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.
Showing posts with label Web Marketing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Web Marketing. Show all posts
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
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
Monday, 02 July 2007
The Google Story - Book Review
Written by David A. Wise, 306 Pages
Reviewed by Oscar Manduku, for Innov8 Bookshop, Zimbabwe
The Google Story starts with extremely bold financial results, for a small start up. Founded in 1998, Google.com became the world's fastest growing Corporation to ever grace the earth, even before going public in August 2004. This book is not about Technology or America, but about how innovation, locked up in every individual, can be turned into a Money Machine within the shortest time frame, without changing one's personality. It is a book about how focus, vision, determination, and endurance can change the way people conduct business the world over.
Google was not started by the US Government as we “Techies” thought. It was started by two humble students, who chose to take on the world, by creating what everyone needs information access for all. The money behind the business is not as important as the vision behind the founders, who consider themselves to be in the infant stage of their “Google Story”.
Upon establishing the company, The Google founders sort to build an environment that was very conducive to productivity without having to be academic or industrial per se. They managed to fuse a good culture by employing certain individuals who influenced the culture they wanted. They were ready to make sacrificial decisions so as to ensure that the culture that best delivered the vision was enforced.
Google Products have managed to create what is now known as The Google Economy, where more than 10 billion web pages are affiliates of Google Advertising Programs. These products have re-shaped the Internet landscape, creating an undisputed advantage for Google. Google's objective is to make available ALL information to the ordinary web consumer. Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the founders, have personal ambitions to download, store, and make accessible the whole WEB. They offer products and services that normally other firms charge, for the sake of retaining a consumer. Their products also make serious assaults on their competitors, and recruit new ones in every new territory they move into.
Google Inc displays unique Team work, as it operates as an Academic Research Institute, with a Membership Club and Project Management Concept, where people are assigned certain projects new ideas, product development, etc, with a Project Leader. These teams are not more than 5 people to allow maximum innovation. They are goal driven, with specific time lines, and objectives, that have to be met, or else the whole ship will sink. This production structure allows maximum mind contribution by each member of staff and helps deliver Quality of Service, which competitors are failing to match.
Corporate Governance and Innovation have been fused well by the founders, who sort the guidance of the Industry's most successful man Eric Schmidt, to captain this small ship that had a cargo even lager than the titanic itself. Google has managed to stay innovative in corporate administration, product development, and service delivery. So often Corporate Governance, Product Development and Delivery are always pulled in different directions. Not so for Google; because Eric Schmidt, the founders choice, successfully turned the idea into a world in itself. The Google Story is also about guidance and stability.
Google is without competition, even from Microsoft, who woke up one day to find Google ahead of the technology race. Google went beyond competition when they invested in product development that lasted many years of losses, and recruited personnel whom they could not pay for a while, but ultimately managed to turn the company around into their destined place number one, even on the NASDAQ bourse. The Google Story is about Corporate Competitiveness in this Global Economy.
The Google Story is about involvement in the lives of consumers. Google did so in consumer communities with their generosity initiatives, as they seek to cooperate with every consumer in order to satisfy them. Their advertising and marketing costs are next to nothing as word of mouth is their strength. Because Google Cares, they are getting more and more users by the day, making them the best Online brand, if not Offline as well.
Reviewed by Oscar Manduku, for Innov8 Bookshop, Zimbabwe
The Google Story starts with extremely bold financial results, for a small start up. Founded in 1998, Google.com became the world's fastest growing Corporation to ever grace the earth, even before going public in August 2004. This book is not about Technology or America, but about how innovation, locked up in every individual, can be turned into a Money Machine within the shortest time frame, without changing one's personality. It is a book about how focus, vision, determination, and endurance can change the way people conduct business the world over.
Google was not started by the US Government as we “Techies” thought. It was started by two humble students, who chose to take on the world, by creating what everyone needs information access for all. The money behind the business is not as important as the vision behind the founders, who consider themselves to be in the infant stage of their “Google Story”.
Upon establishing the company, The Google founders sort to build an environment that was very conducive to productivity without having to be academic or industrial per se. They managed to fuse a good culture by employing certain individuals who influenced the culture they wanted. They were ready to make sacrificial decisions so as to ensure that the culture that best delivered the vision was enforced.
