₦airaland Forum

I have to ask,since you offer these services. Do you have marketers or sales persons preaching you gospel out on the streets.

Cos if your offer oil and gas services, it means you into providing flamable material to firms that need it, but how far have you gone with that marketing.

Elaborate on these services your offering.

research on them.

Because these are services that generally attract clientelle easily.

But you must be willing to go out there and do one on one talking to businesses or individuals that will be interested in them. it may take time but you will get clients, but you need to get out there.

Recharge business in Nigeria: issues and Problems.

I have see alot about the profit boom of recharge card printing as a business here and on some other sites.
I have wondered at times if this so call boom made by others is so true.
Well let me enlighten you.

The business of recharge selling is as old as Nitel in nigeria, While the issue of recharge card printing is a business as the selling of the card is a business. they are one and the same.

From whats gathered there are a lot of companies doing the business of recharge card printing and recharge card printing business. From you local area to a typical google search will yield results.

Question is. Is it profitable ?

Answer - look at those vendors that sell recharge card around you, are they still there sell over the years, if yes then it is profitable to sell or print them

But before you leap into it because someone told you about it, or you have been hearing about it, a word of caution. Know what your getting into.

If your gonna print the cards, your gonna need a market. people you can sell the cards to.

Answer these questions.
A. Do i know the company selling the machines for the business
B. Who are their clients
C. Find some of them, offline or online
D. How is their service.
E. How long have they been in business
F. What are their rates
G. How much do people selling recharge card around me buy for.
H. Can i supply them if it is cheaper.
I. What is their payment plan(as u know some sells buy on credit)
J. Where will i do the business to attract more market.
H. How can i attract more market for my Products.

If you can answer all these questions before you commited your money(it is your money your commiting so know all first, before you throw it away or gain from it) in to it.

The answers you provide for these questions if positive will show you how you profit and loss margin will look like and how much you will need to invest. Before you actually put down money for it.

Its called research for a reason

I believe you can use this as a framework if you want to get into the recharge card printing business.
If you have questions,or comments or arguements for or against, leave them in the reply section below.

Unemployed Researcher

We will be looking at the short code business in Nigeria today

What it is

How to set it up

Businesses for it.

A. What is Shortcode?
Almost every one with a mobile phone has received a message from a short code one time or the other. The numbers usually used fall in the ranges of 22222 or 33333. They are tools of marketing used by network provided(over used by airtel),businesses and individuals to spread the word about their products and services. In essence they are a form of marketing tools, that can also be a form of revenue generation depending on the product or services used by them

Why use them?
As I said almost everyone in the country has a mobile phone, and research ahs shown that most people depend on their mobile devices for one service or the other since the local media via radio and television are sometimes not available due tolack of power.
These devices are always with an individual(can you leave you phone and go out or travel without your phone).meaning that no matter the time or date or the where or how, people are always with their phones, any message(advert) sent to the phone ensures that it is read first before the person deletes them or no.

B. How to set it up.
This is usually handle by the national communications commission or via the network provide. Simply walk up to their offices to enquire will point you in the right directions with the right information. Or you can work with some service firms that can handle it for you. A typical google search on shortcodes nigeria will show a list of sites that do this.

Types of shortcode service
On this there are usually two types

Shared
Dedicated

Shared services allows you to own a short code from which you can run different services from
Eg send 'music #name" to 33033, send "tickets #name #number" to 33033.
You get the idea, you can use the same short code to run different services or businesses,think of it as a site to with links to registor as a job seek or client,while also registering for a dating service and social media service.

Dedicated service is quite the opposite, this only allows access to one service on one short code.

The cost range for the 2 services range from N100,000 or less to N500,000 or more. This all depends on the service provide selling you the shortcode

To run this services you will also need a server attached to it, although some service provides will do that for you, but its best to handle it yourself so as to know how many users are on your service depending on what service your running.

If you will be using yur service as revenue generation tool
E.g play the raffle send"#name #Numebr to 331199" for N50 and stand a chance to win; you get the idea.
This means your service will be generating revenue for you, most times this is managed by the provide,the network provider and the gateway provide. This in itself is where issues tend to come as I have heard. The percentage sharing from the providers range in the area of 40-58% or more. So if your running a service for revenue generation for say N25 per sms, run the percentage through it and do the maths, that should tell you how much you get from each sms.


Businesses for shortcodes?

As long as your in a business that provides a product or service that needs clients and your willing to market on local tv or radio for the clients, this is the best for your firm. As its a direct link to all those people that are not watching local tv. Or listening to radio due to power outage or lack of interest in anything not on hitv or dstv(it did surprise you to know that most nigerians hardly watch local tv any more, the hear about news in Nigeria via foreign tv).

