Online Business In Nigeria - Why we Nigerians Are Getting It so Wrong

 
There is no doubt about it, that the best place to do business right now is on The Internet! Outside The Internet, you either have no opportunity or the opportunity you have is limited by lack of cash and logistics. There are so many businesses you can do online that you dare not try offline.

Between the last 15years and now, great companies have emerged from The Internet 100% from the scratch, without reasonable start up capitals. But today, they control the world. The two biggest examples are Google and Facebook; these Online based companies started few years ago with almost nothing - No reasonable funding, no sophisticated technical entourage, and no names. Just few years after they were founded from practically nothing, they now control the world with cash, own some of the most recognized brand around, and boasts of some of the world's best technical sophistication!

Within the last five years or so, the Internet awareness has become more pronounced. More and more people are finding The Internet and using it. In Nigeria alone, close to 50million people is said to be using The Internet and throughout the world, the number of internet users are in billions! With this greater awareness comes, greater business opportunities for everyone.

Just like Google and Facebook, you and I now have the opportunity to take any business to the Internet and leverage these Billions of internet audiences. But while guys in The United States of America and other parts of the world are getting it right and raking billions of dollars on The Internet, Nigerians are busy getting it all wrong (Apologies to few great Nigeria Techies like Jobberman & co who are really getting things right), while millions of Dollars kept going down the train as a result of lost opportunities in online businesses in Nigeria.

From what I've seen so far, it seems as if the online business atmosphere in Nigeria is dominated by sycophants who are too lazy to get simple things right, yet they think of nothing other than cash.

Fortunately, There is medicine for Every sickness but before we talk about the solution, let's identify the problems first. In this post, I've tried to identify some of the major problems militating against the online business in Nigeria. Go through them and see if you're guilty of any of the mistakes, be honest with yourself. Here are the top 10 Internet business flaws Nigerians commit:

1. Lack of Concepts - Ninety percent of Nigerian trying to do business online are just copy cats. Granted, you do not have to invent the wheel to make something out of your internet business since almost every thing you could think about already has someone doing it, but you need to reinvent the wheel by picking an existing idea and adding some new Concepts in it.

Instead, what Nigerian online business aspirants usually do is: Copy the idea, copy the site design, copy the logo design, and copy the name. You can't make a silk-pulse on The Internet, let alone build a brand when you 100% lacked Concepts.

2. Bad Domain Names - Like I've said in my previous lectures: Get your domain name wrong and you'd get your business wrong - Get it right, and you've put your business on good foundation! The trends among Nigerians is to either start their domain name with "Naija" or end it with "Ng" or both. Google wouldn't have made as much impact on The Internet if it's domain name is AmericanaSearchEngineUS.com.

Even Corporate Nigeria companies such as Punch Newspaper, Glo Mobile, and Vanguard Newspaper - All of them operate their websites on laughable domain names. Please, understand that, the companies and individual in the USA who invests millions to buy (quality, brand-able) domain names are not fools... The truth is that, You can't build a great brand online with wacky domain name.

3. Lack of Creativity - Most Nigerian websites looks like the famous African Ankara prints. Sun Newspaper & Thisday Newspaper websites for instance, are nothing close to how professional news website should be - they look more like a music download website and a porn site respectively - There are no creativity or intellectual investment of any kind in those websites!


You can tell that a website is of Nigerian origin from afar, not because of it's creative design but because of how poorly and unprofessionally developed it is. 
4. Chronic Laziness - You blog only when you're sincerely willing to blog  - You don't blog if you know you can't blog. Most Nigerians who claimed to blog are just pretenders who only do copy and paste. They're too lazy to think and too lazy to write, yet they want to be called 'Bloggers'.

Blogging is intellectual endeavor, it's not a cheap occupation, neither is it for charlatans; true Bloggers stays overnight thinking and writing what readers could read the next morning. I wrote this article (blog post) awake, all night - that's why I'm proud to be called a Blogger. You can't copy other people's work, paste on your website and expect to be great at what you do.

