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Mon 7th June 2010 |
Issue No. 51
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Latest Tip! A New Webdesign REALITY Your IT Staff May Need To Face Updates About SDAc's Activities/Tips You Can Use |
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What follows below is an abridged version of a Facebook chat session I recently had with the young IT officer in a company whose CEO I had discussed providing web marketing systems development service with. My purpose for sharing this is to shed light on the massive shift in perspective/thinking about how to go about providing value adding webdesign solutions for clients in the 21st century. If you and/or your IT personnel FAIL to come to terms with this important reality, there is good chance your company may be unable to develop an effective online presence that delivers the results you want. Take a few minutes therefore and read - it could save you a lot of wasted time, effort and money in future! -----------START of chat------------- 8:19pm<NameRemoved> is online : Hello Sir
8:20pm<NameRemoved>: I suppose u remember
me? 8:23pm<NameRemoved>: <types company name + address here>..remember now? 8:24pmMe: Yes - I do. Spent quite a while with your boss that day... 8:24pm<NameRemoved>: I've been trying to learn PHP & MYSQL bt it`s kinda tedious for me...So I was wondering if u could help me out 8:27pmMe: I told your boss - coding PHP and MYSQL are not competencies one needs to dwell on to deliver the kinds of solutions I offer - except you want to go on an ego trip...I use content management systems that make developing web solutions cost and time efficient. In using them, I only need to know how to TWEAK php and mysql code where necessary. 8:30pm<NameRemoved>: I don`t understand wat u mean? 8:32pmMe: For my work, there is no need to really "know" PHP or mysql in depth 8:33pmMe: What you need mainly in basic knowlegde of html, php, etc that will allow you make adjustments to the code produced by powerful content management systems like Joomla (which is php based) 8:35pm<NameRemoved>: really? 8:35pmMe: Today what is needed are expert developers of solutions that work, not expert programmers who know how to write program code. 8:37pmMe: The problem is Nigerians believe they must write code. My focus is on helping clients develop web solutions that do what they want. Go to joomla.org and LEARN what it means to use CMS like it (there are others) to deliver web solutions for the most sophisticated client needs you can encounter 8:38pm<NameRemoved>: so how can I be getting the codes since I don`t know how to write??? r u serious? 8:40pmMe: Once you understand basic html, you are well equipped to learn how to develop web solution using the NEW generation of tools like CMS. The world has moved on. Programmers are a dime a dozen (common). They have automated the process using CMS. Learn how to use CMS to solve problems, and you will become relevant 8:41pmMe: Forget about becoming a code writer or programmer. It would be a waste of time. What you want to code is likely to have already been coded out there into a powerful all-in-one software like a CMS. Find that software and save yourself the hassle. Then spend quality time THINKING of how to USE that new tool to serve clients, and solve their problems 8:45pm<NameRemoved>: u mean I would be able
to develop database driven sites like WAEC, JAMB and all that??? (May 29 at 9:26pm)<NameRemoved> Replies via FBK message
: facebook chat is really messing up dat`s why I`ve to resort
to mailing u....... So basically, I want to go into web engineering. I want to be developing
database-driven sites(PHP & MYSQL) and all that. This is why I
need u to show me the way as to how to make use of CMS and JOOMLA. (May 29 at 9:32pm) I reply via FBK message : I would encourage you to search using Google for many of the very useful resources for learning how to use CMS like Joomla, Drupal and Wordpress. In my opinion Joomla and Wordpress are the ones you should focus on learning - and I learned to use them FREE online. Just search using "where can I learn to use Joomla" for e.g. Believe me, there are hundreds of manuals and videos available online FREE ...May 29 at 9:33pm I send another FBK message : If I have to teach you, I charge an hourly rate of N3,000. I am not sure that would be a cost effective way for you to go about it. Though you are likely to learn faster. -----------END of chat/FBK messages------------- Final Words: Let me repeat what I said in the introduction to the above transcript. If you and/or your IT personnel FAIL to come to terms with this important reality, there is good chance your company may be unable to develop an effective online presence that delivers the results you want. Got Your Own Questions? Why not connect with me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tayo.solagbade or call me on 234-803-302-1263.
