₦airaland Forum

@ Wiseone007
I must congratulate you for the steps so far. They are commendable. But as my mentor will always say "the race for perfection has no finished line", so there is always room for improvement.

I my opinion, I will recommend:
- You define what your blog is going to be for. This decision will guide you all the way and will determine what you will be posting. Hence your target audience.
- You try other styles of skin for the blog, since its blogger and compare them. In order to have the best,
- You may even consider a blog with strickly your name. In that case you will need to pay for hosting and a domain name (something within N5000 should take care of that).
- If you intend intend making serious income with your Adsense, remember it will take some time and effort you start making reasonable income. But you have to tailor how you display your ads, your posts, keywords, site traffic, etc.
- Learn more on adsense, play by the rule, review your progress, make adjustments,

I hope this will help.

Clown? Hahaha,

@ Dis Guy: Did I hear you say "like they are telling secondary school stories". lol

There are even well developed news scripts that are very easy to modify and implement that would have made a great difference. And for the images, I think they are as important as the text. What about concepts like photo-news (collection of well shot photos that clearly illustrate the news without much texts).

I mean a look at cnn, bbc, yahoo news, etc should even a good reference point. I hope something is done.

It will do well in Nigeria for many reasons such as helping people buy online. There are many items that are offered at very high prices but online they very cheap. Many people will deffinitely grab it.

But to do well in Nigeria, please consider certain factors.
- Are you going to have virtual contact here or is it strictly going to be online services.
- Cost
- Security that their funds are safe.
- Whats your refund policy.
- How is your offline publicity or are you going to use resellers to announce your service
- You stated paypal verification, what address is to be used for transactions, etc.

If you put everything staright, you will hit it big in Nigeria.

Goodluck.
Ezeali Emmanuel

Its a welcome development, whenever they run down their funds or need money for something, they will declear Public Offer. CBN should have a close look at these banks before they slip off to the past.

Hello Everyone,

Have you considered making a Website Donation? I have an assignment for you. Its to be completed before end of Febuary 2008.

You are to design just one website (including hosting it) as a donation, 100% free, to an NGO or a group. Consider any of these,  your church, mosque, club or your community where you come from. Give it your best.

You never can tell references that will come from it. Remember "Givers never lack". I will like to know what you think of this idea.

I think those guys are trying. But for me thats only for backends (server based programming). I mean I am not too impress. I expect it should get better by the day.

They load relatively fast, colour combination ok but that should not be all. I mean there are alot of 3rd party and free plugins everywhere. For instance going to a different site altogether for a site's forum, chat, survey, etc most times these are free services, so you see links everwhere. And imagine times font for content instead of something like Tahoma. What about images?

Please in 2008, lets role out the best. Cheers!

@ Afam: Ok now,

To all: I think we have a candidate here for a writing contest. Happy 2008 friends.

Imagine OBJ as minister for petroleum from 1999 - 2007.

As I observe many past learders in Nigeria and the crowd warming-up for the slightest opportunity, I see many programmes and policies abandoned here and there. Some of which even from the onset nobody expects it to yeid any result. Can't these rulers be made to pay back every kobo, even if they have to borrow?

Benazir Bhutto, may her soul rest in peace. Who knows when peace will return to this region of the world.

Congratulations for your forum. I want to make just two recommendations:
1. Do you mind changing or modifying the design of the title name.
2. You may need to change your colour combination. Its hurts the eye, especially the blue.

Good luck on your project.

Apart from adesence and adword, you can make money on your site through any of the following:

- Selling your own products.
- Promoting other peoples products as an affilliate.
- Offering services based on your specialization.
- Helping other people solve their problems (Eg. Helping people make payment online or funding e-gold)
- Selling downloadable info-products (Like ebooks and software)
- Joining multilevel marketing programmes (Programmes that allows you earn by introducing others).

There are others. I hope this helps. Good luck!

@ Panache
I agree with you. For instance your client wants the site to display time and date, why go through the hordles of maybe learning how to write java only to design the script (except you want to go into programming). Because they are so many tools out there you can use, even free.

