What are women entrepreneurs up to? What is trending? How is our organisation helping women in Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe? Get all the answers from our exciting newsletter covering some of our regional work in Southern Africa.
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The interest in entrepreneurship continues to grow and Africa’s interest now the second highest in the world. Our organisation is at the heart of entrepreneurship in Southern Africa and below we share with you our newsletter for the month of September 2018.
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Did spend the greater part of today at Glenview 3 Clinic one of the epicenters of the cholera outbreaks. The clinic is one of the 2 referral centres assisting patients with cases or suspected cases of cholera and typhoid . Had taken a relative who was critically ill but luckily he was attended to after 8 hours of treatment. Witnessed a lot of great work being done by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, City Council Health Dept, Oxfam GB and MSF. Hundreds of patients were being attended to and treated efficiently.
Room for improvement
The area where patients queue for treatment is situated next to the road meaning that other clinic patients and visitors were mixing with cholera patients. One could witness a lot of mothers with newly born babies walking past the the centre thereby making them vulnerable to infections. The queues are sometimes long blocking the entrance to the clinic therefore becoming susceptible to mixing and mingling with suspected cholera patients. This may result in more people getting infections especially patients and visitors to the clinic.
This can be rectified by creating a separate space for everyone queuing for cholera treatment especially to the immediate left of the entrance instead of cholera patients queuing parallel to the main entry . The health officials who designed the treatment centre should therefore review the internal controls so as to reduce unnecessary infections given that the diseases are highly contaminable.
Do you own a business? Does your business have a website? In this day and age where digital technology and the Internet has influenced how we live and work, it is shocking to know that very few small business owners have a website.
It is hard to believe that only 46% of small businesses have a website. This statistic is confounding when you realize people spend 6 hours a day on the Internet.
Based on 2014 survey results, 41% of small business owners reported they don’t think they need a website. What that means is they probably don’t know the benefits of having a website for their small business.
We will look at the benefits further down, first we look at what is a website and the types of websites then the benefits of having a website.
What is a website.
A website is a collection of related web pages, including multimedia content, typically identified with a common domain name, and published on at least one web server. All this might sound confusing to the average user. Lets break it down a bit. A website is a collection of web pages (documents that are accessed through the Internet), such as the one you’re looking at now. A web page is what you see on the screen when you type in a web address, for examplewww.ruserewebs.com click on a link, or put a query in a search engine like Google. A web page can contain any type of information including pictures, videos, music, and can include text, color, graphics, animation and sound.
When someone gives you their web address,www.ruserewebs.com it generally takes you to their website’s home page, which should introduce you to what that site offers in terms of information or other services. From the home page, you can click on links to reach other sections of the site. A website can consist of one page, or of tens of thousands of pages, depending on what the site owner is trying to accomplish. Now we know what is a website. Lets look at the types of websites.
The types of websites
Many business people and individuals do not know what kind of a website to get their products and services. However, sites are categorized as follows:
There might be others I left but these are the most significant types that you need to know.
BENEFITS OF HAVING THERE HAVE TO BE REASON WHY YOUR BUSINESS MUST HAVE A WEBSITE.
A simple way to view a website is that it is your online business address. This is where your customers, clients and associates go to find you on the Internet.
The Home page identifies your branded value proposition, the About Us page tells visitors all about your business and the Contact Us page informs everyone how to get in touch with you.
It legitimizes your business and improves your credibility. It gives your business an identity and is virtual proof that it exists.
Don’t be misled into thinking a company page in Facebook is enough to build your credibility. A 2015 survey showed that 84% of consumers believe that having a website makes your business more credible than just a social media page.
Having a website means you have your own domain. In the same survey, 65% of respondents regard a company-branded e-mail as more credible than a generic one.
Before broadband technology became widespread in 2004, websites were used primarily for marketing and informational purposes. A website functioned more like a brochure; you put one up to stay ahead of the competition. But there wasn’t much thought and purpose behind the content.
With the growth of the Internet, the influence of social media and the popularity of mobile devices, the website has become a crucial tool to build your business.
A website is a great way to share your story; tell your audience why you started this business, your goals and what you hope to accomplish with it.
A website gives you the platform to highlight your experience and expertise.
Set up a Career page in your website where prospective candidates can fill out an application form and attach their resume.