5. Much Eyes on Money - The only motivating factor for online business Nigerians is money, and that's not healthy. It's good to have your eyes on the prize while you run the race but, if you overly focused on the trophy, you'll miss the track and loose the race.

All the great businesses you see online today, started with services in mind. As they focused on the services they intended to render and got it right, the money starts coming naturally.

6. Not Willing to Invest Money - You want a free anti virus, free operational system, free laptop, free internet connection, free domain name, free web host, free everything. The implication is that, you undermine your business in effort to get all things free.

Good businesses are built with money and good money for that matter - be willing to spend money to build your business. Reputable sites are hardly on share hosts, let alone free one. When you put your site on servers where other cheap sites are, whatever sin they commit, you'll become guilty by association!

7. Unwillingness to Learn - So many things I do online today, I learned by merely observing others. I wonder why those great sites online with quality designs and quality services are not enough for Nigeria online business guys to learn from. The answer is that, they are not  willing to learn.

You can't be good at what you're trying to do when you are not willing to learn new tricks and follow the latest trends.

8. Self Deception - The number of Nigerians who parade themselves as online experts in subjects they knew almost nothing about is mind boggling. Especially affected are those seminar and MLM guys who teaches stuffs and claims to earn big online.

If you assume the status of expert when you are still a learner, your prospect of growing in online business would be greatly undermined.

9. Internet Trends Bug - Because there are too many opportunities and prospects online, people tends to loose focus and try to follow all things. Nairaland is big - everyone wants ho have a forum. Linda Ikeji is blogging entertainment - everyone wants to setup blog on entertainment news. Tomorrow, another great thing comes up and you'll abandon all others and move in there.

That's what I called "Internet Trends Bug." Until you define your goal, choose your niche, stick by it, and never let go no matter what - until then, you will keep getting things wrong. You can't be here and there and expect to make it in online business, you must take your stand on one niche and work it out.

10. Social Factors - Average Nigerian prefer to work in environment that carry so much bell and whistles; Politics, entertainments (Music and Nollywood), and corporate employments. Even when they try doing business on The Internet, they do it halfheartedly.

Naturally, everybody wants to have good things but few are willing to work for it - If you want good internet business and online success, you got to work for it. Start by choosing your Niche very carefully. Let's have your opinion by dropping me a comment below.

source:www.wealthresult.com

4 Businesses in Nigeria You Can Start With N30,000 And Make N200,000 This December!

A lot of people most expecially, people like me, dream of running their own business. If you really want to make use of this xmas season, you dont really need to work in an area you love and know a lot about. You can start even within your area.

First, let me splash a little cold water on you. It's easy to make money during the Christmas season, which is usually November through December. It's those other ten months of the year when selling most anything Christmas related is pretty darn hard.
Everyone can take advantage of December and make it a month to Remember! just like that love film a walk to remember. There are hot items that usually sells very fast during this period and trading on them could make you more money than you can imagine.

The real business in this part of the world usually get intensified around December period. This is when real money is made, people dig deep into their pockets to buy things for themselves and their loved ones. Nearly every goods are always in high demand, from furniture to food stuffs -- everything are always hot cake at the end of the season!

To start some of these trade may require plenty of cash but there are equally some that doesn't require much money to start. These are the ones we will be talking about, and it will go a long way to assist some who are looking for what to do to finally start business of their own with little capital.

Below are my top 4 of these businesses you can start with N30,000 or less and still make decent income of about N200,000 or more within this period. Go through them and choose the one you think you are confortable with.
 

1. Office and Schools Supply -

Working parents usually shop for Christmas items for their kids from the office. All you have to do is to source for those nice christimas gift items like, Decorations, christmas lights, children's accessories, wrist watches, etc. Take them to the offices, schools, hospitals, eatries  where these parents can be found and they'll be glad to patronize you.

The secret to success in this model of business is to dress nice and presentable, don't go there looking shaby and wacky. N30,000 will be enough for you to get started and increase from the profit you've made if the need arise. The office supply business lasts long after the christimas, you can continue as long as you want for all you care!