So, I will recommend you join webmaster membership site, before you start a web project that you search the web to see what others are doing - it will give you idea of where you are heading to, and be creative in your work.

Cheers!

For your Username and password to you cpanel, as long as you did pay for a web hosting package, always insist on having it. It is yours, except you do not own the site.

For uploading you site, I think you can have a look at this https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=94214.msg1689053#msg1689053

Goodluck!

Depending on the script anyway, I mean java, cgi, php, etc. Anyway, you can ask for the installation instruction from where (or the person) you bought it from.

Also you can try browsing "how to install -----------, " Put the name of the script in the dotted line, on google maybe you will get more assistance.

All the best.

Hello Friends. I am glad for all your comments. I hope you all are planning for 2008.

Let Look At Branding
As plan to setup your own web design outfit, its important you cosider one of the 21st century's corporate considration --Branding. The reason is that it will go along way to stamp your image in peoples mind, so you easily come to mind when your specialty is needed. Some of what to consider include:

- Business Name (Register with Corporate Affairs Commission atleast Biz name)  [url=http://www.biztrek.com/articles/Naming%20your%20business.htm]Tip on choosing a name[/url]
- Logo (Get a good graphic designer to do one for you, if you can't do that yourself) Sample logos
- Choose your colour (I recomend 1 or atmost 3)
- Your website (Should be branded to match your logo and colour)
- Slogan (Impressive but simple - Be original)
- Complementry Cards, Letterheaded paper and reciepts sholud match your brand. ETC.

I wish you all the best.

How To Get Alot Of Web Design Jobs
I almost did not want to share this. But that is how I can be helpful. Some of this I have tested out myself and are very rewarding.

1 - If belong to an organization, club, church, school department, etc. Offer to do a very beautiful site for them free. It will amaze you the reference that will come afterwards.
2 - Print quality handbill, well designed and digital colour separation.
3 - Always have your web design complementry card all the time.
4 - Consider posters and banners ---depending in your location.
5 - Talk to people about your area of specialization -----the words will spread.
6 - Design samples, go out talk to prospective clients. Let them see their own version of the web.
7 - Remember your community, do a site for them.
8 - Have a website yourself. . . . , ETC.

If well planned and implemented, in six months or less you will have your hands filled. Cheers!

@Maxidoe
Its easy to get web hosting. If you need one, I will give you 100MB web space with 3GB bandwidth, Unlimited email account and a free domain registration for only N5,000 -see details http://emmaezeali.com/hostingall.htm Do compare with others I'm sure you will have your site hosted.

To download CoreFtp - its very easy to use use this link to get one free http://www.coreftp.com/download/coreftplite.exe

Regards,
Emmanuel Ezeali
emmaezeali.com
08059201646

Thanks everyone for your comment. For our company site I am redesigning it for 2008. I hope to put it up soon.

What You Should Avoid
As soon as you make up your mine to setup you outfit, I need to tell you there are chanlenges that comes around. Try your best to stay away from them. In general, anything that will get you into trouble or that of your new business just stay away!

Some of these are:
- Fraudlent sites - people will approach with them and tell you nothing will happen. I need not remind you what will happen to you and business if the Efcc lay hold of you.
- Don't under charge web projects and end up using your money to complete it.
- Don't accept jobs you cannot deliver or have the resouce persons to do it.
- Don't put all you have in publicity. Find effective and cheap way to tell people of what you do.
- Employ only those you need. I recommend you should actively be involved in your business for a start. Get those that will accomplish things you cannot do.

There are others, I hope you can figure out some.

@ NICEUZOR: Thanks friend. I hope they will soon start contributing.

Lets Look At The Tools You Will Need
Their are many tools you will be needing to properly run your new business. But you have to place them on how important and urgent they are. One of the very first is a Personal Computer. I know you will figure out what to do about that. To get a PC consider this two factors - What you are going to use it for and the amount of money you have for it. These put together will hit a point.

You will also need other tools like internet access (start with cafe if you can't afford one now), your web design software and tools, reseller hosting packages (to reduce the cost of hosting your clients sites), and other packages and subscriptions that will boost the services you offer. Join, buy, download, etc only things that you need. I repeat only those you need.