Post your job requirement in social media and link it back to your website. You should have a good number of candidates in no time!
Here’s a statistical fact that will blow your mind:
Of the 7.4 Billion people in this world, 3.5 Billion people or 47% are online every day. They are searching for information, sharing on social media or shopping on e-commerce websites.
This number is expected to grow as the world becomes increasingly dependent on mobile technology to search the Internet. Today there are an estimated 2.3 Billion smart phones worldwide. But in 2020, the total number of smartphones is expected to hit 6.1 Billion.
If your small business does not have a website, you will be undermining its ability to generate income. And not just any website; but a mobile responsive website, one that can be accessed by mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Statistically, 65% of online traffic comes from mobile devices.
A mobile responsive website will help you capitalize on the opportunities available on the Internet through the following ways:
A business by definition is a living, breathing entity. Loyalty is achieved when customers know they are dealing with a company that understands their needs and not just a company that wants to profit.
If you are still using traditional forms of marketing, you are wasting valuable resources, time and money. Traditional forms include press releases, print ads, flyers and distribution Point- of- Purchase materials.
While still popular, traditional methods cost more money and cover less ground. It is also unsustainable; flyers, posters, print ads and press releases usually end up in the bin.
Online marketing is faster, more efficient and inexpensive. There are many tools and techniques that you can use for online marketing but without a website, these strategies will fall short.
Think of the website as the sun with these online marketing tools as the planets revolving around it. Your online marketing efforts will create inbound avenues to a specified destination place which is your website.
Among the most popular online marketing tools that you can use to create inbound traffic to your website:
Finally, online marketing is a sustainable process. Your content will not go to waste. You can easily update it and reuse after a few months.
If your business is in a competitive industry, a website will give you the forum to boost your reputation as an authority figure.
A website can also be an active and passive tool for generating income because it is the termination or exit point in the sales funnel.
It is very difficult to convert sales in social media. There are no available mechanisms to complete the transaction on- the- spot. An e-commerce website for example, has a checkout counter where goods and services can be paid for right away.
It can also be a good source for passive income via PPC or Pay- Per- Click advertising. Advertisers will pay you every time a user clicks through their ad in your website.
Here’s a valuable tip for those who want a clear advantage in the job market:
Open a personal website and include a page that showcases your body of work.
That is one valuable tip that Hiring Managers all over the country wish job applicants knew. The same can be said for small business owners. A website will give you the venue to present samples of your work.
If you’re offering interior design services, content writing, professional web design services and other types of work that can be made visual, a portfolio page will encourage more clients to try you out.
If you want to increase the impact of your portfolio page, include 5 or more client testimonies. You can put the client testimonies in the Home page which is where users land after clicking unto your link or the Services page.
One of the most significant benefits of having a website for a small business is that you can keep track of its performance in real time through the use of analytics.
Analytics will provide you valuable data on how your business has been moving within a period of time. Key indicators of business performance include the following metrics:
Many small business owners make the mistake of not working on their brand until they gain traction.
You have to start working on your brand before launching your business. The brand gives your business its identity and makes it easier for customers and clients to understand what it is all about.
The website is the most effective and efficient way to build and professionalize your brand:
If you want an effective website or one that can help you take your business to another level, you have to be prepared to invest in one. In a survey of small business owners, 19% identified cost as another reason for foregoing a website.
A website is not an expense. It is an investment because you should expect a return on your money within a period of time.
For your investment to pay out, you have to make sure your website is professionally designed, fully functioning with fast download speed and packed with great content.
Do not penny- pinch and try to do a website on your own despite the availability of free templates. Your best option would always be to hire a professional web designer who has the experience and training to build a functional yet aesthetically beautiful website.
I hope that by now you have the knowledge about websites, their benefits and why you must have one for your business. At Rusere Webs are professional web designers who has the experience and training to build a functional yet aesthetically beautiful website. Contact us today by visiting our website www.ruserewebs.com or Call 0027 71026 1453. We are on Facebook too www.facebook.com/ruserewebs. Like our Page for more updates. Any questions we are ready to help.
Question for financial experts.What is the value of your rural home? The answer is it depends…depends largely on your mindset….its all in your head. If you view rural land as a place of witches…then its value is zero! If you view it as an investment place then its intrinsic value is extremely high.
