The Internet is only one of many platforms on which an enterprise can publicise itself. At present Websites are competing for advertising attention with Print and Television advertising content. Let us seek answers for the following questions:
How much advertising material are web consumers exposed to?
This helps an enterprise formulate effective marketing strategies, which involve their website. DSTV, ZTV, Billboards, Clothing Publications (Labels), Movies, Food Courts, Specific Magazines, Newspapers, just to name a few.
Do webverts ™ (Website Adverts) work?
It is not a matter of just advertising, but an effectiveness measurement has to be put into place. Relevance, convenience, quantity, structure, of adverts should be considered.
What is so different about Webvertising ™?
Marketing gurus classify Advertising methods according to emotions nowadays – Fear and Love being the two extremes. We see this on Television and in Print media. Marketers often make consumers feel as though left out, if they do not acquire their product or service. This does not work on the internet, because they so freely move onto another website.
The most effective extreme is love based advertising, wherein marketers build a sense of belonging that allures consumers. The most common emotion to address on the internet is love, because every consumer wants to belong somewhere. I am a good example. Cabsonline.co.zw and Google.com have given me care and a personalised touch, hence will be loyal to them. We all have our websites we visit because of the loving aspect.
LURING WEB CONSUMERS
When it comes to “Zimboz” (as they are called), cyber strategies that work in the west or east do not apply. There are two issues concerning this subject – What Annoys them and How to promote your website.
What Annoys Zimbabweans?
Zimbabwean web consumers are serious and shrewd people when online. Without education, they can filter SPAM, POP-Ups, and other JUNK MAIL. Anything in these lines will not be tolerated. They value their space and freedom on the Web, to the extent of dismissing any form of deemed violation, whether valuable promotional material or not. My advice to enterprises that want to deploy POP-UP strategies is being very careful. When I worked as a Systems Administrator in a Printing company, I noticed how my network clients so often expressed their irritation in regards to SPAM (annoying email from unknown senders) and POP-Ups (Webverts that flash onto your screen after a web page is opened).
How to attract Zimbabweans
How then, do we attract Zimbabwean web consumers? Try the following:
Promotions that have incentives.
Through search engines.
Advertising on other websites.
Offline – Build Web oriented marketing strategies that are applicable in brick and mortar set ups. Examples are given in the Examples.co.zw chapter.
Showing posts with label Web Consumers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Web Consumers. Show all posts
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Property Websites in Zimbabwe, and Opportunities Available
Database Driven
Most of them are database driven, making it difficult for each entry to be found by search engines like google.com. Most use Cold Fusion, a technology not easily accessible by Google scripts. Google uses Perl. The difference is that Perl dumps information on every query (Client Driven), yet Cold Fusion keeps everything on the server on which the query is being requested (Server Driven).
What has influence these web publications
• Mindsets
o People only read from newspaper classifieds only.
o Who would want to invest in a vibrant website?
o It’s Zimbabwe anywhere!
• Lack of understanding of marketing in cyberspace.
• More of a presence issue, for corporate image issue.
The Technologies Used
Most of the websites were developed by WebDev and Design@7. WedDev is strong on Wed Development (the Database side), hence their sites have that orientation. Design@7 is strong with Graphics, hence their sites have that orientation. Some other sites were developed by small companies, which seem not to understand websites or Internet at all.
Opportunities
What is not fully utilised • Titles – Search Engines maximise on website titles. If you search “real estate in Zimbabwe, or homes, or property” with Google, the results will not immediately produce the above websites.
• Newsletters – Only one website had a newsletter link, where one could sign up for a newsletter. It has been two weeks now, I am still waiting for the newsletter.
• News and Information – Only one website has Newsflashes, but only has one story. Zimbabweans love news. They go on the Internet to look for news of anything, especially Obsessives and Bare Necessities, which are the two target audiences.
• Photography – Each website poorly captivates the properties in question. Their photography is very insufficient
What do consumers want?I believe that the above websites are not really addressing what the consumers want, and some are underutilising their tools.