Google Products have managed to create what is now known as The Google Economy, where more than 10 billion web pages are affiliates of Google Advertising Programs. These products have re-shaped the Internet landscape, creating an undisputed advantage for Google. Google's objective is to make available ALL information to the ordinary web consumer. Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the founders, have personal ambitions to download, store, and make accessible the whole WEB. They offer products and services that normally other firms charge, for the sake of retaining a consumer. Their products also make serious assaults on their competitors, and recruit new ones in every new territory they move into.
Google Inc displays unique Team work, as it operates as an Academic Research Institute, with a Membership Club and Project Management Concept, where people are assigned certain projects new ideas, product development, etc, with a Project Leader. These teams are not more than 5 people to allow maximum innovation. They are goal driven, with specific time lines, and objectives, that have to be met, or else the whole ship will sink. This production structure allows maximum mind contribution by each member of staff and helps deliver Quality of Service, which competitors are failing to match.
Corporate Governance and Innovation have been fused well by the founders, who sort the guidance of the Industry's most successful man Eric Schmidt, to captain this small ship that had a cargo even lager than the titanic itself. Google has managed to stay innovative in corporate administration, product development, and service delivery. So often Corporate Governance, Product Development and Delivery are always pulled in different directions. Not so for Google; because Eric Schmidt, the founders choice, successfully turned the idea into a world in itself. The Google Story is also about guidance and stability.
Google is without competition, even from Microsoft, who woke up one day to find Google ahead of the technology race. Google went beyond competition when they invested in product development that lasted many years of losses, and recruited personnel whom they could not pay for a while, but ultimately managed to turn the company around into their destined place number one, even on the NASDAQ bourse. The Google Story is about Corporate Competitiveness in this Global Economy.
The Google Story is about involvement in the lives of consumers. Google did so in consumer communities with their generosity initiatives, as they seek to cooperate with every consumer in order to satisfy them. Their advertising and marketing costs are next to nothing as word of mouth is their strength. Because Google Cares, they are getting more and more users by the day, making them the best Online brand, if not Offline as well.
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.
Zimbabwe Websites Misconceptions
The following are some of the many marketing misconceptions that I would like to address in this book:
Websites are Marketing Expenses. This is false, because a website is an investment. We live in the days of the Google Economy, where you even earn US$ for just reserving a portion of your website for Google AdSense, and in the days of Advertising Synergies.
Not many people use the Internet. This is false, because Zimbabwean urban consumers are very technology oriented. There are more literate consumers in urban centers now, who have equal access to Internet – through Internet Cafes. The Computer Population is Zimbabwe is growing, especially the Laptops, whose owners want Internet access as soon as they buy them.
Websites are for Internet presence only, because we cannot implement eCommerce in Zimbabwe. This is false, because websites are for consumers not your company, hence can be used for more than just your business card. eCommerce in Zimbabwe is transforming, with a few hiccups though. Nonetheless, it is growing – CABS Online, eTranzact, NMB-Direct, and CBZ Online, just to name a few.
Websites are for technical people only. This is false, because websites are nothing close to being technical only. In fact less than 20% of a website is technical. The rest is Marketing and business genes.
Websites are Marketing Expenses. This is false, because a website is an investment. We live in the days of the Google Economy, where you even earn US$ for just reserving a portion of your website for Google AdSense, and in the days of Advertising Synergies.
Not many people use the Internet. This is false, because Zimbabwean urban consumers are very technology oriented. There are more literate consumers in urban centers now, who have equal access to Internet – through Internet Cafes. The Computer Population is Zimbabwe is growing, especially the Laptops, whose owners want Internet access as soon as they buy them.
Websites are for Internet presence only, because we cannot implement eCommerce in Zimbabwe. This is false, because websites are for consumers not your company, hence can be used for more than just your business card. eCommerce in Zimbabwe is transforming, with a few hiccups though. Nonetheless, it is growing – CABS Online, eTranzact, NMB-Direct, and CBZ Online, just to name a few.
Websites are for technical people only. This is false, because websites are nothing close to being technical only. In fact less than 20% of a website is technical. The rest is Marketing and business genes.
