that come to my mind are Karekin Deveciyan, Fisherman of Halicarnassus, Sait Faik and Fikret Kızılok. Our sailors are countless. Sadun Bora, Tanıl Tuncel and many more... Besides, we have a sea cuisine and table culture blended with the Mediterranean culture. On the other hand, a disconnection between new generation and tradition stands out. Being alienated from the ancient sea culture, its history and mythology also makes it difficult to protect the seas. That's why we want to create an environment that brings together the values of the past as well as the values of the present. We'd be happy if Highlights could have a hand in this matter!

 

Question: So let's ask you this: What will followers find on Highlights?

 

DEK: Well, everything about the sea, the sea culture, the passion for the sea, I can tell. First of all, our goal is to provide as fresh and original content as possible. It has the environmental and sustainability aspect. This topic is our priority. It has an artistic and cultural aspect. It has also sports and cuisine aspect. There is the design side, and there is the lifestyle side. All these topics will be covered in our scope. We will include at least one interview in each issue. We do not see Highlights as an advertising medium. Our own brand only takes place if there are very important developments. So even if you don't own a boat, Highlights will have lots of interesting content for you. I believe that our followers will read us even just to be inspired or to travel when they keep their seat.

 

Question: With this project, you are also taking a step into publishing.

 

DEK: We greatly care about the development of the maritime media. There are very valuable periodical publications in this field in our country, and dozens of important books are published in a year. We wish this to develop further. We want movies to increase and television channels to be opened on digital platforms. So, we can enable many more people to meet the sea.

As I said, high-valued journals are published in Turkey. Of course, since they are a printed medium, they have to use their content a little more cautiously in the digital environment. We are in constant cooperation with them, and we always provide support. From now on, we will contribute in terms of content as well. Don't be surprised if you see some special content we've created for Highlights in important journals.

 

Question: Another interesting aspect of the project is that marina employees prepare a significant part of the content.

 

DEK: Our team is very valuable to us. In return for the value they add to our brand, we want to contribute to their personal development. With social media, content production has also become a nice hobby. We have talented friends in our team who are interested in writing, photographing or filming. And then we have a magnificent and limitless subject like the sea. We wanted to open a space for them as well. So, we created "Highlights Reporters" among ourselves.

After all, no one knows our marinas and our guests as well as our team. Because they are always with them and establish a close relationship. Therefore, they both capture beautiful stories and have very specific and fresh knowledge. So Highlights offers them the opportunity to share their knowledge. In each issue, at least 6-7 content are created by our team.

 

Question: So, how do we access to Highlights content?

 

DEK: You can access Highlights content from our smartphone application. Everyone can download our app. There are special menus for marina members as well as sections open to everyone. So, users can easily access the content without going to a separate application or website. Our app is essentially focused on making the life of the user easier. But there should be no harm in coloring life while making it easier.

 

Question: What's the next step for you?

 

DEK: We want Highlights to be the meeting point of sea lovers. So this is a long term project. There's no reason why it shouldn't turn into a web platform once enough content has piled up. We hope we can achieve this as soon as possible.