• Target consumer groups should be understood. There are only two target groups – Obsessives and Bare Necessities. I am an Obsessive, I just want to be notified or given information in good time, of properties available, preferably earlier than other people. Learn how these tow behave.
• Sufficient information to make a decision.
• Seeing the beauty of the property (or worth), commensurate the price. Consumers want to feel good about each transaction.
• A non-technical website.
Most of them are database driven, making it difficult for each entry to be found by search engines like google.com. Most use Cold Fusion, a technology not easily accessible by Google scripts. Google uses Perl. The difference is that Perl dumps information on every query (Client Driven), yet Cold Fusion keeps everything on the server on which the query is being requested (Server Driven).
What has influence these web publications
• Mindsets
o People only read from newspaper classifieds only.
o Who would want to invest in a vibrant website?
o It’s Zimbabwe anywhere!
• Lack of understanding of marketing in cyberspace.
• More of a presence issue, for corporate image issue.
The Technologies Used
Most of the websites were developed by WebDev and Design@7. WedDev is strong on Wed Development (the Database side), hence their sites have that orientation. Design@7 is strong with Graphics, hence their sites have that orientation. Some other sites were developed by small companies, which seem not to understand websites or Internet at all.
Opportunities
What is not fully utilised • Titles – Search Engines maximise on website titles. If you search “real estate in Zimbabwe, or homes, or property” with Google, the results will not immediately produce the above websites.
• Newsletters – Only one website had a newsletter link, where one could sign up for a newsletter. It has been two weeks now, I am still waiting for the newsletter.
• News and Information – Only one website has Newsflashes, but only has one story. Zimbabweans love news. They go on the Internet to look for news of anything, especially Obsessives and Bare Necessities, which are the two target audiences.
• Photography – Each website poorly captivates the properties in question. Their photography is very insufficient
What do consumers want?I believe that the above websites are not really addressing what the consumers want, and some are underutilising their tools.
• Target consumer groups should be understood. There are only two target groups – Obsessives and Bare Necessities. I am an Obsessive, I just want to be notified or given information in good time, of properties available, preferably earlier than other people. Learn how these tow behave.
• Sufficient information to make a decision.
• Seeing the beauty of the property (or worth), commensurate the price. Consumers want to feel good about each transaction.
• A non-technical website.
Sunday, 16 September 2007
ASuccessfulWebsite Wildfire 2007
After publishing the book in August 2006, I have closely looked at the progress of the book, to see if it is a success in itself. To date, through the book, I have trained more than ten companies and individuals, ranging from Internet Cafes, Internet Service Providers, Web Developers, Students, Marketers, Churches, Pastors, and Entrepreneurs, who have bought a copy of the eBook.
The book has sold approximately 25 copies, of which a Website, Training, and Web Consultancy have been born out of "each" Copy. I am currently working as a Consultant with Innov8 - The Motivation Company, where amongst other goals, one of them is to assist the company add on to the ".CO.ZW" sphere, two more websites and blogs, in the ".COM" sphere. Innov8 will be launching www.innov8motivation.com and www.innov8bookshop.com, in October 2007, which are transaction enabled, giving people the ability to buy books and pay for workshop online, using the eTranzact platform.
One of the other exciting results of this book has been the Youth Encounter Online Project, that begun in September 2006. The YEO Project comprises of a Newsletter, a Website, and an eGroup. The eGroup has approximately 500 Zimbabwean Youth and Twenty-somethings, from Zimbabwe, Australia, United Kingdom, Zambia, New Zealand, South Africa, Botswana, just to name a few, who chat online. This is a healthy platform for counsel and an opportunity to advertise products and services.
Innov8 - The Motivation Company also has a vibrant eGroup, a result of ASuccessfulWebsite eBook, called Motiva8ed. This group consists of more than 1500 people, from all parts of the world who are customers and readers of Innov8 publications and motivational literature. This group has allowed the company to have good Customer Relationship Management, generating buying traffic in all their outlets.