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Information Services in Zimbabwe, 2005
INTRODUCTION
Since the commercial inception of many Information and Communication Technologies and various business methods in Zimbabwe, consumers have been hoping for an ever increasing Quality of Service (QoS) in Information Services. This has not been the case; due to a contribution of various factors influencing the direction of growth of this industry.
There are basically seven types of Information Service Points, which this paper seeks to address the audience, to shed light upon the dealings thereof. These are Websites, Directories, CDROMs, Periodics, Mobile Phones, Kiosks, and Cafes. Closely examining these will help define this industry, and point out a way forward – that’s the aim of this paper.
DEFINITION
Information Services can be defined as any repetitive business concept of publishing data, in any relevant format, to inform an audience, whilst achieving profitability. Please realize that in the 21st century, there are many industries which are springing up because of the dynamics of Information and Communication Technologies, manipulating data. As a nation in a continent deemed 3rd world, I beg to differ with this mindset, and aim to prove our un-extracted wealth in these regards.
INFORMATION SERVICE POINTS
WEBSITES
In 1996, there was an enormous uprise of Internet Services in Zimbabwe, with many Internet Service Providers either opening shop or beginning to penetrate the Zimbabwean Market. Unlike other western or eastern nations, Zimbabwean Cyberspace grew with an unstructured marketing concept. There was no separation between the Internet Service Providers and Web Portals. Web Portals are websites which offer information services to web browsers. This hampered marketing innovation, as most portals were based on western commercial ethics.
By the turn of the century, there had been many start-ups and shutdowns, due to the stiff competition from sites like the .coms and .zas – being American and South African websites. It is now five years into the millennium, and there still have not been any sound and well grounded web portals (Internet Information Service Providers). Many may argue upon my conclusion, but an example would be: “Have you ever wondered why it is easier for a Zimbabwean Web Consumer to source a .com for information than a .zw?” – Relevance is the key, not access speed (bandwidth).
DIRECTORIES
In 1980, Zimpapers was formed by the Mass Media Trust, which then incorporated AC Brabys to form BoldAds. AC Brabys is a South African Directory Publishing company, with a 10% stake in BoldAds. They provided BoldAds with basic principles, which been in use up to date.
The decade of the 1980s also saw the introduction of another publisher called Directory Publishers (DP), based in Bulawayo, and founded by the late Bruce Bill. DP and BoldAds have co-inhabited and equally split the market share for the past decades. Of note, DP has an agreement with the well known Service Mark Yellow PagesSM who is the global leaders in directory information services.
Still with these financially sound and strategically connected local giants, directory information service provision has not changed a bit since their inception. They have gone from paralyzing consumer mindsets, to totally disappointing unto death the whole nation. This is evidenced by the recent wrangle between BoldAds and TelOne, and the “too thick” a directory of DP.
Thumbs up for their dominance, but their QoS is rapidly becoming extinct.
CATALOGUES (PERIODICS)
The concept of cataloguing has never really grown in our nation. This quarter of a century of our nation saw the instant rise and fall of many Catalogue Publishers, which left consumers relying on foreign publications. Consumers have been left believing that Catalogues are only found in South Africa, Botswana, United States of America, and/or the United Kingdom.
KIOSKS
There is virtually no information kiosk in Zimbabwe. A kiosk is an ATM like information point that consumers enquire thereof, for a fee. The City Council used to have on at their Information Centre at the Unity Square Gardens in Harare, called InfoSite™. The Ministry of Information and Publicity has been trying to revive these, but these are better revived by business enterprises, because of capital expenditure and QoS.
MOBILE MARKETING
I have to express my patriotic disappointment with our Network Operators, who have not fully allowed the free entry of third party Mobile Marketers onto their networks. In as much as I am endangering my relationship by these comments, far be it that I allow such grievous activities continue. I regard this as social and economical oppression. Let us discuss more.
One would ask; “What happened to 1-2-1 Cell Money ®?” To those who know, please note that there is a thin line between being a Mobile Market Leader and being a Mobile Titanic Operator. The Titanic sank, with all its brilliance. The innovation of information services never got off the ground because of reasons only known as “the African business mindset”. Thumbs up for SMS, but there is more that can be offered.