Dating,chatrooms and hook up; Although the network providers have entrenched themselves in this one,there is still a business in this for those who can see it.e.g monitored chatrooms, blind dates. As I said for those who can see it.

Facebook,Twitter: Also a network provider owned service, but sorely used, there are pages,pic,info and links by the ton on fb and twitty that a lot of people have not seen,that alone presents a service. Or fb and twitty search results via mms(hello).

Forsale,Buy,Rent: Yes there are a lot of them out there, but are there any of them like ebay or is there any of them with a sense to lead the group.

Sites: yes shortcodes that tell people of sites of interest,news,or events or videos, depeneding on the user preference.(I know google is out there, but sometimes I get some great info from a friend telling to check out this or that site). Enlighten your mind on this one and do you research.

For products and services details: a firm can use it for providing their customer supplier market and all on new information about their business,product or service.(did be fun if I get info from my bank once in a while inviting me for a program,I'm just saying).

I believe, this can be a starting point for anyone who truly wants to get into shortcodes. If you have any information to add to this or arguement for it. Feel free to drop it in the reply section below
If there is an area of business you need research or information please also state it below, as I believe I and some others will be willing to tackle them.

You can reach me via 08094770544.
Unemployed Researcher.

I wonder at times why people can be so cryptic here about business.

I have read some posts here where a person says he has funds and is in need of businesses to dabble into, and most people don't even provide the details of the businesses for the person to pick from.
Everyone just goes on ranting about one online business or the other without showing points on how to start it,where the issues are in the business or how profit making is made.Same goes for offline businesses.

Can't we just tell them about a business, the ups and downs, why it is profitable because see what and what we have done, or where to watch out for so we do not make mistakes.

Instead most people put up the business they do and their mail or number tofor the poor bloke to call and waste his or her time.

Do they forget there its not only the lad asking for business that is also reading there replies, please people, when someone asks for information, this is a forum, share it to its completeness or shut up.

Lets there is buying and sell, perfumes,clothes,wristwatches,baby clothes,shoes,second hand phones,tablets.

I sell sample perfumes and tablets so i know a bit about that, started both businesses with under N50000. bought. Profitable yes and no, Yes becos i had a market first before i went to actually purchase the products. No because its not everyday i make sales, some times i get 10 to 12 sales a month between the 2 businesses, sometimes i got only 4.
But i believe thats why its called business, you cant expect that all businesses are daily money spinners. Except ur selling spare parts(lols).

Other businesses you can go into, include supply of products to firms,stationaries(small and slow i know but at least its something).

But i did preffer u look around you and put your mind to what u see, some form of business will show up.

Between a school and a bar for 4.2m, dear i did go with a bar first then use the returns in 4 years to start a school.

You probably have hung out a lot with a friend or two at a bar, does it not look like something a lot of money is made from.

Plan your bar, spice it up with various foods and other things that a general public who like to hang out will like. Plus in a good location.

People will show up for it.

As my girls says, boys can smell drink from a new place a mile away.

Hold on to 300k. some mainly the systems and networking will cost u. But you can concentrate more on decor,speed and wireless. to save cost.

2sexy: OP, I wished I could suggest something but the truth is that no matter what I say, you would hardly understand much. No thanks to the fact that most people aren't financially intelligent nor skilled.

Firt of all, get this two 3 books and read them:1. Rich Dad Poor Dad, 2. Rich Dad's Guide to Investment 3. Think and Grow Rich. This will help you develop the kind of mind needed to excel in business,but not absolutely though. Atleast, that should be a starting point.

Do you have a laptop? If you do, I could show you a way to download the books free.
Call me on saturday, 23rd of june . My number is in my signature so that I can advice you.

The lads got a point, cos if you cant commit to it,u might as well use the money and have a good time(recommend a room in merriden for a week with a driver to take u round the island).

But if your committed to really doing this, then pick something u feel ok with. Be it buying and selling,supplying,service or contracting and stick to it.

If your expecting a quick money spinner,dont cos it depends on ur ability to do it urself.

No matter what ur gonna hear here,it still falls to you to take the first step.

People make it in buying and selling, they make it in other businesses where others dont. will you be able to do the same. evrn with a 500k head start.

Well it is profitable depending on your location and if there are any building developments going on around you.

Its best around places interest, new areas just developing. Cos business will move faster that way.

But if ur planning on being a supplier,thats another game entirely.
You can
A. Buy direct from a dealer or the firm and resell around ur area.