2. Bangers and Fireworks -

As dreaded as they are, people still can't do without Bangers and Fireworks during Christmas, especially children and I must tell you, there is huge money behind those cracking sounds -- it is estimated that Nigerians spends more than N10 Billion annually on fireworks and bangers just within that period of November to December.

The real money in this business is in supply of the products to shops, both primary and secondary schools, higher institutions and other petty sellers. N30,000 can get you started conveniently while you top up as the demand increases. This item sells from last week of November till first week of January.

The secret in this business lays on expanding your horizone, talk to as many would be marketers and shops as possible. The more supply you make the more money you'd make.

3. Mini Photography -

There is really money in this business. I mean photograpy for children and some adults. Christmas is synonymus to party and celebration. Party everywhere and children parties are not excuded too and it doesn't end there, children likes to keep memory of those events, they like taking pictures to help them remember what happend. If you are smart enough you can take advantage of these events and make money for yourselves.

You can get Mini Digital Camera in computer village if you are in lagos or at post office if you are in ilorin or other shopping malls near you. Samsung Digital mini camera with disposable batteries goes for about N15,000. While the rechargable type goes from N25,000 and they produce very smart sharp pictures. You can get a mini printer with another N15,000 to make your business more effective.

Go round to like eatries, hotel halls, schools, and where there is parties and events and take pictures for children, they will be glad that you come and will happily patronize you. This business is a kill if you're smart enough.

4. Greetings Card -

The demand for this item is so high during this period that most of the days you see the sellers exhausting all their goods and going to the market to buy more. It's one of the fastest business you can engage in during this period and make so much money within days.
Someone is said to have made more than N500,000 last season between December 15th to 31st. You too can do the same this season but that depends on your location.

The secret to success in this business is to find a good location with huge traffic movement. Once you found one, look for carpenter to do a make shift card stand, N2,000 can do one for you. Then go to the market and select some nice beautiful Christmas greetings card, N30,000 worth of cards will be nice and perfect for a start. It doesn't cost much at wholesales.

Be creative in your selection and look for only those with beautiful texts and designs, that's what people likes. Select texts for lovers, children friends, family, co-workers, employers, employees, etc.
If you can make your own designs, that will be nice too but stick to what people will like and ready to buy at affordable price. I can assure you that this business is huge during Christmas.
These are my top four businesses for the season, there are still more, please share the ones you know using the comment box. People will appreciate you for sharing and making life worth living for others. Don't forget to share the article on Facebook and Twitter using the buttons below!!

MAKE $300 OR MORE PER/WEEK ONLINE (DON'T MISS THIS)

I am going to show you how i made  $150 USD online for just two days. This is confirmed, its really working, I have heard about this stuff some month ago but just got it started on monday. It doesn't matter where in the world you are, if you have an internet connection & a PC, you can claim hundreds of dollars for just a few minutes of clicking a mouse. Am having $150 in my liberty reserve account right now.

This simple money generating technique can.never be monitored or regulated. it can never be closed down and the opportunities will.continue to grow explosively over the next.few decades. Many people these days are looking for ways to earn a good long term second income or residual income. If you are one of the millions wanting to earn a good long term second income or residual income, you can work from home through Internet  Business.

In this article, I have made it more convenient for you on how to make e-currency exchange online.  This is a perfect exchange program without capital risk or loss unlike the forex trading. It is absolutely free and very easy, you don't need a learning curve to be able to do this, all that is needed is an internet facility and account in two payment system (LIBERTY RESERVE & PERFECT MONEY ACCOUNT). This system has been proven to be effective and you can make up to $300 or more per day, We will be showing you how you can make unlimited cash with your Liberty Reserve and Perfect Money account in short and clear details. Just like every other business your interest and seriousness counts.

With this formula it is now possible to earn up to $500 per day!!!

All you need do, is just to follow me with your calculator on hand carefully as we outline the (6 steps) below. The system is too simple and very easy to perform

HOW IT WORKS!