CAFES
When this word is mentioned one instantly thinks of Internet Cafes. The years 2003 and 2004 saw the “rapid” expansion of these cafes in Harare. Internet cafes are there for convenience and as socializing points, to web consumers.
Thumbs up to QuickNEasy (QE), who has dominated this part of the industry. My only open question is: “How do they manage to accurately acquire convenient shop space, in these days when office or shop space is extremely difficult to find?” besides this question mark, I believe QE are what the Internet Services segment needed. If QE are to become Internet Service Providers, they will surely steal a huge chunk of the market share from other giants. Their brand is well established amongst the young adults. If we rewind time, you cannot help notice the instant rise and fall of cafes like eTouch, who had sound financial and technical backing. Then the biggest question is: “What went wrong?”
CDROMS
I have vigorously scaled the scopes f our uptown Information Technology consumer markets, and am still to come across a locally produced CD or DVD-based consumer information service. As the Print Media, cataloguing on a commercial basis has never taken flight in our nation, even in the presence of such technologies as we possess.
THE CHALLENGES
Apologies for my aggressive stance; I believe I am one of the few people given the grace to address issues in such a manner. I would like us to move on to the mountains, which have affected these Service Points, in a quest to solve our challenges.
1. PUBLISHING
This is a misunderstood industry, profession, concept, and business. It is and Industry because it covers many commercial areas, namely Software, Websites, Motion Picture and Video, Broadcasting, Commercial Print, Music, and lastly BOOKS. It is a Profession because as it spans these seven surfaces, there is a common value chain structure, which requires a Publisher (the individual) to possess fundamental skills. It is a Concept because there is no entity that can exist without publishing as a method of communication. It is a business because, apart from intellectual goals, profit is the main reason for publishing.
There is more that can be discussed about this subject, but its dynamic behaviour has made many entities ignore its importance, yet graceful beauty once harnessed and innovatively manipulated.
2. GOVERNMENT
Each time something goes wrong in our nation, all eyes and voices are on this word – Hurumende or Government. I will say this; for a child to be born, the mother’s body has to facilitate this process with pangs. This forces the mother to push out the fruit of her womb. Sometimes the mother’s body fails and the child dies, or an operation is conducted. I believe that the Zimbabwean government is like the body of Zimbabwean businesses, which facilitates us with birth pangs. Please finish off this allegory for yourself.
3. PATRIOTISM
There is a lack of patriotism amongst those who can offer sound information services. By this I refer to the ethos of certain individuals and organisations which focus on the personal greed, at the expense of QoS and eventually national economic advancement. The fact that Information Services have not been sound; this means that businesses and consumers have been distanced from one another, resulting in our current economic stagnation. Note that a combination of small things amounts to even greater ones.
4. INNOVATION
There is a lie that the African mind has been told, that creativity is unrealistic and unprofitable; hence the high density of clerical and administrative businesses and professions. In Africa, especially Zimbabwe, Africa’s intellectual capital city, the word Entrepreneur has been extremely abused; limiting to mean anything other than Risk Taking and Experimental business ethos.
5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
A lack of respect, education, and practice of this subject and its subsidiaries, has caused greater disasters in our economic framework. For example, more than 90% of Zimbabwean businesses operate without a registered trademark; yet aim to export their products and services to easterner or westerners, who understand trademark laws and other intellectual property. This subject covers Industrial Property (Patents, Utility Models, Designs, etc), Trademarks and Copyright and Related Rights, and others.
Intellectual Property affects Information Services because Copyright and Trademark issues are the core of this Industry. For more information and education on this subject matter, I refer you to Gift Sibanda, Director General of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation; a father of Intellectual Property in Africa, born Zimbabwe.
6. TECHNOLOGY
Zimbabweans are the most literate people in Africa, and most parts of the world; therefore adaptation to new technology is out of the question. What needs to be addressed rather is how technology is presented to consumers. This boils down to QoS. Please tell me that you are fully satisfied with our Information and Communication Technology businesses!
