Tuesday, January 18, 2011
How technology has revolutionized money-making in Africa
See 100 BOB GIGS and 500 BOB GIGS
There is no topic that interests me more than the topic of making money and narrowing it down even further there is no specific subject in the process of making money that jazzes me more than the use of widely available technology. And I am not talking hi-tech here. I just mean simple technology like the cell phone, email and stuff like that.
Why does this interest me so much? Because I believe there are huge opportunities to make tons of cash from business for those who make use of technology to do things that were previously impossible to do. This article explains all that in very simple language and I actually give you practical experiences from my very own life.
I started out in the very low tech basic traditional business of printing. I used to make some very good cash printing letter heads, business cards etc for various clients large and small. Then computers came and turned the whole industry upside down. The computer made the office paperless and thus in need of much less stationary. Clients who required 500o letterheads now tool 500 for the whole year and just communicated using email and even sms messages. To make matters worse computers and cell phones invaded the market at about the same time that easy accessible loans came so almost everybody who got a loan in Nairobi bought a printing press. The result was that we ended up having too many printing machines around at a time when the market for printing jobs was shrinking rapidly. To cut a long story short I got into serious financial problems and I was auctioned and lost all my furniture and electronics in the house and everything in the office (including ironically a computer I hadn’t even finished paying for).
Then one day an old friend organized for me to get a pretty lucrative printing job from a client in South Sudan. He client sent me the artwork from Juba as an attachment to an email. And then he wired me the cash via Western Union. When I was done with the job I took it to Wilson Airport where it was flown out. I ended up with some pretty good money that gave me a little respite from the considerable financial pressure I was going through at the time. I sat down and reviewed the role of technology in enabling me to serve a client who was so far away without leaving Nairobi. I asked myself questions like “Could I get more clients in South Sudan while I was in Nairobi? That way I would not be bogged down by the crowded and yet shrinking market for offset printing in Nairobi.
My mind quickly zeroed in on technology as a tool to help me make money in an increasingly hostile business environment. I have never looked back since.
To cut to the chase I ended up getting a very good job in Dar-es-salaam Tanzania where I am currently based. When I went there for the first time I was naïve and I thought I would hit that under-developed market with all kinds of products and services and become a millionaire overnight. But alas, it was never to be. I was quickly brought back to reality when even my Tanzanian employers ran into serious problems trying to get me a work permit to work in that country.
To be honest I lost quite a bit of money trusting locals to act as my front as I tried all kinds of businesses which failed one after the other. My wife got really upset about my continued “investments” into cash draining failures and pointed out that the cash I had lost would have been enough to buy a big prime plot in Athi River or Kitengela. It really angered me when she said this. Especially because it was true.
Then it dawned on me that I did not need to struggle in the Tanzanian market which I didn’t know very well when I could use technology to do business in Kenya while I was still employed in Tanzania. It was not smooth sailing to what I have today but finally I got to setup something that works like a charm.
I have two businesses that do extremely well. I sell cars in Nairobi and Mombasa as a middleman. I advertise my cars using the noticeboards at Sarit Centre in Nairobi and another one at Nakumatt in Mombasa. I do my colour poster for the cars on my PC at home and then I used to print out the posters and physically send them via Akamba bus from Dar all the way to Nairobi and Mombasa where they would be picked up and put up at the respective notice boards for me to start receiving enquiries. The whole exercise would cost me about 4,000 bob. But these days technology has made it even easier and much cheaper. I use a blog site called pata kwa soo where I hire somebody in Nairobi and another in Mombasa to receive my posters as a pdf attachment in their email. They then print them out and put them up at Sarit Centre and Nakumatt Nyali respectively. I pay them only Kshs 100 shillings each for this simple errand. I do this through the site which means that they don’t get paid until they have accomplished the task successfully. I usually send them the cash via Mpesa to the innovatively simple site. I use this guy in Dar who travels with buses every other day to Mombasa and back and I give him the cash in Tanzania shillings and he deposits Mpesa in Kenya shillings and sends the cash to the recipient when he is in Kenya. To confirm that the work is done, I simply call a friend in Westlands and ask him to go for lunch at Sarit Centre and check if they see my poster. I do a similar thing with the Mombasa poster. I could easily use the same site to hire somebody else at 100 bob to go and check and confirm that the posters have been out up, but I guess I want to save 100. The cell phone advertised is my personal one (which works in Tanzania) When clients call I tell them as much as I can about the car and then direct them where to view it. I work with about 3 different major car importers in Mombasa. When they buy the car the sellers simply deposit the funds in my KCB (Kenya Commercial Bank account) and I can then access the funds via an ATM in Dar-es-salaam. Whenever my contacts get new cars in Mombasa they post them to their websites and I simply download them from there and create my sales poster. Simple but it works.