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| SD Nugget : Potential
Benefits Of Promoting Your Business Online Via Articles, Newsletter
& Facebook Marketing Ideas To Help You Develop Yourself To Achieve Your FULL Potential |
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In working as a Web Marketing Specialist, one of my key offering to clients is "development of a Web Marketing System" - that is a website that helps the client generate more business leads and/or WIN more potential customers. To win over prospects as clients, I often provide - in easy to understand language - information and education about key web marketing system components that can be incorporated into their websites to achieve the above mentioned purpose. The importance of the somewhat unusual service I offer out here is reflected in the fact that over 95% of those who have hired me already had existing websites - which they engaged me to re-invent by incorporate a custom web marketing system. But Exactly What Benefits Do I Offer, That Convinces Them? In case the above question has crossed your mind, you will be glad to know that you are not alone. Every CEO with a sense of responsibility has asked the same question. My answers - often given verbally in a meeting but sometimes in written form (via email) - in 70 to 75% of cases have been good enough to win me the job. What follows is a reproduction of explanations I have provided prospects in the past about specific web marketing system tasks I components I will integrate into their websites (as well as tasks/activities I will carry out), and the benefits that will accrue to their business as a result. If you want to get the kinds of results promised below, you will NEED to implement a web marketing system comprising the described components for your business on the Internet. Call me on 234-803-302-1263 if you need help deciding how to go about it. 1. Publish A Website Newsletter: Your company MUST have a "face" it presents to the world, through which it will communicate with customers and potential customers. The newsletter not only helps you stay in touch with those you know, but it also enables you use them to reach and convert those they know. In addition, you get to make direct sales pitches to your subscribers who are more likely to be trusting and OPEN to your advances. Over time, you will find that MORE sales, requests for your services and other income-earning opportunities will come through your newsletter channeled offers. And that is why you NEED to run a regular newsletter service. You can design a Custom Newsletter HTML template. An HTML newsletter is simply a visually embellished/enhanced version of a text based one, BUT it offers you the advantage of being able to present image based information to subscribers, which is proven to stimulate higher reading interest in subscribers. Having said that, some subscribers may not get the HTML newsletter in the format you send it, if they use email clients that "filter" HTML emails. In Nigeria however, since majority of people use more of Free services like Yahoo!, which are HTML friendly, there are still reasonable benefits to be had. 2. Create An Articles Marketing Profile: including crafting of a promotional byline (at top directories like Ezinearticles.com) for the CEO, and/or other key officers. It is VERY important to populate reputable directories and other marketing outlets online with your profile (formal descriptions of YOU, your BRAND, and what you do). Doing this will ensure that when someone types your name in a search engine, the RIGHT image you want to project is what they see. In today's world, when people meet or hear about someone that interests or concerns them, they usually immediately "Google" his/her name. It is imperative that you control the descriptions of you that come up. By crafting a personal profile for you, and publishing it on article directories and other places online, you will boost your international exposure and appeal, while consolidating your credibility as "experts" in your field of specialisation. This is guaranteed to make your readers perceive EACH author as competent and reliable. 3. Write Articles On Tested Topics Of Interest & Publish/Promote Through Online Directories Do most of your website visitors get your website address from you, newspapers,and other mass media? If YES, you may have some work to do. I tell my clients that to AIM to achieve is a situation where up to 80% of those who visit your website are people who find it themselves without getting told the URL. And that's why getting found by search engines is your best bet for achieving maximum marketing reach and impact, cost-effectively. Articles marketing is recognised by the best business marketing specialist worldwide as a timeless marketing technique that enables you achieve optimal fame and recognition that knows no geographical limitations. Articles marketing will bring you MORE followers through indirect channels - that is outside the reach of mass media and other advertising channels. 4. Do Diligent Facebook & Website Marketing Online Many businesses tend to operate a Facebook presence with a one-sided perspective. That is to say that they let people come to them on Facebook. What you need to do is develop and implement a strategy to DELIBERATELY create additional awareness within and outside Facebook ABOUT your Facebook and website based products and services. This is VERY important, because there will be thousands of potential followers out there who still do not know you exist. You must PUSH out (go to their social circles on Facebook and the net in general) and PULL them in to Facebook. You will for instance deliberately participate in online forums/discussion groups and facebook networks in discussions, making sure to add tangible value. As the opportunity presents itself, you will add your signature - or link to relevant pages on your website or facebook page - that readers can click. In the process, some of those who follow those links will develop interest in what you offer. It could be argued that placing a Facebook Ad would help achieve the above, BUT the reality is that the Ads are temporary (and require payment), while what I propose will leave PERMANENT or long term "trails" that others will be able to follow to get to your Facebook and website presence - AND you will not need to make payment to keep doing it FOREVER! Summary: The above strategies, if well implemented, will dramatically boost your marketing reach and impact online. If you stay diligently committed to doing them regularly, you are bound to achieve measurable name/brand recognition that will be sustained for the long term, winning you favourable attention and interest from your target audience over time. Good luck! SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Built-In Excel Solutions Development Self-Development Academy's Excel Heaven™ is the FIRST provider of Preprogrammed and Custom Spreadsheet based solutions in Nigeria. We offer Workbook Auditing/Optimisation and VBA Automation; Custom Spreadsheet Software Development & Sales; Job-Based Spreadsheet Coaching; and Consulting/Advisory Services on effective application of spreadsheets for business use.Call 234-803-302-1263 to request further details. Visit our Excel Heaven™ mini-site at : http://www.excelheaven.spontaneousdevelopment.com to learn more. Are Your Employees Happy & Satisfied With Their Jobs?(A Ten Item Quiz That Can Help You Find Out) This article explains why - I believe - decision makers need to work hard to measure (possibly using a short Employee Morale Gauge quiz like the one I developed) and nurture the morale of their employees IF the ...organisation is to progress. http://spontaneousdevelopment.com/articles/employee_morale_guage.htm BOOK PUBLISHED : "Employee Morale: Concepts and Cases" - It would interest you to know that after getting permission from me, India's ICFAI University included my above mentioned article, in a book they published titled "Employee Morale: Concepts and Cases" - now on sale for Rs 425 at http://www.infibeam.com/Books/info/sangeetha-k/employee-morale-concepts-cases/9788131419953.html Why This Website Was Offline For 18 Days In May 2010! My website - www.spontaneousdevelopment.com - came back online on May 21st 2010, 18 days after being taken offline (on 3rd May 2010) by my US based host of 6 years (Aplus.net), due to problems I had making renewal payment from here in Lagos. It's important to have clients who value you. For instance it was Dr. Kunle Shonaike, of Automedics Limited, who was (and still is at the time of writing this) in the USA, who saved the day by helping me make payment using his credit card. I built the Automedics website (www.automedicsngonline.com) & Facebook page(www.facebook.com/automedicsnigeria) in Feb. 2010
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| Online Recommended Resource Links Resource URLs For Entrepreneurs, Employees, Parents, Teachers & Students |
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Automedics - Nigeria's No. 1 Automotive Radio Show (Listen online at http://www.tvc.com.ng btw 8.30 - 9.00am Mon to Fri)
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| Yours in Self-Development! Tayo K. Solagbade |
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