I believe that this the ASuccessfulWebiste eBook has begun a wildfire in the ".CO.ZW" web sphere, which will help in building a strong economy, as Zimbabwe begins to reform, for African Dominion.
written by Oscar Manduku, AUTHOR
The book has sold approximately 25 copies, of which a Website, Training, and Web Consultancy have been born out of "each" Copy. I am currently working as a Consultant with Innov8 - The Motivation Company, where amongst other goals, one of them is to assist the company add on to the ".CO.ZW" sphere, two more websites and blogs, in the ".COM" sphere. Innov8 will be launching www.innov8motivation.com and www.innov8bookshop.com, in October 2007, which are transaction enabled, giving people the ability to buy books and pay for workshop online, using the eTranzact platform.
One of the other exciting results of this book has been the Youth Encounter Online Project, that begun in September 2006. The YEO Project comprises of a Newsletter, a Website, and an eGroup. The eGroup has approximately 500 Zimbabwean Youth and Twenty-somethings, from Zimbabwe, Australia, United Kingdom, Zambia, New Zealand, South Africa, Botswana, just to name a few, who chat online. This is a healthy platform for counsel and an opportunity to advertise products and services.
Innov8 - The Motivation Company also has a vibrant eGroup, a result of ASuccessfulWebsite eBook, called Motiva8ed. This group consists of more than 1500 people, from all parts of the world who are customers and readers of Innov8 publications and motivational literature. This group has allowed the company to have good Customer Relationship Management, generating buying traffic in all their outlets.
I believe that this the ASuccessfulWebiste eBook has begun a wildfire in the ".CO.ZW" web sphere, which will help in building a strong economy, as Zimbabwe begins to reform, for African Dominion.
written by Oscar Manduku, AUTHOR
Friday, 29 June 2007
Impact of Online Advertising in Zimbabwe
The Internet is only one of many platforms on which an enterprise can publicise itself. At present Websites are competing for advertising attention with Print and Television advertising content. Let us seek answers for the following questions:
How much advertising material are web consumers exposed to?
This helps an enterprise formulate effective marketing strategies, which involve their website. DSTV, ZTV, Billboards, Clothing Publications (Labels), Movies, Food Courts, Specific Magazines, Newspapers, just to name a few.
Do webverts ™ (Website Adverts) work?
It is not a matter of just advertising, but an effectiveness measurement has to be put into place. Relevance, convenience, quantity, structure, of adverts should be considered.
What is so different about Webvertising ™?
Marketing gurus classify Advertising methods according to emotions nowadays – Fear and Love being the two extremes. We see this on Television and in Print media. Marketers often make consumers feel as though left out, if they do not acquire their product or service. This does not work on the internet, because they so freely move onto another website.
The most effective extreme is love based advertising, wherein marketers build a sense of belonging that allures consumers. The most common emotion to address on the internet is love, because every consumer wants to belong somewhere. I am a good example. Cabsonline.co.zw and Google.com have given me care and a personalised touch, hence will be loyal to them. We all have our websites we visit because of the loving aspect.
LURING WEB CONSUMERS
When it comes to “Zimboz” (as they are called), cyber strategies that work in the west or east do not apply. There are two issues concerning this subject – What Annoys them and How to promote your website.
What Annoys Zimbabweans?
Zimbabwean web consumers are serious and shrewd people when online. Without education, they can filter SPAM, POP-Ups, and other JUNK MAIL. Anything in these lines will not be tolerated. They value their space and freedom on the Web, to the extent of dismissing any form of deemed violation, whether valuable promotional material or not. My advice to enterprises that want to deploy POP-UP strategies is being very careful. When I worked as a Systems Administrator in a Printing company, I noticed how my network clients so often expressed their irritation in regards to SPAM (annoying email from unknown senders) and POP-Ups (Webverts that flash onto your screen after a web page is opened).