I still have my very well paying job and at the same time my side business brings in an average of Kshs 500, 000 every month.
You get the drift? Now you know why I am so interested in discussing technology and how to use it to make money through a small simple business. Remember that you can do virtually any kind of business as the absentee owner because technology now enables you “to be there” without actually physically being there.
Sit down today and try and figure out how to use technology to make money.
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Coach Lusweti runs a daily online training programme that helps people gain skills to use opportunities made available by technology.
See our latest GIGS
Monday, January 17, 2011
Latest: Looking for property, student projects and more
LOOKING FOR PROPERTY/LAND TO BUY IN MOMBASA? Give me your requirements and I will do the legwork and get you a shortlist of people to call so that the whole process is so easy if you are busy. I will charge only 100/- for my services. Duration it will take to do this: 5 days. Ref17/01
Are you a college student stuck with your project? Look no further, I offer consultancy services to help you get through with your project on time, just at 100/= Duration it will take to do this: 3 days Ref17/02
LOGO designed for your business or product for Kshs 100 only. Every product and business will sell much better with a good logo that identifies it. Will give you two or three designs to choose from. Duration it will take to do this: 3 days. Ref17/03
Nairobi people are always complaining that they can't find a cheap hotel in Mombasa. I walk around and find you the best and the latest at Kshs 1,000 a night. Only 100 bob for my services. Duration it will take to do this: 2 days. Ref17/04
Are you wondering what to do for your final project (IT)? For ideas on what project to undertake, come to me for just 100/=. Duration it will take to do this: 3 days. Ref17/05
I will write 4 quality 250 word articles for your website for only Kshs 100/-. Duration it will take to do this: 3 days Ref17/06
Revive your wet seemingly "dead" cell phone: Dropped your cell phone in a bucket of water? Ot maybe in the loo? It is now soaked with water and appears dead? You are feeling so bad. Woiye!! Worry not. I repair cell phones for a living and I am pretty good at it. I can also tell you that I make most of my money from phones that have been dropped in water. But I am sure you don't know the fact that you can do your own simple repair right there at home without spending money on a new phone or bringing it to a fundi like me. I will send you the amazing and VERY simple do-it-yourself instructions to revive your dead phone. NO NEED TO OPEN YOUR PHONE WITH SCREW DRIVERS AND STUFF. Don't pay me if it doesn't work. But you need to act fast, the longer your phone stays off after being dropped in water (avoid all tempations to switch it on NOW to see if it works, In fact remove the battery and sim card) the harder it will be to repair. Just send for my hot tips to get your beloved phone back. Only 100 bob but I don't get paid until your phone works. Do it now!! Ref14/01
Recover all your scratched DVDs for 100 bob: So you're got a scratched DVD that is really frustrating you and you are wondering whether to throw it away and yet you love it so much? I feel you, there's nothing quite as annoying as a skipping music CD or a DVD that randomly jumps seconds or minutes ahead. Though a DVD may look complicated and high-tech, it's really just a burning surface that's sandwiched between two pieces of polycarbonate plastic. The plastic is the portion of the DVD that is scratched, while the burning surface is usually unaffected (unless you have a really deep scratch which is very very rare and if this is the case you should throw away your DVD). It is so easy to repair this soft bit of plastic and I am going to do it for you for just 100 bob. I will send you the simple do-it-yourself instructions. Don't pay if it doesn't work. Just think about it, recovering ALL those scratched DVDs (this works 99% of the time!!). Tip: Never try and clean ur dvd using spirit and whatever you do, NEVER use circular cleaning motions on your DVD. Ref14/02
Seen something you want? PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW
See more 100 bob GIGS
500 BOB GIGS
Are you wondering what to do for your final project (IT)? For ideas on what project to undertake, come to me for just 500/= A good choice will give you higher grades and higher qualifications which will help tremendously in your job hunt. Duration it will take to do this: 4 days. Ref17/07
Do you know somebody who wants a website done? Send me their contacts. I will charge them only Kshs 5,000 complete with the domain. If they give me the business I will pay you Kshs 500. Ref17/08
Is your project (VB 6, VB.NET, C#) not running? Don't worry, I will help you debug it and remove all errors, whether logical or syntax errors. All that for just 500/=. You don't get to pay for the services until you are satisfied that your project is OK. Duration it will take to do this: 5 days. Ref17/09
Are you a student stuck with your project? Look no further, I offer consultancy services to help you get through with your project on time, just at 500/= You pay when you are happy. Duration it will take to do this: 5 days. Ref17/10
Seen something you want? PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW
See more 500 bob GIGS
You can create your own gigs and get people to do stuff for you for 100 bob ONLY!