Lets look at examples
If you opt to go to your rural area and rent out your home in Glenview for $300 per month then your rural home is as good as your urban one for a specific period of time.
If you decide to build a home in Seke and rent out your Avonlea flat for $600 per month then your Seke home is as good as your flat. Your rural home is worth $60.000 because its allowing you to earn $600…at the end of the month you have earned $600.
So the value is in your mindset…your rural land can earn you as much as you want depending on how you view investment.
Dear forumite, get land, land and land nomatter where….do not look down upon land.
Setting up a diaspora village
Do you have access to rural land? Located near urban areas like Domboshava, Musana, Seke, Chihota, Musami? Diaspora and local tourism is on the up…international tourist arrivals is on the up. All of these people need variety….they want the African or Bhundu experience which is why they go to Vic Falls, Hwange, Masvingo, Mana Pools, Gonarezhou and others. There is nothing interesting for them in staying at Hotel Miekles, Rainbow or others….they have better experiences in their home countries.
Our tourism sector does not have options…for most diasporans they started touring Vic Falls, Nyanga, Masvingo from primary schools. There is nothing new in Vic Falls perhaps the carnival that was added in recent years?
So in comes an opportunity for innovative entrepreneurs to develop cultural villages…places where tourists learn about Shona, Ndebele and Tonga cultures…learn the mbira and marimba instruments. A place that allows tourists to have an authentic African experience..a place where they can live for a while vachienda kumombe,kunoraura,kufudza mombe,kutswa,kuenda kunhimbe,kurima negejo.
How many parents from the diaspora would not love to have their kids get kufudza mombe experience? Of course done not as a chore but a great learning experience?
Sounds utopic? Check out The Boma at Vic falls where tourists play drums, drink chikokiyana…there is even a sangoma who is often consulted by foreign tourists. Visit The famous Carnivore in Kenya and check out the many tourists at the place eating game meat.
We go back to our initial question…what is the value of your rural land? Zero if its a place of backward folks, the uneducated. It can be completely useless..a place that makes you angry!
But if you wear a different hat, your land can be extremely valuable…can be equal or more to your Borrowdale mansion, can be equal or more to your London flat…the value is in your mindset…your ability to innovate and earn money from it.
Harare’s housing backlog stands at 500.000 with more people being added to the list every month. Options for town planners to solve the housing problem includes expansion of the city and also trying out other areas such as Norton, Ruwa, Chitungwiza, Nyabira and the proposed new city centre in Mt Hampden. What is the missing link in the options for town planners? The option is Melfort which is situated 34 kilometers from the city centre. Melfort is closer to Harare than Norton and the area has massive potential. The completion of the dualisation of the Mutare Road up to the tollgate means travelling to Melfort is now faster. A 10 minute drive from the area and you will already be in Ruwa. Full dualisation up to Melfort expected before year end as construction is underway. The proximity to the Harare-Mutare Railway line means that in future passenger trains will help in the transportation of goods and passengers.
Already some have acquired a lot of land in the area especially Hararians as land is still cheaper when compared to the city. So great investment opportunities for diasporans to buy large tracts of land and develop housing units for sale. Develop garden flats, build shopping malls and related infrastructure. For those interested in tourism, they can be inspired by many conference centres near the place and if agriculture is your area of interest then get large tracts of land for market gardening.
So get organised think big investment and get yourself a piece of Melfort which is likely to surpass Norton in the coming few years. Make inquiries with the Goromonzi Rura District Council and find out availability and costs of land there. With the city afflicted by all sorts of inconveniences such as traffic congestion, pollution and general decay-most people are going to rush for new areas which are close to the city. We believe Mefort offers the best real estate opportunity than any other area close to Harare.
Wish you the best.
Meanwhile our Business Opportunities for Zimbabweans 2018 Edition is still available for sale and is now costing $10 a copy, you will also get a copy of our 2019 Edition which is coming out at the end of the month. Get in touch with our Forum Coordinator on +263774081808.
For most people in Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana and Zimbabwe when it comes to buying cars, Durban is one of the cheapest options. There is a lot of variety of Ex Japanese cars for sale and their prices are cheaper when compared to others. For Zimbabweans they have the option of Musina car dealers but Durban still remains a better option.