How to attract Zimbabweans
How then, do we attract Zimbabwean web consumers? Try the following:
- Promotions that have incentives.
- Through search engines.
- Advertising on other websites.
- Offline – Build Web oriented marketing strategies that are applicable in brick and mortar set ups. Examples are given in the Examples.co.zw chapter.
How much advertising material are web consumers exposed to?
This helps an enterprise formulate effective marketing strategies, which involve their website. DSTV, ZTV, Billboards, Clothing Publications (Labels), Movies, Food Courts, Specific Magazines, Newspapers, just to name a few.
Do webverts ™ (Website Adverts) work?
It is not a matter of just advertising, but an effectiveness measurement has to be put into place. Relevance, convenience, quantity, structure, of adverts should be considered.
What is so different about Webvertising ™?
Marketing gurus classify Advertising methods according to emotions nowadays – Fear and Love being the two extremes. We see this on Television and in Print media. Marketers often make consumers feel as though left out, if they do not acquire their product or service. This does not work on the internet, because they so freely move onto another website.
The most effective extreme is love based advertising, wherein marketers build a sense of belonging that allures consumers. The most common emotion to address on the internet is love, because every consumer wants to belong somewhere. I am a good example. Cabsonline.co.zw and Google.com have given me care and a personalised touch, hence will be loyal to them. We all have our websites we visit because of the loving aspect.
LURING WEB CONSUMERS
When it comes to “Zimboz” (as they are called), cyber strategies that work in the west or east do not apply. There are two issues concerning this subject – What Annoys them and How to promote your website.
What Annoys Zimbabweans?
Zimbabwean web consumers are serious and shrewd people when online. Without education, they can filter SPAM, POP-Ups, and other JUNK MAIL. Anything in these lines will not be tolerated. They value their space and freedom on the Web, to the extent of dismissing any form of deemed violation, whether valuable promotional material or not. My advice to enterprises that want to deploy POP-UP strategies is being very careful. When I worked as a Systems Administrator in a Printing company, I noticed how my network clients so often expressed their irritation in regards to SPAM (annoying email from unknown senders) and POP-Ups (Webverts that flash onto your screen after a web page is opened).
How to attract Zimbabweans
How then, do we attract Zimbabwean web consumers? Try the following:
- Promotions that have incentives.
- Through search engines.
- Advertising on other websites.
- Offline – Build Web oriented marketing strategies that are applicable in brick and mortar set ups. Examples are given in the Examples.co.zw chapter.
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Internet Consumer Analysis: Basics 2003
There are five major aspects affecting consumers, which contribute to the success of eCommerce in Zimbabwe – namely Disposable Income, Literacy, Migration, Economic Instability and Technological Changes.
6.1 Disposable Income
Most people spend their disposable income on commodities than unique experiences. Others have their disposable income locked up in liability promoting expenditures. This poses a challenge to eCommerce players to create more disposable income, and eventually employment, through their inventions.
6.2 Literacy
The 35year and above age demographic group is the most Information and Communications Technologies illiterate; yet the bread winning group. This poses a huge challenge to eCommerce players in educating these income holders.
There is however hope in the younger generation, as they are the most literate and also increasingly attaining employment.
6.3 Migration
People are migrating to other nations with better living conditions. Our nation is losing an estimate of Z$20 billion each month, because of citizens’ migration (±20000 people paying ±$1m on airfare). This shows that money is available, but there have not been any innovative eCommerce players to influence other sector to attract these consumers or investors.
On the other hand, this migration is a positive because we now have a world wide Zimbabwean consumer and investor market – a chance for eCommerce to thrive.
6.4 Economic Instability
The current conditions have left consumer in a panic and impulsive buying of commodities. This has been caused by the runaway inflation rates, and most recently, shortages of commodities, even cash. This is however a very big positive to eCommerce, because it promotes a notes (cash) free society. Other positives are the unpredictable ‘stay – aways’, which hit places like the stock exchange, who will be registering a minimal loss of Z$250 million a week.