1. open a LIBERTY RESERVE ACCOUNT at http://libertyreserve.com (free)
2. open a PERFECT MONEY ACCOUNT at http://perfectmoney.com (free)
3. Fund your liberty reserve account with a minimum of $22,because of transaction charges, actually you needed a minimum of $20.
(Note: To fund or sell your liberty reserve, go to www.google.com to search for an exchanger close to you.)
(Note: To fund or sell your liberty reserve in Ilorin visit www.topmylr.com that is where am using or go to any liberty reseve company close to you.
4. Go to http://instant-change.webs.com,and exchange $20 from your liberty reserve account to your perfect money account, going by the rates below:
1 1 LR------>1.28, therefore, 20 LR----> 25.6  PM.(note:1 liberty reserve gives you 1.28 perfect money,therefore 20 liberty reserve gives you 25.6 perfect money. Then,
5.Go to http://www.superchange.ru or http://www.swapgold.com ,and re-exchange 25.6 Perfect money to 24.832 liberty reserve, Going by the rates below:
(i.e. 1 PM ----> 0.97 LR, therefore 25.60 PM--->24.832. Wow! SEE' You have gain $4.832 from the initial $20 you invested.
6. Repeat the exchange process from LR---->PM--->LR , as many times as you can and get to your daily target.
You can always increase your capital, because the more money you exchange the faster you make your cash.
"The only place where success comes before work is the Dictionary."
Disclaimer
How much money you make depends on your capital and the amount of time you put into this venture.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU.


HOW YOU CAN FUND OR PUT MONEY INTO YOUR LIBERTY RESERVE ACCOUNT

Liberty Reserve Account is Free to get, All You have to do is Visit http://www.libertyreserve.com, Click on Register and Follow the Registration Procedure, After that a Confirmation Mail will be Sent to you for Email Confirmation, Then your Liberty Reserve Account Number will be Issued to You alongside some other Info. Liberty Reserve Account look like this: U123456.

=> Now You've Got a LR Account!


FUND AND WITHDRAW?

1. Visit an exchanger website in your location or country. Or you can also search in google.com and www.libertyreserve.com/en/public/exchangers for an exchanger close to you.)
On the exchanger's website, you can obtain more information on how to fund and withdraw money from your account.

ADVANTAGES OF LIBERTY RESERVE ACCOUNT:
 1. You can use it as a Means of Payment for your Company.
 2. It can be Use to pay for Goods Online Easily without too much Questioning.
 3. Its Easier to Fund in any Part of the World.
 4. It is Widely Acceptable by any Online Stay.
 5. It is Safe to Use Online due to their Secure Server like any Other payment means.

DO THIS EVERYDAY AND YOU WILL NEVA NEED TO WORK AGAIN..

FOR FUTHER QUESTIONING, YOU CAN LEAVE A COMMENT OR VISIT
  http://thelibertysystem.webs.com/

LYRIC OF NEW MUSIC BY M.I || IN MEMORY OF THE ALUU4 - ASHES

“4 young men died at the hands of a lynch mob on the 5th of October 2012. Whether or not their deaths will mean anything, or fade out of our minds as just another meaningless tragedy, is up to us and what we do from here on.
I hope this song captures that message. Nothing would be worse than for a death to mean nothing.
Nothing.” -MI Abaga

Download Link—> M.I - Ashes (Tribute To ALUU4)

Lyrics.

We were down a sandy beach,
All night talking to your mouth’s words.
Tell me where you would like to be.
Tonight don’t be afraid to dream.
Lean on the fire for a while.
Cause in the morning it’ll all just be ashes on the ground

Instead it be them, let it be me.
Since I will die inevitably,
Then let it be, that it be said
When I am dead: some other was free, some other was fed
Some other, not me, was able to see
That long as we live inside a country where no one is safe,
No one is safe.
We only evade, try to escape
The imminent doom
But closer the date looms.
It comes for all.
If we must go, then at least,
When we fall…

When we’re all ashes…
If I am slain, let them forever remember the name
Some other should gain.