Do it NOW. Procrastination is the thief of time.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Will help you recover cell phone that has fallen in water, or scratched DVD
Revive your wet seemingly "dead" cell phone: Dropped your cell phone in a bucket of water? Ot maybe in the loo? It is now soaked with water and appears dead? You are feeling so bad. Woiye!! Worry not. I repair cell phones for a living and I am pretty good at it. I can also tell you that I make most of my money from phones that have been dropped in water. But I am sure you don't know the fact that you can do your own simple repair right there at home without spending money on a new phone or bringing it to a fundi like me. I will send you the amazing and VERY simple do-it-yourself instructions to revive your dead phone. NO NEED TO OPEN YOUR PHONE WITH SCREW DRIVERS AND STUFF. Don't pay me if it doesn't work. But you need to act fast, the longer your phone stays off after being dropped in water (avoid all tempations to switch it on NOW to see if it works, In fact remove the battery and sim card) the harder it will be to repair. Just send for my hot tips to get your beloved phone back. Only 100 bob but I don't get paid until your phone works. Do it now!! Ref14/01
Recover all your scratched DVDs for 100 bob: So you're got a scratched DVD that is really frustrating you and you are wondering whether to throw it away and yet you love it so much? I feel you, there's nothing quite as annoying as a skipping music CD or a DVD that randomly jumps seconds or minutes ahead. Though a DVD may look complicated and high-tech, it's really just a burning surface that's sandwiched between two pieces of polycarbonate plastic. The plastic is the portion of the DVD that is scratched, while the burning surface is usually unaffected (unless you have a really deep scratch which is very very rare and if this is the case you should throw away your DVD). It is so easy to repair this soft bit of plastic and I am going to do it for you for just 100 bob. I will send you the simple do-it-yourself instructions. Don't pay if it doesn't work. Just think about it, recovering ALL those scratched DVDs (this works 99% of the time!!). Tip: Never try and clean ur dvd using spirit and whatever you do, NEVER use circular cleaning motions on your DVD. Ref14/02
Seen something you want? PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW
See other 100 bob gigs
See other 500 bob gigs
Need to earn some cash quickly? See pending work that people want done
The most exciting money-making opportunity in 2011
You probably have a good job now but want to start your very own business. And probably your biggest headache has been how to get the time to work on your new business while remaining in the financial safe haven that is your job.
Maybe you have even had a few bad experiences like the following;
- You start a business and go into the heavy expenses of paying for an office/stall and employing staff but at the end of the day they just draw the salary you pay them and lazily go about their work so that you don’t make any profit but are left with hefty bills to pay.
- Maybe you have paid people to accomplish certain tasks for you only to be disappointed as they claim their money for work that was not done to your satisfaction.
And there are numerous other scenarios. But have you ever stopped to analyze what the real problem was? Maybe not?
Well it is very simple. Running a business is so hard because you cannot be there to supervise the work (apparently even people you employ to supervise others need supervision).
Now there is a very simple magical solution. All you need to do is break down the work that needs to be done into smaller units and then subcontract them in the open market and they will get done for a mere Kshs 100 bob or Kshs 500. Amazing but it works. And what is more you will NOT lose any cash because the people working for you will NOT get paid until you are completely satisfied with the work they have done. And so that means you will never lose another cent to lazy workers. The solution is this Pata kwa soo site
If you have not gotten to this level and are still jobless there is a very easy way to start earning cash today. Advertise small odd jobs that you can do for people or take advantage of the pending jobs here that people want done and you will have cash in your pocket so fast that you won’t believe.
Let 2011 be the year you did something to change your situation. Start today and take action on this blog NOW
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
You can create your own gigs and get people to do stuff for you for 100 bob ONLY!
Do it NOW. Procrastination is the thief of time.