7. VISION
Dear audience let it be known that I see a commercially liberated Africa, and this begins with Information Services. Our oppression begun with information; and we should be restored with information as well. Many Information Service businesses lack a destination, apart from profitability.
It is a well known fact that those who do commerce with a profit mindset achieve frustration, and billions of US-dollars and fame always follow those who do commerce for pride and sheer pleasure.
Since the commercial inception of many Information and Communication Technologies and various business methods in Zimbabwe, consumers have been hoping for an ever increasing Quality of Service (QoS) in Information Services. This has not been the case; due to a contribution of various factors influencing the direction of growth of this industry.
There are basically seven types of Information Service Points, which this paper seeks to address the audience, to shed light upon the dealings thereof. These are Websites, Directories, CDROMs, Periodics, Mobile Phones, Kiosks, and Cafes. Closely examining these will help define this industry, and point out a way forward – that’s the aim of this paper.
DEFINITION
Information Services can be defined as any repetitive business concept of publishing data, in any relevant format, to inform an audience, whilst achieving profitability. Please realize that in the 21st century, there are many industries which are springing up because of the dynamics of Information and Communication Technologies, manipulating data. As a nation in a continent deemed 3rd world, I beg to differ with this mindset, and aim to prove our un-extracted wealth in these regards.
INFORMATION SERVICE POINTS
WEBSITES
In 1996, there was an enormous uprise of Internet Services in Zimbabwe, with many Internet Service Providers either opening shop or beginning to penetrate the Zimbabwean Market. Unlike other western or eastern nations, Zimbabwean Cyberspace grew with an unstructured marketing concept. There was no separation between the Internet Service Providers and Web Portals. Web Portals are websites which offer information services to web browsers. This hampered marketing innovation, as most portals were based on western commercial ethics.
By the turn of the century, there had been many start-ups and shutdowns, due to the stiff competition from sites like the .coms and .zas – being American and South African websites. It is now five years into the millennium, and there still have not been any sound and well grounded web portals (Internet Information Service Providers). Many may argue upon my conclusion, but an example would be: “Have you ever wondered why it is easier for a Zimbabwean Web Consumer to source a .com for information than a .zw?” – Relevance is the key, not access speed (bandwidth).
DIRECTORIES
In 1980, Zimpapers was formed by the Mass Media Trust, which then incorporated AC Brabys to form BoldAds. AC Brabys is a South African Directory Publishing company, with a 10% stake in BoldAds. They provided BoldAds with basic principles, which been in use up to date.
The decade of the 1980s also saw the introduction of another publisher called Directory Publishers (DP), based in Bulawayo, and founded by the late Bruce Bill. DP and BoldAds have co-inhabited and equally split the market share for the past decades. Of note, DP has an agreement with the well known Service Mark Yellow PagesSM who is the global leaders in directory information services.
Still with these financially sound and strategically connected local giants, directory information service provision has not changed a bit since their inception. They have gone from paralyzing consumer mindsets, to totally disappointing unto death the whole nation. This is evidenced by the recent wrangle between BoldAds and TelOne, and the “too thick” a directory of DP.
Thumbs up for their dominance, but their QoS is rapidly becoming extinct.
CATALOGUES (PERIODICS)
The concept of cataloguing has never really grown in our nation. This quarter of a century of our nation saw the instant rise and fall of many Catalogue Publishers, which left consumers relying on foreign publications. Consumers have been left believing that Catalogues are only found in South Africa, Botswana, United States of America, and/or the United Kingdom.
KIOSKS
There is virtually no information kiosk in Zimbabwe. A kiosk is an ATM like information point that consumers enquire thereof, for a fee. The City Council used to have on at their Information Centre at the Unity Square Gardens in Harare, called InfoSite™. The Ministry of Information and Publicity has been trying to revive these, but these are better revived by business enterprises, because of capital expenditure and QoS.
MOBILE MARKETING
I have to express my patriotic disappointment with our Network Operators, who have not fully allowed the free entry of third party Mobile Marketers onto their networks. In as much as I am endangering my relationship by these comments, far be it that I allow such grievous activities continue. I regard this as social and economical oppression. Let us discuss more.
