This press release has been quoted in various local media, including:
http://www.africanews.com/site/ExxSet_Africas_business_information_portal/list_messages/32985


Exxset - A Trusted Business Information Resource Promotes And Rates Your Product And Services

ExxSet a recently launched an antidote to the region's dearth of information with a site where professionals can finally source and provide information on the quality of products and services. It is invitation-only to ensure a platform of trust and credibility. It is a series of regional sites across Africa with the initial focus on West Africa.


ExxSet Ltd, with Head Quarters in the UK and hubs in Nigeria and South Africa, has launched exxset.com/wa with the mission of facilitating the flow of credible hyper-local information between professionals in the West African region – by providing a resource where they can connect on common issues and find proven solutions, with its word-of-mouth platform. It is invitation-only and targeted at highly qualified professionals to ensure a platform of trust and credibility. Starting in Nigeria, ExxSet is looking at expanding across the continent with separate web and mobile access platforms for West, East and Southern African regions.

West Africa offers huge opportunities and returns on investment, for example it is the fastest growing telecommunications sector on the continent, recently overtaking South Africa - having grown on average by 125% per annum to a subscriber base of 70m (Source: ncc.gov.ng). However it ranks poorly in terms of the ease of doing business.

Exxset.com/wa is a platform for best practice peer to peer advice on doing business and living in West Africa.

ExxSet's Marketing Manager, Shana Joris, states that “ExxSet is already receiving fantastic product and service insights from professionals and is acting as a resource that filters the proliferation of new and unknown products and services in West Africa.”. “Invited members are obliged to complete short bios so it is a transparent place to find credible professionals with particular skills.” It is a critical tool for those working and doing business in West Africa and in so doing reduces risk and increases opportunity.

ExxSet have also teamed up with Lantern Books to donate Free School Books for children in underprivileged schools in Nigeria and Ghana. For every 3 Tips or one Buzz that members post, which receive a comment or thank you, a Free School Book will be donated.

The site’s main feature is a dual rating system of what’s Frustrating or Fantastic, where professionals post short tips and comments on what is Frustrating and Fantastic about their experience of products and services, for an informed consensus of the best and the rest.  According to Bzz Agent, a leading international marketing company, “one word of mouth is said to have the impact of 200 TV ads”.

In the short time since launch, products and services from major brands such as Aero, Amazon, Arik, BA, Cobranet, MTN, Glo,  GTBank, Mutlilinks, Starcomms, Virgin, Vodafone Ghana and Zain have already been rated by members as either Fantastic or Frustrating. Marketing managers will also have the opportunity to better understand customer issues and respond promptly.

Members currently include professionals from a wide range of disciplines that work in 38 different industries. They include directors, managers and executives in many of Nigeria’s top companies such as Actis, BankPHP, Etisalat, First Bank, Globacom, MTN, Oceanic Bank, Guinness, Shell, UBA, Unilever, Zain etc. ExxSet is a gated community where introductions can occur in an environment of trust and quality. Professionals that have not been invited can apply to be wait-listed for an invitation on exxset.com/wa.

Another feature called Buzz puts members in touch with all professionals in a particular industry category, where they can discuss business in detail. A section for Events allows members and companies alike to post conferences and events with a facility for attendees to meet before, during and after.