When we’re all ashes…
Because of my pain. Because of my tears because of my scars
Some other should gain.

When we’re all ashes…
The reason I’m gone. Let it be told, let it be known, and turned into song

When we’re all ashes…
If I die alone. Let it be more than dying alone, the reason I’m gone.
The reason I’m gone.

Instead it be sleep.
Let it be hate, let it degrade.
Let it be deep.
Some other should weep
Some other should keep
The memory of
The way that I died
Maybe a change, some other can try

At least we can lie. At least we can hope
At least we can say
tomorrow is better, it wont be today
Some other can pray
Some other can fight
The wrong done to me some other can right.
Then maybe my death can save some other life
For then I would gladly give another life

When we’re all ashes…
Let it be worth
Let it be so some other can live. Let it be birth.

When we’re all ashes…
As I am hurt
As I pass, let it be last, let it be first

When we’re all ashes…
Don’t let them forget
The only regret is that we relent. We all should repent..

When we’re all ashes…
If I die alone,
Let it be more than dying alone. The reason I’m gone
The reason I’m gone

Feels like I stood there watching,
the pain the brutal torture
And added my silence to the violent screams
Of: Burn and torch em.
How do you earn misfortune?
Or does it come unbidden?
If life’s a painted portrait,
Who puts dark colors in them?
If there’s a God in heaven,
Surely he’s weeping now.
As all the blood is shedding
As all His people drown.

God help us all.

Rest in peace Chidi.
Rest in peace Lloyd
Rest in Peace Tekena
Rest in Peace Ugonna

Rest in peace to the Students murdered in Adamawa state.

Rest in peace to those two young girls.

Written and Produced by MI Abaga

Opening sample from ‘Words In The Fire’ By Patrick Watson.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THIS GUY..... MAKE YOUR COMMENT

CHECK KWARA POLY FIRST BATCH ADMISSION LIST HERE

The kwara state polytechnic(KWARAPOLY), ilorin has released the first batch of the admission list this morning..

The List was released and uploaded on the official website early this morning..
According to our correspondent, The second list is to come out before the end of the week, so if you dont see your name on this list, it will surely be uploaded in the second list... dont be scared..


HOW TO CHECK THE KWARA POLY ADMISSION FIRST BATCH LIST.
Candidate who sat for the kwara state polytecnic post utme screening test can now check for the fist batch of the admission list below:

• Click here to http://www.kwarapolytechnic.com/portal/admissions/index.php
• Click on either HND LIST, ND LIST or PART_TIME LIST
• View the list

           Dont forget to like our page after viewing.....

PARTAKE IN THE MTN SCHOLARSHIP 2012 NOW!!! DON'T MISS IT

MTN Scholarship 2012 is here again! The Scholarship is to assist Higher Institution Students in Nigeria.. Ever since the Scholarship Program has been Created by MTN Years back, Thousands of Students have enjoyed and Gain a whole lot from it, We do hope some Youth will find this Info Useful.



Terms & Condition of the Scholarship
Please read carefully before completing this form. Be sure that the information you provide is accurate.

Applicants from public Universities and Colleges of Education in Nigeria must be full time undergraduates in 200 level/2nd year.

Applicants from public Universities and Colleges of Education must have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) score of 3.5 or its equivalent (2:1) / Second Class Upper.

Applicants from public Polytechnics must have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 (upper credit) from the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) program and must have secured admission into the Higher National Diploma program (HND).

Direct entry level students must have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 (upper credit) from the OND programme and must have secured admission into 200 level/2nd year in a public University
Current Beneficiaries of the MTN Foundation Science & Technology Scholarship award are not eligible to apply

The MTN Foundation reserves the right to cancel or suspend a scholarship award if it is discovered that an applicant /awardee provided false information.

Names of successful candidates will be published in National Dailies

Closing date for receipt of application is Monday, October 29, 2012.

Please note that all information provided will be verified and persons with fraudulent information will be held accountable.