One would ask; “What happened to 1-2-1 Cell Money ®?” To those who know, please note that there is a thin line between being a Mobile Market Leader and being a Mobile Titanic Operator. The Titanic sank, with all its brilliance. The innovation of information services never got off the ground because of reasons only known as “the African business mindset”. Thumbs up for SMS, but there is more that can be offered.
CAFES
When this word is mentioned one instantly thinks of Internet Cafes. The years 2003 and 2004 saw the “rapid” expansion of these cafes in Harare. Internet cafes are there for convenience and as socializing points, to web consumers.
Thumbs up to QuickNEasy (QE), who has dominated this part of the industry. My only open question is: “How do they manage to accurately acquire convenient shop space, in these days when office or shop space is extremely difficult to find?” besides this question mark, I believe QE are what the Internet Services segment needed. If QE are to become Internet Service Providers, they will surely steal a huge chunk of the market share from other giants. Their brand is well established amongst the young adults. If we rewind time, you cannot help notice the instant rise and fall of cafes like eTouch, who had sound financial and technical backing. Then the biggest question is: “What went wrong?”
CDROMS
I have vigorously scaled the scopes f our uptown Information Technology consumer markets, and am still to come across a locally produced CD or DVD-based consumer information service. As the Print Media, cataloguing on a commercial basis has never taken flight in our nation, even in the presence of such technologies as we possess.
THE CHALLENGES
Apologies for my aggressive stance; I believe I am one of the few people given the grace to address issues in such a manner. I would like us to move on to the mountains, which have affected these Service Points, in a quest to solve our challenges.
1. PUBLISHING
This is a misunderstood industry, profession, concept, and business. It is and Industry because it covers many commercial areas, namely Software, Websites, Motion Picture and Video, Broadcasting, Commercial Print, Music, and lastly BOOKS. It is a Profession because as it spans these seven surfaces, there is a common value chain structure, which requires a Publisher (the individual) to possess fundamental skills. It is a Concept because there is no entity that can exist without publishing as a method of communication. It is a business because, apart from intellectual goals, profit is the main reason for publishing.
There is more that can be discussed about this subject, but its dynamic behaviour has made many entities ignore its importance, yet graceful beauty once harnessed and innovatively manipulated.
2. GOVERNMENT
Each time something goes wrong in our nation, all eyes and voices are on this word – Hurumende or Government. I will say this; for a child to be born, the mother’s body has to facilitate this process with pangs. This forces the mother to push out the fruit of her womb. Sometimes the mother’s body fails and the child dies, or an operation is conducted. I believe that the Zimbabwean government is like the body of Zimbabwean businesses, which facilitates us with birth pangs. Please finish off this allegory for yourself.
3. PATRIOTISM
There is a lack of patriotism amongst those who can offer sound information services. By this I refer to the ethos of certain individuals and organisations which focus on the personal greed, at the expense of QoS and eventually national economic advancement. The fact that Information Services have not been sound; this means that businesses and consumers have been distanced from one another, resulting in our current economic stagnation. Note that a combination of small things amounts to even greater ones.
4. INNOVATION
There is a lie that the African mind has been told, that creativity is unrealistic and unprofitable; hence the high density of clerical and administrative businesses and professions. In Africa, especially Zimbabwe, Africa’s intellectual capital city, the word Entrepreneur has been extremely abused; limiting to mean anything other than Risk Taking and Experimental business ethos.
5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
A lack of respect, education, and practice of this subject and its subsidiaries, has caused greater disasters in our economic framework. For example, more than 90% of Zimbabwean businesses operate without a registered trademark; yet aim to export their products and services to easterner or westerners, who understand trademark laws and other intellectual property. This subject covers Industrial Property (Patents, Utility Models, Designs, etc), Trademarks and Copyright and Related Rights, and others.
Intellectual Property affects Information Services because Copyright and Trademark issues are the core of this Industry. For more information and education on this subject matter, I refer you to Gift Sibanda, Director General of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation; a father of Intellectual Property in Africa, born Zimbabwe.
6. TECHNOLOGY
Zimbabweans are the most literate people in Africa, and most parts of the world; therefore adaptation to new technology is out of the question. What needs to be addressed rather is how technology is presented to consumers. This boils down to QoS. Please tell me that you are fully satisfied with our Information and Communication Technology businesses!
