Cabanga Magazine

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, ...

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...

Written by David A. Wise, 306 Pages Reviewed by Oscar Manduku, for Innov8 Bookshop, Zimbabwe The Google Story starts with extremely bold financial results, for a small start up. Founded in 1998, Google.com became the world's fastest growing Corporation to ever grace the earth, even before going public in August 2004. This book is not about Technology or America, but about how innovation, locked up in every individual, can be turned into a Money Machine within the shortest time frame, without changing one's personality. It is a book about how focus, vision, determination, and endurance can change the way people conduct business the world over. Google was not started by the US Government as we “Techies” thought. It was started by two humble students, who chose to take on the world, by creating what everyone needs information access for all. The money behind the business is not as important as the vision behind the founders, who consider themselves to be in the infant stage of th...

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...

The following are some of the many marketing misconceptions that I would like to address in this book: Websites are Marketing Expenses. This is false, because a website is an investment. We live in the days of the Google Economy, where you even earn US$ for just reserving a portion of your website for Google AdSense, and in the days of Advertising Synergies. Not many people use the Internet. This is false, because Zimbabwean urban consumers are very technology oriented. There are more literate consumers in urban centers now, who have equal access to Internet – through Internet Cafes. The Computer Population is Zimbabwe is growing, especially the Laptops, whose owners want Internet access as soon as they buy them. Websites are for Internet presence only, because we cannot implement eCommerce in Zimbabwe. This is false, because websites are for consumers not your company, hence can be used for more than just your business card. eCommerce in Zimbabwe is transforming, with a few hiccups th...

INTRODUCTION Since the commercial inception of many Information and Communication Technologies and various business methods in Zimbabwe, consumers have been hoping for an ever increasing Quality of Service (QoS) in Information Services. This has not been the case; due to a contribution of various factors influencing the direction of growth of this industry. There are basically seven types of Information Service Points, which this paper seeks to address the audience, to shed light upon the dealings thereof. These are Websites, Directories, CDROMs, Periodics, Mobile Phones, Kiosks, and Cafes. Closely examining these will help define this industry, and point out a way forward – that’s the aim of this paper. DEFINITION Information Services can be defined as any repetitive business concept of publishing data, in any relevant format, to inform an audience, whilst achieving profitability. Please realize that in the 21st century, there are many industries which are springing up because of the ...

If you have not watched this movie, the moral is that every Midfielder wished they could bend a football into the net or at the feet of a striker, like David Beckham. Question is, “Is this the only way to play winning football?” With this same thought, many Zimbabwean enterprises have adopted styles, structures, and content that they have not engineered, but copied. There is nothing wrong with copying, except when it limits an enterprise to unleash the greatness within them – thumbs up to Milton Kamwendo, on this subject. Beautiful Graphics Many websites in Zimbabwe are “very beautiful”, flamboyant, fully animated, and intriguingly spectacular. Are they successful? I know of a manufacturer whose website I have been trying to open for the past three years. No matter where I access the Internet, I have never seen their website. It has music in the background, and an opening count which reaches 100% but never opens. I tell you the truth, it is better to publish such a website as a .com ra...

Fellow Entrepreneurs, there is something unique about the Zimbabwean consumer, especially on the Internet. We are a nation that has been hit with various pressures – economic, social, spiritual and political. Each time I think about the hardships in our nation, I quickly remember those of USA in the late 1920s and early 30s – the Great Depression. When it ended, USA was never the same. They went into a boom, whose fruit is still being enjoyed to date. The 21st century USA could not have been, without the souls of the early 20th century, who helped transform the nation, by consuming the products and services. There is something about consumers in times of hardships, especially those that stand firm. I believe that knowing that special thing about Zimbabwe consumers will assist you in building a successful website. Literacy Have you ever wondered why it is so easy for Zimbabweans to adapt to new technologies? Notice how mobile phones, computers, satellite equipment, and DVD equipment, ha...

Because the Internet is not an academic priority in most Marketing Programmes in Zimbabwe, Web Marketing has been a nightmare for many marketers, seen by the inability to thrive online as they do offline. My first business mentor is one of Zimbabwe’s top Marketers, who took me up early 2003, when I quit my comfortable IT position at Zimpapers Natprint. I noticed that he was a student of online marketing ever since then, only to take up online business four years after, with a serious innovation, if I might add. I know another brilliant Marketer with more than ten world class food brands at her disposable, yet has only one website – a corporate website, that talks more about the company - Corporate Profile, than the products or its consumers. I will not mention bankers, clothing manufacturers, department stores, bookshops, car dealers, insurance institutes, asset managers, chemists, sports institutes, just to name a few. I love our marketers, but can not stand and watch them be overwhel...