₦airaland Forum

Good morning friends.

In continuation of yesterday post - I used 3 media to market the books online, they are:
1. Article writing
I chose this option because writing seems easy for me. I registered with a minimum of five leading online article directory.
I hear someone say; the leading directories are more foreign inclined, yes. I need African Diasporans and non-Africans who owns an Amazon kindle reader to read my book, hence the choice of this route.
In my bio-resource, a link is referenced to the books. I try to write 2 articles/week.
2. Forums where my customers gather, everyday or every other day.
3. PPC (paid per click) - I lost some money through online theft using this method. This setback is one of the anticipated problem using this method, however it is making me look through other available options.

Following the simple market analysis questions, you can set up your own marketing plan. The questions are also applicable if you have physical products.
Be reminded also of your competitors, look out for them constantly, don't copy them, check for threats they might pose to your business and opportunties they may create for you.

For this weekend, update your knowledge in business planning and other aspect of business via the resource contained in ''SME ToolKit Nigeria''. A google search of the keyword in inverted comma will take you to the site.

Join me on Monday and let's talk business financial analysis.

Good afternoon friends.
From the market analysis, we can conveniently build a simple marketing plan; which is how we intend to market our service/product.
My own example; I have two books I authoured on Amazon.com - my customers are people who need multi-income SME business ideas for Africa, while the second book focused on those who intend to create a business product/service idea based on their God-given abilities.

Since Amazon is an online platform; the books are in e-format, millions of people are on the web and the cost is low. I chose to market to my customers online.

What medium did I use online to get across and how often? Join me again tomorrow. Thanks.

Good afternoon friends.

Before you make a business choice ask yourself this sincere question; am I prepared to come home? Finding it hard to answer? Take a paper and pen, seperate it into 2 columns; write out reasons why you must come back home in one column and why you must stay in Diaspora in the other.

If why you must stay out-numbers why you must come back, the simple truth is that you are not prepared mentally to return, stay back.

If your own equation is the other way round; write out the many problems you will likely face personally and working or doing business in Nigeria.
Do you have a solution to go around these problems? If no, take your time to see how to cope with these challenges, especially mentally - because some ineffiiciencies in Nigeria can be nerve touching. Be sincere with yourself.

However, if you meet the criteria of home-coming; let us meet again in two days time.
Thanks.

Dear friends, thanks for being there as usual.
Be reminded that we are learning how to put up a simple business plan to start-up a micro or one-man business peculiar to us in Nigeria.
I expect we look up some online or offline resources to compliment the information you receive here and to help you answer the posted questions well.

Today, we will look through the last set of questions under market analysis.
10. Is your product/service idea associated with season or a cycle? This will help you know your dull and boom sales period. Clothes sell more during festive periods; stationeries boom when student resume back to school; drinks sell more during dry season - do you notice that the big names in bottled or canned drinks embark on promotions during rainy seasons.

11.Where will my customers meet me? In a rented shop, online or my home kitchen table office? Or will I have to meet them?

Thanks.

Good afternoon friends.
Apart from the unique selling point giving you a market edge, it also provides you with the window of opportunity to enter the market.
A good example that comes to mind is glo. To have a market edge and for a share of the market from MTN, it used the billing per second window of opportunity, which the former said was impossible at that time.

Something must seperate you from your competitors. People should hear of your business service/product and say 'wow'. E.g If you run a creche, why not take in elderly siblings of the babies with you after school; clean them up, feed and help with their school assignment - of course at a price. Most mothers would think less of the cost because her worry of safety, school assignment, engaging the children positively among others is settled.
Most mothers can even do off with children-minder at home; if the above opportunity exist for her children while she is at work.

Search out your business 'wow' factor now; that is your window of opportunity.

Thanks.

Hello. if your claim is true, the first step for any intellectual property like this, is protection. A lawyer will do it on your behalf.
Giving out a formula without protection is giving people the freedom to copy it without restriction.
If you have given it out to the big names in noodle making, as you claim, without protection - then I wish you the best with your future formula.
Thanks.

Hello friends. @ wisevic thanks.
For the next few weeks, the discuss will centre on steps the Nigerian living abroad must take to ensure a smooth transition home, to tap into the abundant business opportunities at home.

Returning home is not a thing that can be rushed, neither something that can be done on whims. I have seen people come home with large amount of cash, but ended up in penury; while some stayed, some returned abroad and swore never to return. Your going abroad was a major event in your life likewise, your coming should be too. Like all major events, coming home to do business can't be handled with levity.

Let us begin the process tomorrow. Thanks.

Good morning friends. I hope you had a splendid weekend.

Going further under market analysis;
8. Are there others into my type of business?
9. What can I do to differentiate my business from others or make me have a market advantage over them? An online search of 'unique selling position' tips will give you an insight to answering this question.

Till 'morow, thanks.

Hello friends. I hope we got some benefits from the mentioned site yesterday.

Since we don't have questions, let me leave you to sink in the week's information.

Have a nice weekend. Thanks.