7. VISION
Dear audience let it be known that I see a commercially liberated Africa, and this begins with Information Services. Our oppression begun with information; and we should be restored with information as well. Many Information Service businesses lack a destination, apart from profitability.
It is a well known fact that those who do commerce with a profit mindset achieve frustration, and billions of US-dollars and fame always follow those who do commerce for pride and sheer pleasure.
Monday, 11 June 2007
Bend It Like Beckham
If you have not watched this movie, the moral is that every Midfielder wished they could bend a football into the net or at the feet of a striker, like David Beckham. Question is, “Is this the only way to play winning football?” With this same thought, many Zimbabwean enterprises have adopted styles, structures, and content that they have not engineered, but copied. There is nothing wrong with copying, except when it limits an enterprise to unleash the greatness within them – thumbs up to Milton Kamwendo, on this subject.
Beautiful Graphics
Many websites in Zimbabwe are “very beautiful”, flamboyant, fully animated, and intriguingly spectacular. Are they successful? I know of a manufacturer whose website I have been trying to open for the past three years. No matter where I access the Internet, I have never seen their website. It has music in the background, and an opening count which reaches 100% but never opens. I tell you the truth, it is better to publish such a website as a .com rather than a .co.zw.
When designing a website to be accessed by Zimbabweans, one ought to consider the issues we discussed earlier; consumers do not have patience. Considering the state of our telecoms networks, animated websites do not go down well, unless they are conservatively built. Remember the Google.com and Msn.com comparison.
Corporate Image Only!
Have you noticed that many websites in Zimbabwe are corporate image websites only? There is more talk of the company than its products. It is good to have a corporate site; but it is not all. Many enterprises just want to have a presence on the Internet. There is more!
Your image is good, but do not end there. Present yourself in a manner that web consumers will not be offended or deem you pompous. This may cause a reduced frequency in the number of visitors. I know of enterprises in Zimbabwe, which have good products, yet talk more of the corporate image than their products on their website. This is terrible.
No Content and Poor Content
At one extreme there are websites without any content, yet owned by flamboyant enterprises. Sorry for picking on listed companies, it is just that they represent us in globally. Many of the listed companies do not have content on their websites. Try their websites for yourself. Compare with the amount of content they put into TV and Print platforms.
It is not good to put too much attention on TV and Print, at the expense of your website, which is the first point of call, both locally and internationally. It is advisable to keep a balance.
On the other extremes there are those with poor content. There is no excuse to publish insufficient information about an enterprise or its products, on the Internet. Enterprises usually publish poor content when they rush the process – they just want something online. I was once told, taking a wife is easy; but keeping her is hard work that bares much fruit. The secret is in preparation. If you are not committed to manage the content (or hire content managers, such as ourselves or those who built your website), do not publish one at all.
The greatest success story in regards to poor content, I can give you, is the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange website (Zse.co.zw). For many years this website had nothing but contact details, and brief profiles. It was not enough, even as a contact detail website. I spent about two years visiting it after three month intervals, and downloading a copy of each page possible. I tried to imagine how it will be viewed by investors outside Zimbabwe. It was not good.
I am proud to announce that this is no more. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange website is now one of the most content rich sites, which is updated everyday. Thumbs up to the Publishers of this website, and more so for the ZSE, who have taken time to change their image, and strategy on the Internet. Access it, and see for yourself. It is not only beautiful, but it is sound, fast, and content rich.
Beautiful Graphics
Many websites in Zimbabwe are “very beautiful”, flamboyant, fully animated, and intriguingly spectacular. Are they successful? I know of a manufacturer whose website I have been trying to open for the past three years. No matter where I access the Internet, I have never seen their website. It has music in the background, and an opening count which reaches 100% but never opens. I tell you the truth, it is better to publish such a website as a .com rather than a .co.zw.
When designing a website to be accessed by Zimbabweans, one ought to consider the issues we discussed earlier; consumers do not have patience. Considering the state of our telecoms networks, animated websites do not go down well, unless they are conservatively built. Remember the Google.com and Msn.com comparison.