Interested? Don't Miss this Offer, Visit http://www.mtnonline.com/mtnfoundation/content/mtn-scholarship-2012 for Full Info & Registration Form.

Please be free to post your comment for further explanation.

Enjoy!!!

HOW TO OWN A BUSINESS

In this post, am going to be talking about 5 steps to a successful business.

The present world circumstance does not let anyone to fold his arms doing nothing. Even only one source of income does not proffer solution to man`s enormous needs. White collar jobs cannot do that as well.

I worked as an employee in Three different organizations within a period of seven years and there is not much to show for it. I know people who have achieved a lot and yet have not spent half that number of years.
Business is the best path towards a fulfilled life. The most successful men and women in the world all through history are entrepreneurs. It has an edge over 9-5 kind of job. It is capable of meeting your regular needs as they come unlike the monthly wage that comes once a month.

It also affords you the opportunity to harness your natural gift. Therefore it is important to know how best to start on the ladder of business for proper sustenance. Today we want to look at certain basic requirements that will help you start-up and stay in business successfully.



1. IDENTIFY THE BUSINESS TO START

There are so many needs around, but you are to solve a particular one and not all. You what it takes to solve someone`s problems right inside of you. You need to discover it.
What do you have passion for?  Chances are that what you have passion for is your core area of competence. What is it that happens around you, which you hate and wish you could change. Indeed you can.
Take some time and think back to your childhood days. There is something about you that people commended you for. You did those things naturally without stress. In fact you didn`t even know it until people began to talk about it. It is possible you observed it yourself but you did not give it a thought.
That talent can be converted into cash. Someone said money is a reward for problem solved. Present what you have to the world and you will be paid for it.
It is important you build your business in this area.

The normal business challenge that confronts every business man will surely show up. It is your passion that will sustain you. When I was growing up writing was part of my life. I would write anything that comes to my mind. Today I still enjoy writing.

2. GO FOR TRAINING
   
.    You need to learn how to find a need.
·    How to meet that need with what you have.
·    Know the strategy to attract potential customer.
The process you go through to acquire the skills is known as training.
How do you receive this training?
1. Meet successful people in that area of your interest. Look very well there are always people around you to give you the necessary training. Get a mentor. Reading is a form of training, but do you know one thing? You can receive knowledge from books but you may not receive counsel and follow-up from books. Therefore a mentor is inevitable.
2. Read wide. The benefit of reading can not be overemphasized. The knowledge someone else has acquired through a hard experience of 20yrs can be transferred to you within hours or days.

This is very possible if you can read. If you have a bad reading culture begin to work on yourself. Start with little news letters. Begin to download free e books of about 10-15 pages. Discipline yourself to read everyday.

3. BE HUMBLE

Make up your mind to start low. A humble beginning is always the best beginning. Even if you have an idea there is still a lot to learn. Great things don`t usually start in a great way. Sometimes the right environment for your success will seem to be hostile at the first time.

I don`t know how and why it is so but this is my observation. What to do is to stay until you receive all the necessary training needed to stand on your ground.  Champions do what they don`t like to get what they want.
4. CREATE A WEBSITE

This is your presence on the internet. When you have a website, your business is open to the world 24/7. In the year 2000 Nigeria had only 200,000 internet users. By December 2011 Nigeria is top on list of internet users in Africa with 45,039,711 users. You have great chances of business success on internet. You can put up one with N50,000 to start.

5. CAPITAL

A capital is an asset that is available and could be used to produce other assets. To raise a financial capital for your business you must have integrity.
Personal saving is a good option for those in a paid job. If you are an applicant family and friends could be a good source of fund. People are more confident to lend out money to someone who has a source of income than the jobless.
Money is not the only capital you need for a business. It may seem as your major need anyway. Time is a capital. Use your time to carry out research. You can create and multiply other capitals by using your time effectively.
Your experience in life is a capital. Take a moment to consider your past life experiences whether good or bad. There is something  in it for you that could be useful as you plan to step into a business.''
 Cheers!