6.5 Technological Changes
Information and Communications Technologies have dramatically changed, even in Zimbabwe. We apparently have at least 80% eCommerce enabled Information and Communications Technologies. consider the following facts and figures.
- The new Sony PlayStation II is Internet and DVD enabled. This means families can communicate via their television sets.
- Mobile phones are Internet and Wireless Application Technology enabled. This means that they can be used to tap into any computer system using a protocol called WAP.
- It is cheaper to buy a computer than a TV and/or VCR. A DVD enabled Computer costs approximately Z$3.5m, which can play videos, music, and connect to the Internet.
6.1 Disposable Income
Most people spend their disposable income on commodities than unique experiences. Others have their disposable income locked up in liability promoting expenditures. This poses a challenge to eCommerce players to create more disposable income, and eventually employment, through their inventions.
6.2 Literacy
The 35year and above age demographic group is the most Information and Communications Technologies illiterate; yet the bread winning group. This poses a huge challenge to eCommerce players in educating these income holders.
There is however hope in the younger generation, as they are the most literate and also increasingly attaining employment.
6.3 Migration
People are migrating to other nations with better living conditions. Our nation is losing an estimate of Z$20 billion each month, because of citizens’ migration (±20000 people paying ±$1m on airfare). This shows that money is available, but there have not been any innovative eCommerce players to influence other sector to attract these consumers or investors.
On the other hand, this migration is a positive because we now have a world wide Zimbabwean consumer and investor market – a chance for eCommerce to thrive.
6.4 Economic Instability
The current conditions have left consumer in a panic and impulsive buying of commodities. This has been caused by the runaway inflation rates, and most recently, shortages of commodities, even cash. This is however a very big positive to eCommerce, because it promotes a notes (cash) free society. Other positives are the unpredictable ‘stay – aways’, which hit places like the stock exchange, who will be registering a minimal loss of Z$250 million a week.
6.5 Technological Changes
Information and Communications Technologies have dramatically changed, even in Zimbabwe. We apparently have at least 80% eCommerce enabled Information and Communications Technologies. consider the following facts and figures.
- The new Sony PlayStation II is Internet and DVD enabled. This means families can communicate via their television sets.
- Mobile phones are Internet and Wireless Application Technology enabled. This means that they can be used to tap into any computer system using a protocol called WAP.
- It is cheaper to buy a computer than a TV and/or VCR. A DVD enabled Computer costs approximately Z$3.5m, which can play videos, music, and connect to the Internet.
Monday, 11 June 2007
Zimbabwean Web Consumers are Special
Fellow Entrepreneurs, there is something unique about the Zimbabwean consumer, especially on the Internet. We are a nation that has been hit with various pressures – economic, social, spiritual and political. Each time I think about the hardships in our nation, I quickly remember those of USA in the late 1920s and early 30s – the Great Depression. When it ended, USA was never the same. They went into a boom, whose fruit is still being enjoyed to date. The 21st century USA could not have been, without the souls of the early 20th century, who helped transform the nation, by consuming the products and services.
There is something about consumers in times of hardships, especially those that stand firm. I believe that knowing that special thing about Zimbabwe consumers will assist you in building a successful website.
Literacy
Have you ever wondered why it is so easy for Zimbabweans to adapt to new technologies? Notice how mobile phones, computers, satellite equipment, and DVD equipment, have boomed without need for consumer education. Furthermore, have you noticed the number of SMEs who offer after sales services, such as repairs? In this same thought, Zimbabwean Web consumers are able to move in Cyberspace without much education. I noticed this in one Internet Café where I train new Web Consumers. We are taking college students and introducing them to the Internet. In a week, we have trained an average of seventy students, who are now frequenting the Internet Café. We conducted five minute introductory sessions, with batches of ten students each. Nine out of ten in each group had never used a computer before. They have become comfortable in Cyberspace. This is special.
