NOT NECESSARILY SPORT by MARK POZZO
What a better way to advertise or promote your business from a computer!
I am looking for something, I Google it and, the name comes up, and I click onto the web site and find what I want, or email the company to ask for a quote, or to verify the service or product I want. It costs the company nothing; they have not had to send a sales person to visit the client. It costs them nothing. Business is just coming to them.
I am really amazed as to what expense companies go to in Zimbabwe to have the best designed web sites, social media sites, which are then not managed properly.
So last week, I was looking for some paint – a large quantity, and I Googled a particular local based company that manufactures and seems to be the up and coming paint operation in Zimbabwe. The website was classy and well documented. All and all I was impressed with what I saw. But that’s where it ended.
I clicked on the request a quote. Wrote my request, complete all the boxes they request, complete the ‘I am not a robot thing’ and push send. I then wait thinking max response is 12 hours; even within an hour or two. Maybe that was wishful thinking. I send these often to overseas websites and sometimes before I have pushed send, I have a response and someone would be keen to assist me. So on this exercise I waited 24 hours. No response. Totally amazed, I redo the request and re-send the following day. To date, I have had no response from this company which professes to be the best. My point here, is that Zimbabwe does not yet understand the powerful tool social media has become to business. It could make or break your business!
Make – Your business could receive an enquiry that changes the business for life. All from just an email sent to the company website.
Break – By not responding to an enquiry never mind large or small. There could be one that comes along that could change your business for ever and you miss out, because you don’t pay attention. Then there is the backlash on social media, when like me, you rant and rave about the company and you tell the world on social media that they are no good.
Why can’t Zimbabwe companies appoint or assign someone to handle their social media platforms? At the end of the day, its free and costs nothing. We will soon be overtaken by foreign entities and local business must not stand up and cry foul. Make managing social media a key part of your business.
This past week the President, who too is active and manages his social media well, appointed his long-awaited Cabinet. The new Minister of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation. Honourable Kirsty Coventry, is a social media queen and I do hope she develops this into her role as a government minister. It’s the way the world works now. Let’s be in that new world people of Zimbabwe.
Finally, the Warriors should have done better than a draw in their AFCON qualifier in Brazzaville on Sunday. 1-0 up at the break they took their foot off the pedal and had to settle for a 1-1 draw. They still sit top of the group on 4 points. My final rant is why on earth did the PSL not re-schedule a Castle Lager Premier League match between the country’s most supported fan base on the same day the national team were playing. Have you ever seen Liverpool play Manchester United the same day England have a national game? The PSL are the jokers of the week!
