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Impact of Online Advertising in Zimbabwe

The Internet is only one of many platforms on which an enterprise can publicise itself. At present Websites are competing for advertising attention with Print and Television advertising content. Let us seek answers for the following questions: How much advertising material are web consumers exposed to? This helps an enterprise formulate effective marketing strategies, which involve their website. DSTV, ZTV, Billboards, Clothing Publications (Labels), Movies, Food Courts, Specific Magazines, Newspapers, just to name a few. Do webverts ™ (Website Adverts) work? It is not a matter of just advertising, but an effectiveness measurement has to be put into place. Relevance, convenience, quantity, structure, of adverts should be considered. What is so different about Webvertising ™? Marketing gurus classify Advertising methods according to emotions nowadays – Fear and Love being the two extremes. We see this on Television and in Print media. Marketers often make consumers feel as though left o...
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Property Websites in Zimbabwe, and Opportunities Available

Database Driven Most of them are database driven, making it difficult for each entry to be found by search engines like google.com. Most use Cold Fusion, a technology not easily accessible by Google scripts. Google uses Perl. The difference is that Perl dumps information on every query (Client Driven), yet Cold Fusion keeps everything on the server on which the query is being requested (Server Driven). What has influence these web publications • Mindsets o People only read from newspaper classifieds only. o Who would want to invest in a vibrant website? o It’s Zimbabwe anywhere! • Lack of understanding of marketing in cyberspace. • More of a presence issue, for corporate image issue. The Technologies Used Most of the websites were developed by WebDev and Design@7. WedDev is strong on Wed Development (the Database side), hence their sites have that orientation. Design@7 is strong with Graphics, hence their sites have that orientation. Some other sites were developed by small companies, ...

Effective Business Communication through Websites

In these times of challenging economic conditions, businesses are being forced to find alternative means of communicating with stakeholders, especially customers. On the other hand, the subjects of Internet and websites are no longer painful ones as they were a few years ago. The distance between the consumer and the company is now being made shorter through websites, as more businesses in Zimbabwe are launching their businesses, products, and services on the “.CO.ZW” cyber landscape. Reaching customers, knowing their concerns over products or services provided, and ensuring return business is are the core concerns of any company, and all Business Communication is channeled into various media in order to achieve this. Without struggling for recognition or dominance, the Internet has become the fastest growing and most effective delivery channel for all Business Communication in the World, and Zimbabwe has not been an exception. Marketing, Product Delivery, and Public Relations are the ...

ASuccessfulWebsite Wildfire 2007

After publishing the book in August 2006, I have closely looked at the progress of the book, to see if it is a success in itself. To date, through the book, I have trained more than ten companies and individuals, ranging from Internet Cafes, Internet Service Providers, Web Developers, Students, Marketers, Churches, Pastors, and Entrepreneurs, who have bought a copy of the eBook. The book has sold approximately 25 copies, of which a Website, Training, and Web Consultancy have been born out of "each" Copy. I am currently working as a Consultant with Innov8 - The Motivation Company, where amongst other goals, one of them is to assist the company add on to the ".CO.ZW" sphere, two more websites and blogs, in the ".COM" sphere. Innov8 will be launching www.innov8motivation.com and www.innov8bookshop.com, in October 2007, which are transaction enabled, giving people the ability to buy books and pay for workshop online, using the eTranzact platform. One of the ot...

New Spying Law 'Unconstitutional'

THE Interception of Communications Act, signed into law by President Robert Mugabe last week, is unconstitutional and can be successfully challenged in the courts, legal experts said yesterday. The government will find it difficult to adequately monitor communications, particularly e-mails and other internet communications, they said. The law authorises the government to set up an interception centre to eavesdrop on telephone conversations, open mail, and intercept e-mails and faxes. But legal experts told The Standard yesterday the law was an unwarranted infringement on people's rights. David Coltart, secretary for legal affairs in the pro-Senate faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said the law was unconstitutional and will have serious repercussions on people's rights and freedom of expression. "There is no independent review of any interception of a person's communication," said Coltart. "It (the law) is an unjustifiable invasion of a pers...

Zim ICT Bill threatens free speech

Zimbabwean Internet service providers (ISPs) are struggling to install costly equipment to monitor the flow of information in the southern African country, according to online activist Web site Kubatana. President Robert Mugabe formally signed the Interception of Communications Act earlier this month. It enables the government to intercept phone calls, e-mails and faxes with the intention of protecting national security. The law stipulates ISPs are under mandatory obligation to pay for and install the monitoring equipment. “The law now stipulates that licensed Internet access providers and their ISPs must install the lawful interception equipment at their own cost,” says Shadreck Nkala, chairperson of the Zimbabwe Internet Service Provider Association (ZISPA). The Act further states an ISP that fails to provide assistance in terms of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years. Nkala says there is a need for di...

A Kingdom with Gain

“Thou shalt name this week ‘Gain’”, the Merchant spoke out across the room, as his investor walked in. “Why, if I may ask?” responded the farmer, walking towards the merchant, with a bag of gold in his hands. “For thus shall you be, get, and give.” “Speak on”, exclaimed the excited farmer as he sat to hear the merchant’s report about his investments. The merchant pulled out a scroll from his desk and begun to narrate his dealings with the farmer’s gold over the past week, how they grew, and gave a insight of the coming week, as it was the week of celebrations in the city, where bringing more business to the farmer and other investors with the merchant. “You are gain, because your investment speaks continuously as it instructs, communes, and co-operates with goods and services to which it multiplies. Your voice is heard and that which has been touched takes heed of the instruction. Growth begins, even from small dealings, and resulting in multitudes of trade. You speak through your gol...