Good evening friends. Another publication you must have in your kitty, which would generate cash is detailed business plans for extraction and processing of commercial solid minerals.

Remember our topic is on solid mineral, activity publication. Therfore reports and information that will generate a fast and high returns on investment would be appreciated.

Thanks.

@ thedon18, I say amen and thanks to you. I am preparing some stuff that could be of help to aspiring online or offline entrepreneurs.

Let us revisit our last question; what will be my message be to my customers?
Irrespective of the medium, you should be able to write or talk about your product/service in an exciting and engaging way that will capture the heart and cash of your customers. This is what is called an elevator pitch.
To learn more about this, visit www.elevatorpitchessentials.com

Tomorrow would be for your questions.
Thanks.

Hello friends.

7. How often will I communicate through the chosen media? Aggressive communication or marketing is the rule of business at inception. It will interest you to know that you require 3 months - day by day for any significant online notice.
Depending on the medium - plan for a daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly communication with your customers.
Remember, out of sight is out of mind.
Thanks.


7. What will my message to be to my customers?

Hi friends. Sorry for the miss yesterday.

Other avenues for information of what solid mineral investors are seeking for includes:
-Raw material research and development council.
-Nigeria export promotion council.
-Manufacturing association of Nigeria.
-Chambers of Commerce.
Other information house exit which you can research out.

The requested information from investors often comes with requirements or specifications.; let it constitute your report.

In 2 days time, let us see some useful publications that will boost you in the industry.

Thanks.

Hello friends. As much as questions needs to be answered, I think we must not lose focus of the objective of the thread - which is to help aspiring entreprenurs start right. For this reason, i wish to inform you - the movers and the shakers of this thread that I will write on the topic of the thread thrice in a week and use two days to answer questions of benefit.
Or do you have a better opinion? I would appreciate it.

In continuation of the market analysis;
5. Who are my customers?
6. How will they know about my product/service? Word of mouth, flyers, referrals, article writing, promotion, video marketing e.t.c. Use a minimum of 3 media.

Answer these questions; to be continued tomorrow.
Thanks.

hienyimba: @keemax...am on the verge of starting a business but the problem is that am kind of scared

@hienyimba
It is natural to feel scared. I have talked about fear and some ways to overcome it. Go through the post preceeding the business plan module.
Albeit, it is important you do your assignment well to increase the odds of success. A business plan is quite important - it helps you to know and understand your business; your market; financial implication - what it takes to start and continue running it, before profit comes and how to prepare yourself for the task ahead.
I also encourage people to start small and grow. I encourage people to start business using the wonder of our time - the internet, with as low as N5000, you can have a powerful presence on the web.

From my own experience, when I wrote a small plan, I felt in charge and off I went to start, despite the fear of unknown that beseiged me.
Hope it helps.

Hello friends. Where can we get information on solid minerals sought by the investors:
1. Alibaba.com - a lot of buying and selling of Nigeria solid minerals takes place there.
2. The ministry of solid minerals.

Let us look through other channels on Monday. Have a nice weekend. Thanks.

Hi friends. Quite late today.
The question for today is:
4. What market does your product or service idea cater for?
Is it an evergreen, future or present market?

An evergreen market will always be there; generation come or go.
A future market will have a product or service for the future. For example, as concern for the environment heightens, we will have products like soap whose branded wrappings would be soap too. Putting up such an idea now can lead to a business failure because I doubt if the technical-know-how is available.
An idea for a present market has all it takes to profit now, but will it be relevant in the future? Nobody knew email would make the postal system almost obsolete, but it happened.

It is important you know which market your business idea caters for, so when a need for change arises you don't resist it.

Have a nice weekend.
Thanks.

Hello friends.
With the business overview and goal done, what next?

Let us go for market analysis. Why this analysis? For thorough knowledge of your target market.

For the analysis, these are questions for you to answer;
1. What is your business service or product idea?
2. Is your idea a need or want?
3. Is there a market/demand for your product or service.

Answer the above - till tomorrow.
Thanks.

Hi there.
Why should you include future goal statement? For continuity sake, a gap should not exist in your business. You do not accomplish a goal and ask yourself what to do next. You may be thrown off track.
Japan as a country has a 150 year rolling development plan - no new government comes in to change it, and this approach have help their economy greatly.
Future goals is akin to having a rolling development plan.

When you are mid way of accomplishing a year goal, you should begin the business plan for the second year goal.
As you grow, so will your plan grow and become complex; it is expedient to make use of business plan services at such period.

Let us continue tomorrow.
Thanks.

Hi friends. Pls due to a lot of work competing for my attention, from now, I will post to this thread every other day. Thanks for your understanding.
Thirty-four solid minerals of commercial value has been identified in Nigeria.
Which solid minerals should interest us for report then? Primarily, I will advice we seek out minerals been soughted for by investors - remember they are one of our target client.

Where can you get information free? Let us meet here in two days. Thanks.

Good morning friends.
Now that we know what a goal must be like: what is your business goal? Remember, it must be S.M.A.R.T.