Corporate Image Only!
Have you noticed that many websites in Zimbabwe are corporate image websites only? There is more talk of the company than its products. It is good to have a corporate site; but it is not all. Many enterprises just want to have a presence on the Internet. There is more!
Your image is good, but do not end there. Present yourself in a manner that web consumers will not be offended or deem you pompous. This may cause a reduced frequency in the number of visitors. I know of enterprises in Zimbabwe, which have good products, yet talk more of the corporate image than their products on their website. This is terrible.
No Content and Poor Content
At one extreme there are websites without any content, yet owned by flamboyant enterprises. Sorry for picking on listed companies, it is just that they represent us in globally. Many of the listed companies do not have content on their websites. Try their websites for yourself. Compare with the amount of content they put into TV and Print platforms.
It is not good to put too much attention on TV and Print, at the expense of your website, which is the first point of call, both locally and internationally. It is advisable to keep a balance.
On the other extremes there are those with poor content. There is no excuse to publish insufficient information about an enterprise or its products, on the Internet. Enterprises usually publish poor content when they rush the process – they just want something online. I was once told, taking a wife is easy; but keeping her is hard work that bares much fruit. The secret is in preparation. If you are not committed to manage the content (or hire content managers, such as ourselves or those who built your website), do not publish one at all.
The greatest success story in regards to poor content, I can give you, is the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange website (Zse.co.zw). For many years this website had nothing but contact details, and brief profiles. It was not enough, even as a contact detail website. I spent about two years visiting it after three month intervals, and downloading a copy of each page possible. I tried to imagine how it will be viewed by investors outside Zimbabwe. It was not good.
I am proud to announce that this is no more. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange website is now one of the most content rich sites, which is updated everyday. Thumbs up to the Publishers of this website, and more so for the ZSE, who have taken time to change their image, and strategy on the Internet. Access it, and see for yourself. It is not only beautiful, but it is sound, fast, and content rich.
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.
Free Blind Mice
Because the Internet is not an academic priority in most Marketing Programmes in Zimbabwe, Web Marketing has been a nightmare for many marketers, seen by the inability to thrive online as they do offline. My first business mentor is one of Zimbabwe’s top Marketers, who took me up early 2003, when I quit my comfortable IT position at Zimpapers Natprint. I noticed that he was a student of online marketing ever since then, only to take up online business four years after, with a serious innovation, if I might add.
I know another brilliant Marketer with more than ten world class food brands at her disposable, yet has only one website – a corporate website, that talks more about the company - Corporate Profile, than the products or its consumers.
I will not mention bankers, clothing manufacturers, department stores, bookshops, car dealers, insurance institutes, asset managers, chemists, sports institutes, just to name a few. I love our marketers, but can not stand and watch them be overwhelmed by foreign institutions online. The online competition is stiff, and some websites serve the Zimbabwean web market uncontested. It is as if Zimbabwean marketers become blind as the three blind mice, yet online innovation is free for all. It just takes the same concepts as the offline, to build success on the Internet.
What I have seen to be the problem is how marketers perceive the Internet, especially websites – a business card, company profile, and a notice board. We come from a Mass media oriented marketing background, relying heavily on TV, RADIO, and NEWSPAPER to market products, services, promotions and brands.
I know another brilliant Marketer with more than ten world class food brands at her disposable, yet has only one website – a corporate website, that talks more about the company - Corporate Profile, than the products or its consumers.
I will not mention bankers, clothing manufacturers, department stores, bookshops, car dealers, insurance institutes, asset managers, chemists, sports institutes, just to name a few. I love our marketers, but can not stand and watch them be overwhelmed by foreign institutions online. The online competition is stiff, and some websites serve the Zimbabwean web market uncontested. It is as if Zimbabwean marketers become blind as the three blind mice, yet online innovation is free for all. It just takes the same concepts as the offline, to build success on the Internet.
What I have seen to be the problem is how marketers perceive the Internet, especially websites – a business card, company profile, and a notice board. We come from a Mass media oriented marketing background, relying heavily on TV, RADIO, and NEWSPAPER to market products, services, promotions and brands.
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