Power of Migration
One of the characteristics of our modern day “Bantu” nation, inherited from its ancestors, is Migration orientation. The Bantu are able to move from one place to the next, carrying all their possession, and settling well in the new lands. Nomadic people have the ability to settle in new environments and quickly customise them to suite their needs.
Over the past six years, Zimbabwe has exported its citizens to all four corners of the earth. This means Zimbabwe is no longer limited to the physical borders we know, but has cluster communities in nations like England, USA, Australia, Canada, South Africa and so forth. As much as Zimbabwean consumers are based in England, their Bantu genes will cause them to crave for Zimbabwean content. There are many examples of thriving websites with Zimbabwean content; though most of it being news. These include websites like zimupdate.com, sadza.com, and zimnews.com, just to name a few.
Consider this: Why not promote and/or attract Zimbabwean immigrants in Cyberspace, who are physically located outside the borders of our nation by helping them migrate with your content? A good example would be the United Kingdom, which was nicknamed UK after “Unit K’ in Chitungwiza. This may not sound like an opportunity, but imagine if you could allure Zimbabwean Web Consumers in the United Kingdom, who will consume your information, linked to your products. Examples are given in the Examples.co.zw chapter.
Enterprising
Every adult in Zimbabwe has a personal business project, and/or is formulating yet another. If the web consumption market comprises of enterprising people, this means that they are very inquisitive, willing to learn, in search of opportunities, and patiently awaiting a chance to shine.
This is a good state, creating an enormous demand on content for commerce. What better platform to deliver such content than the Internet.
There is something about consumers in times of hardships, especially those that stand firm. I believe that knowing that special thing about Zimbabwe consumers will assist you in building a successful website.
Literacy
Have you ever wondered why it is so easy for Zimbabweans to adapt to new technologies? Notice how mobile phones, computers, satellite equipment, and DVD equipment, have boomed without need for consumer education. Furthermore, have you noticed the number of SMEs who offer after sales services, such as repairs? In this same thought, Zimbabwean Web consumers are able to move in Cyberspace without much education. I noticed this in one Internet Café where I train new Web Consumers. We are taking college students and introducing them to the Internet. In a week, we have trained an average of seventy students, who are now frequenting the Internet Café. We conducted five minute introductory sessions, with batches of ten students each. Nine out of ten in each group had never used a computer before. They have become comfortable in Cyberspace. This is special.
Power of Migration
One of the characteristics of our modern day “Bantu” nation, inherited from its ancestors, is Migration orientation. The Bantu are able to move from one place to the next, carrying all their possession, and settling well in the new lands. Nomadic people have the ability to settle in new environments and quickly customise them to suite their needs.
Over the past six years, Zimbabwe has exported its citizens to all four corners of the earth. This means Zimbabwe is no longer limited to the physical borders we know, but has cluster communities in nations like England, USA, Australia, Canada, South Africa and so forth. As much as Zimbabwean consumers are based in England, their Bantu genes will cause them to crave for Zimbabwean content. There are many examples of thriving websites with Zimbabwean content; though most of it being news. These include websites like zimupdate.com, sadza.com, and zimnews.com, just to name a few.
Consider this: Why not promote and/or attract Zimbabwean immigrants in Cyberspace, who are physically located outside the borders of our nation by helping them migrate with your content? A good example would be the United Kingdom, which was nicknamed UK after “Unit K’ in Chitungwiza. This may not sound like an opportunity, but imagine if you could allure Zimbabwean Web Consumers in the United Kingdom, who will consume your information, linked to your products. Examples are given in the Examples.co.zw chapter.
Enterprising
Every adult in Zimbabwe has a personal business project, and/or is formulating yet another. If the web consumption market comprises of enterprising people, this means that they are very inquisitive, willing to learn, in search of opportunities, and patiently awaiting a chance to shine.
This is a good state, creating an enormous demand on content for commerce. What better platform to deliver such content than the Internet.
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