Now, what is your business goal? Note it down, It is important you write out the steps to accomplish your business goal in a detailed manner.

In the business overview and goal, your goal for the future must be included - goals for second, fourth or fifth year, depending on you. I wrote goals and not business plan for the future.

Why the future goals? Make it a date tomorrow.
Thanks.

Check out <a href="www.w3school">For php-sql tutorial</a>.
Hope it helps.

Hello friends. Sorry for the break on Friday.

The Nigeria mine map can be readily obtained from the ministry of solid mineral, though other sources exist, but I prefer information from the custodian ministry. Remember the map shows us the minerals and there location.
For those interested in mining as a business, the ministry has a publication on available opportunities in Nigeria.
It is important to know that solid mineral extraction is vested with the federal government, through the solid mineral ministry. The state has no power, except for tax purposes on the mineral deposited in it's land. You can only be issued a mineral title - or right to mine by the ministry.

Since we want a publication on facts and figures of mining, what minerals should be of prime consign?

Let's look into this tomorrow. Thanks.

Good day friends. I hope your weekend was cool.
@ chimsky thanks. I suggest you look at the posts proceeding the quoted one: I gave suggestion on subject matters for sales and marketing. So please go through it. I am on a mobile phone and dont know how to attach a post link on it.

The final letter in our goal acronym is 'T'; what does this stand for? It infers that a goal must be time-bound.
A goal without a deadline is a wish.

I will start a business service/product idea coaching program by Dec. 1, 2012 - is this statement S.M.A.R.T?

Make it a date tomorrow. Thanks.

Hello friends.

We have seen so far that a business goal must be specific, measurable and attainable.

The next letter is 'R' which means a goal must be realistic. We live in a world of get-quick-rich; the tendency is to set goals to fit this syndrome. Avoid goals based on fast returns or what looks like an insurmountable mountain.

For example, making a profit the first month you open a shop is quite unrealistic; why? Your expenses often outweighs your income plus the fact that you have little or no customer base at start-up .

Till Monday, have a nice weekend.
Thanks.

'Though business opportunities abound in Nigeria but it could be daunting for some of us to recognise it.
Albeit, I encourage people to go for the business of last resort; what is this you may ask? Do something based on your ability and run it by applying modern business techniques.
Mr Biggs or Mama Chim's canteen are both in the business of selling food - the difference? One is being run using business techniques of marketing, branding, advertising, inventory control, record keeping e.t.c. The second is run on whims.

I hope this helps. Thanks.

@ tobiloba82 thanks for your thought. Despite the situation in Nigeria, a lot of our diasporan will come back home. Their hues and cries in the travel sub-category is enough to justify it - recession is unabating, cost of living on the increase coupled with xenophobic attacks.
This thread is basically here to address the questions of many Nigerian diasporans who often ask, what can I do in Nigeria?
Opportunities abound here; we have seen it all from the business ideas posted here.

Africa is designated to be the world last business destination - World Bank Group. What does this imply? Europe and the rest will look to the untapped Africa for business opportunities to recoup their losses in this recession. Another srambling for Africa has begun.
The Chinese are in the extractive industry already; Hilary Clinton is taking American businessmen to see the opportunites in Africas; there was a cry the other day about the Chinese taking over Balogun market.
The same source gave a report of an annual increase in the influx of foreign direct investment, by foreigners to Nigeria.

The truth is that if we dont take up this opportunities, especially the small and medium scale enterprise, the foreigners will do.

We will continue tomorrow. Thanks.

Good day friends.

So far, for a goal to qualify as one, it must be specific and measurable. The next letter is 'A'. It stands for 'attainable'.

To attain means you can perform the task despite all odds. A yes or no is the anwser you can give to whether you can attain a goal or not.
However, you have to be truthful to yourself about what you can do.

Albeit, you 've got to motivate yourself to attain a goal often times.

Let us meet tomorrow for what 'R' is. Thanks.

Good day friends. Sorry, there was a typogaphic error in the url I gave yesterday. The correct url is: www.mmsd.gov.ng

Our emphasis shall be on solid mineral. To own a publication in this industry, it is imperative you know some things about it. What should you know?

Information seekers will want to know what solid minerals exist in Nigeria and where they are earthed. Where do you get this?
Through the Nigerian Mine Map.

Where is this housed? Make it a date here tomorrow.
Thanks.

@ website designer thanks for the advice. Already in the process of getting one.

@joshua, you are right, the permission to make something good happen in your life can only be given by you - so it depends on the person invovled as you wrote.

Have a nice day.

Hello friends. Please be free to ask questions as we go on in the module.

Remember, the first thing; a goal must be specific. What does 'M' stand for? It stands for measurable. A business goal must be measurable.

3 shops, N1000, a small scale maize shelling plant are all examples of measurement.
I will make a sales of N1000. With this statement, it becomes easy to evaluate your goal.

Let us get to know what 'A' stands for tomorrow.

Thanks.