Mode of Payment
Most people interested in purchasing second hand cars travel with cash which is usually in USD and this cash unfortunately attracts a lot of robbers based in the coastal city and therefore when travelling to Durban, you are always a target especially when you travel from car sale to car sale looking at various car models.
Latest stories from Durban
This is just one of the many stories shared by our members on our group. A man from Zimbabwe traveled to Durban with $40.000 cash intending to purchase 2 minibuses in Durban. After arriving safely in the coastal city, he concluded a vehicle purchase deal with a reputable car dealer and then left the city having paid all monies.
Trouble however started for him when he reached Beitbridge waiting for his car but he was told that the vehicle carrier had been involved in an accident. He was advised to come back to Durban and claim his refund-this he did and upon getting his refund, a few metres from the premises of the car dealer…he was robbed by 2 gun wielding robbers!
In other cases people encounter excuses from car dealers, told to come back and collect their monies and like the case above-robbed of their cash refund by robbers with guns.
So be careful when buying second hand Ex Jap Cars in South Africa. Whenever you are asked to come and collect a refund in cash, rather ask them to do a wire transfer or get another car as you are most likely going to fall prey to robbers in a fraudulent scheme involving car dealers and robbers. Hundreds of people are being duped this way per month-dont fall victim!
Entrepreneurs should always be up to date with business trends. Your ability to know what is shaping the business landscape means you develop a competitive advantage over others who are unaware. Below we share an important report which you need to download and keep a copy for future reference. Most of the information in the report is for the developed world but will be experienced in the next few years on the continent.
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Entrepreneurs should always come up with solutions to problems. At the centre of the election dispute in Zimbabwe was the issue of evidence of alleged electoral malpractices. So how can this be solved by entrepreneurs? We go the technology route, we go the Big Data way. Political parties in future elections are urged to adopt technological systems that allow them to capture election results and publish them in real time. An opportunity is presented to entrepreneurs to develop mobile apps that are used by all poll agents to upload election results as soon as vote counting is complete.
We look forward to young entrepreneurs developing mobile apps and selling it to various political parties across the world. This will help solve unnecessary electoral processes delays and also save money. No more fulcrums, V11 or V23 form disputes in future elections so go for it ZBIN Members…great opportunity on your hands.
The future is business
Now that elections are past us, we await the setting up of a competent cabinet team that is business focused. Serious policy makers who will transform Zimbabwe so that it can be a middle income country by 2030. Policy makers who will take advantage of one of the best human capitals on the continent. Our country has great potential-a lot of natural resources, great weather, friendly and hard working people. We need to tap into the skills that we have with some dotted across the globe.
Zimbos are leading great institutions across the globe and we need to find innovative ways to tap into their wealth of knowledge and skills. Diasporans do not necessarily need to leave their bases but can contribute if we create room for them. For instance the Ministry of Finance can have a board of experts from across the world who contribute to the development of the country through virtual participation in boards. The Ministry of SMEs can tap into the expertise of Zimbabweans working for big institutions such as UN, World Bank, IMF, Econet, BBC and Vodacom.
The current approach of having ministers working alone means they are losing out of world class experience which is freely available. Zimbabweans across the globe will not ask for stipends or travel allowances. They will participate out of patriotism, the need to develop their country. Ministries therefore need to identify world class skills they need and then invite Zimbos from across the globe to participate in advisory councils. We recommend every ministry to have an advisory council made up of some of the best brains from the country. A ministers role is to facilitate and harness expertise from these learned sons and daughters of the soil.
The SME Ministry
During inauguration, the president mentioned strengthening of the SME framework. We are looking forward to a robust framework that will help transform the economy by bringing local investor friendly policies and programs. This framework should come after wide consultations with all stakeholders. Do not come with half baked frameworks drafted by a few people who may not have the necessary expertise and exposure. The SME sector has been the bedrock of the economy accounting for 60% of the Gross Domestic Product. With more than 5.6 million people employed, the sector is the second highest in the world so lets have the second best SME framework in the world. In future other countries should come to Zimbabwe for case studies!