Here are the latest gigs posted of stuff that people want done;
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Need 1000 handbills dropped in offices and exhibitions along Moi Avenue, Nairobi. You need a license from the city council to distribute in the streets but not to deliver in offices and shops to the owners and those concerned. I will send you the flyers. You collect and distribute properly (you can be sure I will have somebody checking to see it was done right). Start from the Moi Primary School end of this huge street and just stop where the flyers run out. Give out only one per establishment, no matter how large. Willing to pay Kshs 200 for this Gig. Many others will follow for the honest person who can do this right. Ref12/14
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I need somebody to check that my 500 handbills were distributed properly along Moi avenue starting from Moi Primary school. Must be fast to check immeditaley after I receive sms that it is done. Will pay 100 bob for this simple easy gig. Many others will follow for the honest person who can do this right. Ref12/15
BRAND NEW GIG posted 13th Jan 2010 21:59
I need someone to collect business details for 10 businesses (at a time) and enter them at my site for Kshs. 100/- I need many many businesses posted and so if you are the right person I can keep you very busy. Ref12/16
SEE A GIG YOU CAN WORK ON HERE AND EARN CASH? Email NOW TO CLAIM THE JOB!!
See the latest 100 bob gigs (expensive services you can get at only 100 bob)
See the latest 500 bob gigs (Unbelievable!!)
100 bob only: Facebook profile pic edit, traffic for your site and hot selling ideas amongst others
I will design a high quality logo for your company/business for a hundred bob only. Duration it will take to do this: 2 days. Ref12/02
I will design a brochure that your business can use to sell more of whatever it is you sell for only 100 bob. Just send me brief details about what you do. Duration it will take to do this: 3 days. Ref12/03
I will call your friend and sing happy birthday to them for 100 bob. My voice is sexy and male but I can also get a female voice too. All for 100 bob. Duration it will take to do this: about a minute but will use my own airtime. Ref12/04
I will post a promotional article about your business that will appear in at least two high traffic Kenyan blogs namely Mashada and Kumekucha. Will get you loads of traffic. All for 100 bob only. Duration it will take to do this: 2 days. Ref12/05
I will write two high quality 300 word articles for your website (any topic) for 100 bob only. That’s about 50 bob per article. Duration it will take to do this: 3 days. Ref12/06
I will give you 3 brilliant ideas to help you sell whatever it is that you are selling. If the first 3 don’t work I will give you 3 more. All for 100 bob only. I am a seasoned marketing professional, have been for many years and have sold everything from cars to solar electricity computers etc. Just send me details on your business and the kind of selling that has given you the best results so far. I will do the rest. Duration it will take to do this: 3 days. Ref12/07
Seen something you want? PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW
500 bob:
I will create a web page for you that can be found using relevant popular keywords from Google and I will give you the keyword phrases and the kind of traffic they attract.. Duration it will take to do this: 2 days. Ref12/09
Unauthorized how to: Give me the name of your site/blog and I will give you all the secrets the Kumekucha blog uses to get such high traffic and tell you how you can apply the secrets specifically to your site. Duration it will take to do this: 2 days. Ref12/10
I will create a high traffic blog for you to promote your ideas/business. Just send me details of the kind of blog you want and your objectives and I will do the rest. I will send 1000 visitors to your website for 500 bob. I will use popular Kenyan blogs and relevant articles in article directories. Duration it will take to do this: 5 days. Ref12/11
I will create a web page for you that can be found using relevant popular keywords from Google and I will give you the keyword phrases and the kind of traffic they attract.. Duration it will take to do this: 2 days. Ref12/12
Unauthorized how to: Give me the name of your site/blog and I will give you all the secrets the Kumekucha blog uses to get such high traffic and tell you how you can apply the secrets specifically to your site. Duration it will take to do this: 7 days. Ref12/13.
Seen something you want? PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW
Get that service NOW for only 100 bob
- Send Kshs 100 or Kshs 500 (depending on which category the gig you want done for you is to be found. The most common one is for Kshs 100 BUT there are also others for Kshs 500) via Mpesa to 0727-217920 the PATA KWA SOO cell phone number.
- Write out your order in the comments area of this blog preferably under the place where you saw the gig (just scroll to the bottom of the post and click the place where it says "Comments" which appears just after the time of the post). Give details of the Mpesa number used to send your cash. Also include all your contact details including cell phone and email. Your order together with your ifdentity will remain confidential and the comment will never be published. At this time Mpesa is the ONLY mode of payment Pata Kwa soo accepts.
That's it!! You are done. Now all you have to do is wait...