B. Buy from firm and actor as a dealer.

this all depends on price and quantity.

90days is right,you are given a miminum balance by which to expect payment on. I knoe infotect says their minimum balance is 125k.
Meaning if after 3months ur profit no reach 125k then u get paid 3 months after.

if ur interest,get a dedicated shortcode as against shared.

it allows u to use the same short codes for different services via keywords.

Ok i have an issue with gsmeloft hd games and tablets. i have downloaded all of them so far. only hawx works on my a10 tablet. anyone experiencing the same problem.

More pics

Do you buy designer perfumes for too much. Why not cut that money in half and get different perfumes for so much less.
As in N350 less.
Each sample goes for N350.

Current stock.

Elizabeth arden: Red door

Hugo Boss: Pure purple

Dior: Miss Dior

Diesel: Fuel for life

Armani: Acqua di Gio

Paul Smith:Story

Escada: Into the blue and moon sparkle

Call Brian 08071064265.

forgot to mention, for droidwall to work, your mobile has to be rooted.

somethong bout android not seeing adhoc wifi networks. try taking it out and around toen tomorrow with your wifi on, if it see networks, then u know that your laptop wifi has a problem.

ok lets see what this belle thingy is all about, will try to get a belle and test it.

Eti Esq which airtel plan are u using week or month.

Well your lucky its 3G around your area. its slow around most places.

depends on your area. Look for 3G avaliable networks through your mobile settings check for them manually.

If Glo or airtel or etisalat has 3G, then go for either. If your around the island, you can go for mtn.

just used up my airtel bb day plan.
it works and its fast.
set it to wap when u activate.
in opera set you connection type to http only,
will work.

Downside.

it does not work for all apps on android.

just used up my airtel bb day plan.

it works and its fast.

set it to wap when u activate.

in opera set you connection type to http only, will work.

Downside.

it does not work for all apps on android.

[quote author=Ogidi-Olu]It's either u'v neva used belle or u just dont knw how to search ovi store. U couldn't find a firewall app for E6 when there is netqin, fsecure, norton, etc.? Na wa for u o. Even s60v5 has firewall.

So, na ordinary opera mod scarce for symbian? Chei!

About the tasker 4 android, the only sensible point u wrote was the screen brightness adjustment when u're indoor or outdoor which is a normal feature on belle devices cos all belle devices have proximity sensors so, we dont need an app 4 dat.
How many wifi hotspots do we av in 9ja?
I switch off my fone wen i'm in the plane. And u want to waste ur money on this app? Well...to each his own.

I'm nt sayin we dont av apps for these at ovi
store o, i'm just sayin it's nt important 4 ME and i cant waste a dime on it! We even have an app that u can set the time u usually sleep and wake up, say 10pm-6am, and when it gets to this time, ur fone will automatically switch to power saving mode and exits it wen u wake up.[/quote]On android the firewalls on those apps you mentions allow u to select the apps u want internet access for. Does it do that on symbian or does it just grant access to all apps or deny to all apps.

I tried the demo tasker and i set it for 3 cybercafes in my area so that once i am close to the by 20 meters my wifi turns on and auto connects to them.

i use wifi static and wifi hack to get get into them, takes 15mins to do that. But all this was set on tasker. so it just notified me of the connection and notified me that wifi hack was done.

i ask again, does you belle have an app that does that or a wifi hack app (iphone and android only) that can replicate this.

still looking for an app for wifi file transfer between two android devices or smart phone or tablet.

I have used swiftftp and tried to get fileexpert to do it. but sadly not possible.

Except via nfc tapping

bump does it but only for pictures qnd installed apps.

if the features on gsm forum is right, then you can use it for phone call.

Though i pity her. 7inch phone, thats gonna be hard to carry around.

I own a 7inch tablet, so i know what it would look like when she wipes it out her bag to answer a call in a bus( Kolo mental)

joeydozzy: droidwall

Thank you my bro. Thats all oh Download droidwall from the market.

open it and select the apps u want internet access for 3G networks. save the log and enable the firewall.

Nothing else will have access apart from the apps you specified,even if background sync and automatic sync is on on your account and sync option in your phone settings.

On my glo sim i only provide access to opera mobile,watsapp and gmail.

Unlock code for what, bros u buy stolen phone.

Setting can be set by mtn by sending a text message 3888

Justiyke4u: i want to try it first with their daily plan do u av any idea of any of their daily plans

How much data does airtel give as fare limit for their 1200 or 1400 bis plan.

Continue enjoying the jolification but on a side note,no go carry de money drink beer yet.