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How To Create Awesome Social Media Content, Or Else…

awesome social media

Offline, invisibility is a problem you can throw money at. Money to Interrupt and disturb your way into the attention of your market. There I am, reading the latest on Government’s “amazing plans” for economic turnaround or about Phillip Chiyangwa’s plan to become the next ZIFA Chairman, then boom, your full page ad is in my face – ” Cheapest Whatsapp Bundles on Earth -Buy Now!”. Maybe this time you can distract me from the news story, long enough to sell me something.

It doesn’t work as well as it used to.

Heck even in Zimbabwe, this Continue reading “How To Create Awesome Social Media Content, Or Else…”

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Social Media and that Horrible ‘P’ Word

Developing a powerful presence in the social media space is not an event, it’s not even a campaign. It’s a process, it’s long term. It’s not a matter of launching a Facebook fan page as much as it is about developing a mindset and cultivating a following, and building a tribe and other boring things that will require the Horrible ‘P word’.

Before I talk Continue reading “Social Media and that Horrible ‘P’ Word”

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How Facebook Will Kill Zimbabwe’s Big Brands

ImageIt seemed once that big brands and the companies behind them were invincible, permanently successful, unsinkable ships, just like the Titanic. Today businesses large and small are in trouble like never before. It’s problems in the local economy, it’s the global crunch, it’s the effect of politics, but it’s also something else quite unexpected…

Facebook.

Social media is changing things much faster than Big brands Continue reading “How Facebook Will Kill Zimbabwe’s Big Brands”

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People Know Better Than Businesses…Zimbabwe Facebook Marketing

Recently in a report on the use of Google Plus (and other Social Media) in Zimbabwe, I was listed as a ‘Notable User’ for both Facebook and LinkedIn. Since then I’ve had more emails than usual asking for my advice on how local businesses can make better use of Social Media (especially Facebook) in Zimbabwe.

People adapt to new social trends much faster than 99% of businesses do. They’re faster to get on Facebook, faster to understand the platform and to learn how to use it effectively to connect and convince.

This is fantastic news.

See even though Social Media is changing the world and now marketing together with it, your businesses competitors have no idea how to use it effectively. Heck, even most of the so-called Social Media marketing experts in Zimbabwe, are lost – they just don’t know it (but that’s another post).

So what do normal people know about Marketing on Facebook that Businesses don’t?

Normal, none-amateur marketing, everyday people, know that Facebook, is about conversation and connection – not advertising and selling. No one is logging in to see your self promotional posts (adverts).

No one.

See your market is having a conversation. They’re talking about their frustrations, they’re sharing ideas, they’re recommending resources, they’re asking each other for advice. Your goal is to get involved in the conversation and over time become a trusted voice to the people with in that community.

  • Not to spam my news feed with your latest greatest offer, every single day, several times a day.
  • Not about getting me to like your page and treating me like yet another number (Did you know that most people who like a Facebook fan page will never again return to it?)
  • Not to stuff my inbox with your amazing new product, that you have no real idea if I’d be interested in or not

Not about

Sure you’ll get a couple of responses if you do that, but you’ll never build an authoritative presence, you’ll never be the most trusted advisor in your market. You’ll just be yet another guy/business who also sells product x. Nothing and no one special.

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Small Version Of A Big Business (Facebook)

FROM FACEBOOK DISCUSSION: Problem is that most new businesses in Zimbabwe think of themselves as smaller versions of big businesses that already exist. By doing that, you’re forcing yourself to compete on the terms set by your already established, bigger, more well-known, better financed competitors. Bigger competitors are not impossible to beat, but you won’t do it by playing their game. You’ve got to think more strategically than that.

(You can see the full discussion on Facebook, but you must be logged in).

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Google Plus In Zimbabwe, HATE It Or Love It, But Join.

Heard of Google Plus? If you’re a Zimbabwean, probably not yet, after all, all your friends are on Facebook, maybe Twitter. Google Plus is Google’s new social network (like Facebook, potentially better).

There’s been a lot of controversy with regards to the implementation of it all, with many claiming Google is unfairly using its muscle (in search) to promote this new service – I differ on some of it, but heck…when it comes to marketing, I couldn’t care less – neither should you.

All it means is that things have changed, if you’re a business owner, love it (like me) or hate it, you’d be downright crazy to ignore Google Plus.

Crazy because if you hope to build a long-lasting and powerful brand on-line in Zimbabwe or anywhere else in the world, you can’t afford to ignore Google. Facebook is not enough, especially not in Zimbabwe, neither is Twitter or LinkedIn.

CLICK HERE to join Google Plus now.

Google plus is going to affect your on-line networking, your Search engine visibility, your brand relevance in ways that you probably can’t imagine if you haven’t been following the developments.

I could go into a really detailed account of why you should get on Google Plus and get active there now, but not today. For today I’ll just let you know this

The Worlds Most Powerful Internet Business (Google) had launched the fastest growing social networking site in History. They’re integrating it into the world’s top search engine, Google.com, the world’s top video sharing site YouTube, the worlds best email service, Gmail (350 million users) and many other popular online properties. They’re doing all this and your competitors haven’t even heard of it yet.

If there’s ANY entrepreneurial or marketing blood in you at all, you already know you need to take action early.

Here’s A Link To get Started.

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No More Friends On Facebook But…!

Just a quick one. Besides this blog, a lot of people use Facebook to contact or connect with me. Well, in case you didn’t know, Facebook won’t let you accept more than 5000 people as friends – so alas, I’m all out of spaces for now…

BUT…

You can still subscribe to my public updates on Facebook and get in on the latest business tips and tricks and crazy conversations happening there.

If you really want to be a friend, in box me on Facebook when you subscribe to public updates. That way i can know who you are and am more likely to delete an inactive friend in your favor!

You can also connect with more on Google Plus , which is better than Facebook in my opinion, but that’s a post for another day.

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Happy Birthday to Me?

I started receiving Happy Birthday messages two days ago and today I’ve been completely blown away by the flood of birthday emails and Facebook messages I’ve got from friends, clients and readers. Don’t think I’ve had that many emails in one day since my Facebook was hacked by a crazy ‘porn-preneur’ last year!

Thank you all so much. If you look really carefully at the picture attached I’ve got tears in my eyes (sort of)!

By the way, if you’re not my friend on Facebook yet, don’t be shy! It’s an easy way to get in touch and follow the blog too!

Me.