Goodluck. I will be discussing things you should stay away from, later. You can become the next pro, Cheers.

How To Charge
This should ordinarily be part of you training. But assuming you were not told, its important you know how to charge for you jobs. Its will be an important component of your web design business. These include:

- How to write a standard proposal for your job prospects ( check www.bplans.com )
- What to charge for (like Domain Reg, Hosting, Design, etc)
- What to offer free (Everyone would like one thing or the other free)
- How to recieve your payment (I recommend 70% - 30%) Don't do paid projects with your money.
- Have your own price list. Say Hosting, Design, etc.

Make research and come up with what is exclusively yours. This way you can build up your web business empaire!

Show What You Can Do
Practice! Put up some design. Show those around you to see what they make out of it. Disign one for yourself. Design samples. Put the samples in directories (folders) in that your site or put them up in free hosts. This will motivate you and serve as references if you do not have clients you have done jobs for.

Don't be in a hurry to start posing around as a web designer. Develop yourself. You will discover that if you do the right things first, when you come out fully you will be choosing which job to do and not to do and even outsource for others.

First Step
To suceed in web design, like any other enterprise, you need a plan. This will contain your objective. What do you want to archieve? Who are your targets? Do you want to get employed, setup your own or partner with others? Clearly define what you are aiming at. This will help in giving you direction later as you progress.

You also need to learn web design. Even if you intend to condinate things while employing others to do the job. Its good you also have the skill. Get trained anywhere such is adquately offerred (not seminars please) as they not be aquate enough.

Ones you are armed with the skill, you are ready for the next level in your quest to setup your own web design business.

Hello Friends. In this thread, we will be discussing how you too can setup and run your own successful website design business. We will consider tips and strategies that will boost your chances to suceed. I will appreciate you making your own contributions too. Please don't fight here. Thanks.

@ my2cents:
Its really very unfortunate. One day was making some search on Google image, I along the line I enter "Nigerian Fashion" it amazed me the type of images that was displayed.

@ everone:
We Nigerians should appreciate and explore the opportunities provided by the Internet rather than view it negatively.

I also think we the professionals, should develop our skills further and look for ways to help our dear country. We should as well see Government establishments and parastatals that don't have a website or on poorly designed as an opportunity to explore (maybe design it and talk to who ever is in charge)

This way we will make progress.

Warmest Regards
Ezeali Emmanuel

Using my picture have worked out opportunities for me not only for my web design services. You see when you have your picture on your site it adds alot, especially for those the come in contact with you.

I accept very well that big establishments may not need their pictures that much, but I most point out that for some corporate site I have designed, one on the most exciting aspect of the project is when members of staff start browsing their own piture on the site.

So why not a personal website? And many us who are against including one picture, still go ahead to add images that do belong to them on their site.

I think Nigerian image will improve online, if we start having Nigerian with geniue faces online.

Best regards,
Ezeali Emmanuel

Also you may also use Corel Draw. Paste the image on coreldraw (since its small), then export it in JPG format using a larger resolution (say 300). Optimize you image while exporting. I will also recommend Fireworks optimization or any other tool you may have.

All the best.

Have you tried searching for dating script on Google? There are many available that will assist you since you are not a programmer.

Find one then include the cost in your quotation. I hope that will help.

@ regaltopax: That was a nice attempt. I like that! My concern is on the hosting and design.

For Hosting: I can give you 100MB with free domain and unlimited email account for only N4500. This will help you have you complete domain name without any attachment, no ad like that of free server, and also a personalized email address so you don't use you yahoo mail on you site contact page.

If you don't mind I will also help you redesign the site with the content on your site already. If what is to be added is much then it will attract cost.

Good luck!

@ niteduff: I like your new blog, though you still need to do some modifications and add more posts. Keep it up. I hope it will become famous.

Thanks guys for all your response. If I may ask where do the issue of self branding come in. And up till now nobody have posted any link of his work, which in the first place is what this thread is for. Not even a link to your site where we can see your portfolio.

Seasons greeting!