- Every seller will give the time frame for which they must deliver in their ad in this blog. Monitor this time frame and contact us if you have not received your work on time. When this happens the order is automatically
cancelled.
Get your finished work!
You will have 48 hrs after work delivery to ask for adjustments/corrections from the seller.
48 hours after your work is done, we will release the cash payment to the seller's account.
We will be happy to hear your comment on the job and will include these comments in the seller's advertisement published in the blog.
How this works
* Gigs on Pata kwa soo are offered for a fixed price of Kshs 100. We also have a kshs 500 category. These are the only two available categories.
* There is absolutely no risk for the buyer because although you send your kshs 100
in advance the cash is only released to the seller after you have received the service/product
and are satisfied. Buying online has never been cheaper and safer!!!
* We keep the name of the buyer and seller secret. All communication takes place through Pata kwa soo
* All services and products offered MUST be legal.
How To Buy
- Find a gig you like and order it by sending Kshs 100 or Kshs 500 via Mpesa to 0727-217920 My number.
- Write out your order in the comments area of this blog preferably under the place where you saw the gig. Give details of the Mpesa number used to send your cash. Also include all your contact details including cell phone and email. At this time Mpesa is the ONLY mode of
payment Pata Kwa soo accepts.
- Every seller will have given the time frame for which they must deliver, in their ad in this blog. Monitor this time frame and contact us if you have not received your work on time. When this happens the order is automatically cancelled and you will get your cash back unless you are willing to try again with the same person or somebody else.
Get your finished work!
You will have 48 hrs after work delivery to ask for adjustments/corrections from the seller.
48 hours after your work is done, we will release the cash payment to the seller's account.
We will be happy to hear your comment on the job and will include these comments in the seller's advertisement published in the blog.
How To Sell
- Create a gig for a small service you are willing to offer at Kshs 100/- or Kshs 500. Send it in via email using the email address patakwasoo@gmail.com Write it our clearly. Include all your contact details and especially your Mpesa cell phone number where we will send you cash when the job is done.
Share your gig with the world
You will be notified via email or sms or both when your gig is ordered, and be asked to accept it
We will credit your Pata Kwa soo balance with Kshs 80 or Kshs 400, 48 hrs after you successfully deliver your work.
Withdraw your earnings to your Mpesa phone (according to the terms of service)
CELEBRATE!
Terms of service Pata kwa soo
* Services that are offered by sellers on Pata kwa soo are called "Gigs".
* Gigs on Pata kwa soo are offered for a fixed price of Kshs 100 or Kshs 500
* Buyers are granted all rights for the delivered work, unless otherwise specified by the seller in the gig description.
Sellers
* Each gig you sell and successfully deliver accredits your account with Kshs 80 or Kshs 400. The difference being the money that goes to Pata kwa soo for monitoring and keep track of things on behalf of both parties.
* Buyers pay Pata kwa soo for orders in advance.
* Pata kwa soo accredits sellers once an order is complete.
* The seller receives the cash for their work via Mpesa
* If an order is cancelled (for any reason), the seller's revenues are returned to the buyer.
* When a buyer orders a gig, the seller gets notified by Email or sms or both.
* Sellers are required to meet the delivery duration they specified when creating their gigs.
Failing to do so will mean that the order will be automatically cancelled.
* Both buyers and sellers have the option to cancel an order by mutual agreement.
* Only the buyer has the power to re-instate an order (by plaving a fresh order to the same seller) that has been cancelled for lateness in delivery.
Buyers
* Gigs may be purchased by sending Mpesa cash
* Once payment is confirmed, your order will be created.
* If you have a positive balance of Kshs 80 or more, it will be used automatically when ordering new gigs.
* As a buyer, your identity is kept anonymous at all times. To protect your privacy, avoid requesting or providing Email addresses, Skype/IM usernames or any other personal contact information.
* You may not offer or pay using any method of payment other than Pata kwa soo's.
* You may not pay other users directly using Mpesa. In case you have been asked to use an alternative payment method, please report it to us immediately.
Withdrawing revenues
# Withdrawing revenues requires having a valid Mpesa phone number. Please make sure that your Mpesa phone and number can receive incoming payments.
# Revenues are only made available for withdrawal after a safety clearance period of 14 days.
# All Mpesa rules will be followed. Remember to take into consideration the minor Mpesa transaction fees which will be deducted from your earnings. It is therefore prudent to accumulate funds before asking for a withdrawal.
Email your Gig NOW!! and make cash. If this link doesn't work email patakwasoo at gmail dot com.