The disbandment of the Ministry of SMEs did not yield the results desired because it meant putting more focus on international investment and big corporates. The focus on big corporates was good but should not have been at the expense of the largest sector in the country and the world. We are therefore looking forward to its revival and a strong team coming up to steer the sector to greater heights. The SME Ministry needs to work hand in glove with international NGOs working in the country which have been doing great work. Do learn from them about their approaches in the development of a world class SME framework.
Personal Investment Decisions
According to our opportunities identification toolkit, a new government means new opportunities! Follow government policies, check out how these policies are implemented and follow the money. The government sets the agenda for business opportunities and you should have your own business plan that monitors developments in the economy and government policies.
With our forum sharing a record number of free business posts, what have you identified? Do not just read the posts but develop a business plan. It does not need to be detailed but a one page business plan articulating what you would like to do is good for starters. Worried about capital? Capital should not be a stumbling block to the development of your business plan as there are various options such as partnerships, crowdfunding and government funds. Have your plan of your vision and finish last with capital options. We are getting a lot of inquiries from diasporans and foreigners interested in partnerships. We however cannot refer them to people with just ideas, you need solid plans and its better if you have small successful projects that need to be scaled up.
We have also published a book on Business Opportunities, do you have a copy yet? The book details opportunities in Agriculture, Services sector, Mining, Women and Youths. We have not just listed opportunities but went the extra length of detailing them and showing others who are successful. Interested in buying from China? There is a step by step process. Interested in doing business in Malawi? There is a brilliant write up. Interested in setting up a chicken layers project? Our Agriculture section shows you a great success story. The book contains skills that you need to invest and many more.
We have just completed the SA Business Opportunities and we are confident that its the best entrepreneurship book on the continent. Although the target market is South Africa, the book contains an enormous collection of stories and resources that will inspire everyone across the globe. The book is coming free of charge to those who got the Zimbabwe Book.
So do not be left out, join our platforms such as Whatsapp which provide helpful information and they cover Poultry, Mining, Construction, Transport, Online Forex Trading, Bitcoin, Education, Tapestry, Regional Opportunities and more. We have more than 8.000 members on the group. To join send an app to +263774081808, +263776196313 and +263772215695. We have full time Administrators who ensure that our groups are clean and stick to business discussions. Be inspired and join others providing mentorship support and resources.
Our Facebook platforms have the Zim Business Ideas and Network group with close to 38.000 members with the focus being business discussions and sharing of ideas and it is the leading forum for business networking. Our South Africa Business Ideas and Network has 10.000 members with 100 new members being added everyday.
So do not be left out, find out how other entrepreneurs are doing it…the failures and successes which is crucial on your business journey. Avoid costly mistakes and know the direction opportunities are flowing.
We wish you well on your business opportunities journey.
The interest in farming by youths in South Africa is at an all time high. This is encouraging as some explore farming as an alternative to seeking formal jobs. A lot of farming activity is already underway especially in provinces such as Limpopo, KZN and Mpumalanga. The question on the minds of most people interested in getting land is ‘How do you get land?’ Below we feature some answers from our members on land access.
Question: How do I get land access to state land?
Siya Try the Department of Land Reform.
Tinoda You must have a proper business plan.
Mthembeni Have you identified the land you would like to acquire for farming?
Terence The current process is that land is advertised by DRDLR through the local newspapers and all those that qualify need to apply. A committee called DBSC will shortlist then interviews are conducted. The successful candidate will then be awarded the rights to utilise the land in question.
Piet Visit district office of Dpartment of Rural Development and Land Reform get more direct information . The administrator of District Land reform committee (DLRC) can assist you. They will explain about sub commitee known as Beneficiary selection committee terms of reference.
Terence Just as Bhekathina says…. Go to your district office and at that office ask about the process on leasing of land and if their DLRC (District Land Reform Committee) chaired by farmers is operational. This committee is in charge of land allocation issues.
Thabo Meantime whilst waiting for land from DLRC, go to local chiefs and get a 1 ha or 2ha piece of land and start your operations there.
Thuso Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. But you gonna wait for a very long time. Ask me. I’m still waiting after 6 years
Lebo You need serious connections to own a piece of land and if you don’t have connections just be ready for the long haul. There is a long list of people who never farmed before and those who are serious about farming awaiting just to face the panel or the board that decide whether you qualify or not. Iam sorry about the weak system where the monied are given first preference over those who are more capable.
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