Category: BUSINESS TIPS

Business tips

  • Full Review of Digital Lending Apps in Kenya

    Today I will be reviewing 4 Digital lending apps or loan Apps that I have used. Most of the apps I will be mentioning here operate in the Kenyan marketplace.

    Disclaimer: I am writing this article based on my experiences with loan apps. None of the information shared here is sponsored by any of the apps mentioned here . So, this article is solely to educate and inform the public . Use your own judgment when deciding on which loan app to download and borrow from.

    How People Finds Themselves Taking Loans from Mobile Apps

    People have different stories on how they got to know about loan apps. Many are like me; they were in a financial distress, and they were looking for a quick fix after all their friends failed to help. They then decided to search for answers on Google. Google then redirected them to GooglePlay store where they found the solution.

    But at what price does this solution come with?

    Since loan apps have been in existence long enough, nearly all tech savy people have an idea of how they work. Some apps have evolved to suite current customers needs while others; well, are yet to be hit by the reality.

    One crucial thing that many people forget to look at when they are in financial distress is the details they give out in exchange for a loan.

    That’s why I am here to take you through some things I have learnt after using digital loan apps.

    Popular Keywords Used On Playstore

    Loan Apps, digital lenders, instant loan, Quick loan. Searching using one of these keywords will display several loan applications. With more than 50 Apps showing up, that’s a lot of Credit at Hand if you think about it.

    How you make you choices from here matters.

    How much time do you have with you to decide on the app to take loan with? In my opinion, don’t rush. Take your time. Spend a day at least to look through these apps.

    In this review, I will focus on the App UI design, Customer Data Collected, Profile Review time, Loan Processing Duration, Repay Time Frame, Fees and Customer Service.

    Tala Loan App

    Tala loan app has been there since the year 2011. I first learnt about the app in the year 2014 from billboards but had never used it to borrow a loan. Two months ago, I was propelled to try it out after the long electioneering period. So here are my thoughts so far after using the app.

    Tala Loan App

    App UI– App UI looks good and polished. What you see displayed as screenshots from the app on PlayStore is how the app looks like after signing up.

    Loan Application Process– This is where I felt a bit uneasy. More personal and business related data is required for eligibility. Also, the lender is interested to know how much money you make in a month and the frequency in which you receive the payment.

    They also want to have your National ID number. This is a lot of private data if you think about it. So you have a choice to tell the truth or lie.

    Another downside about the information you provide is; once you share the data, you are not able to access them again on the app via your profile.

    Loan Application Time and Interest Rates – When making my first loan application it took less than 5 minutes for it to be approved. I was given a starting loan limit of Ksh.3,000 which on request, I received instantly on my Mpesa. So in terms of application review and loan approval, they are excellent. Their interest rate is at 0.3-0.6 % daily which is not bad compared to others when it comes to transparency.

    Customer Service And Credit Collection– In terms of customer service, they are also above average. I was called once by their customer representatives reminding me to pay the loan on time so that my limit would increase. Other than that, I regularly received well drafted SMS reminders.

    Repayment Deadlines – While I borrowed the loan for 30 days, I had up to 60 days to repay back. No penalty was imposed on the loan I borrowed.

    Overall, this is a good app for anyone to borrow short term loans so long as they repay back on time.

    Branch App

    Branch was launched around 2015. Unlike other mobile lending apps, branch does more than offering loan to users. Users can save, pay bills and manage their finances on the go.

    App UI Design– Branch has excellent app UI design. What you see on playStore is what you get when you sign up.

    Branch App

    Loan Application Process – The process of applying for a loan is simple once you sign up with your phone number. You cannot apply for any loan unless you grant the app permissions to see installed apps on your phone, contacts, SMS and location. This is normal for most loan apps to secure your account once you login.

    When applying for your first loan, you are required to confirm how much you earn in a month. Also, you need to take a selfie and upload it as part of the evaluation process.

    Loan Application time and Interest rates – From the time I downloaded the app to the time I received the first loan, it took me 20 minutes. This is quite fast for a loan of Ksh.3400 considering I don’t have history with them. Their interest rate for 61 days is 35%. That’s about 17.5% per month. This is high compared to Mshwari loan whose charge is 8.5%. So the interest is on the downside.

    Additionally, Branch charges transactional fees to withdraw the money from the app to Mpesa.

    Customer Service and Credit Collection – Compared to Tala, branch credit collectors are a bit aggressive. They will call you once your first installment is due. They claim to use this to calculate the amount of credit you will receive next. Also they will encourage you to repay on time to qualify for a higher loan limit. In a month they called me and sent me 3 messages which was detected as spam on my phone.

    Repayment deadline – You have to choose a period starting from 30 days. If you choose 60 days, they will request that you repay them back in two installments of 50/50 after every 30 days. They insist on this, something, which doesn’t go well when you haven’t gotten the funds to repay.

    Overall, this is not a bad app for borrowing emergency loan going by the fact that they will charge you 17.5% interest on initial loans.

    Truepesa

    TruePesa promises to give people instant loans. That is true, but not that fast. You have to first have the app on your phone for 2 weeks before they give you the first loan. Secondly, the loan duration they promise in the description area on Playstore is not practical. I will be getting to that in a minute.

    Truepesa App

    App UI Design – The app UI Design is clean. One thing you will quickly note with this app is, the UI design resemble the many loan apps on Playstore where once you install, there is a slider on the launch screen with a question; How much loan do you want? For Truepesa, the slider starts at Ksh.80,000. This is mouth watering to one in dire financial need.

    So if you choose that you want Ksh. 80,000, will you get that amount? Let’s find out.

    Loan Application process – You are required to sign up with your phone number and create a secret pin. Before your do this, the app requests for permissions on your phone which includes SMS, contact list, installed apps, external storage and phone location.

    I feel this is too much considering you are taking your first credit. After you agree, it’s followed by the privacy policy. It’s important to read and understand what you are agreeing to.

    Once you agree you will be signed up. This is where the show begins.

    Loan Application Time and Interest Rates – When you sign up, they ask you few questions when applying the loan like what you do and your national ID number. After you complete the application, you will not get the loan. They want you to remain with the app installed on your phone for 2 weeks and they will be able to give you a loan.

    Imagine remaining with an app on your phone that you have granted many permissions. Very risky.

    On the other hand, if you were looking for an instant loan, this will be a big disappointment.

    I uninstalled and installed the app 2 weeks later and I still had to wait for 2 days with the app installed on my phone for them to set a loan limit.

    They have a weird credit disbursement process. For instance, if you request a loan of Ksh. 2,500, you will receive Ksh. 1,800. They will deduct their interest rates of 24% a week and send you the balance. This is 3 times what Mshwari charges their customers for 30 days.

    Moreover, their loan period is 8 days and not 61 days they promise on Playstore.

    Customer Service and Credit Collection – This guys will not contact you until the 7th day -a day to loan expiry. That’s when you will receive several scary messages like the one below.

    Screenshot of an SMS from a Truepesa Loan app credit collector

    3 days later, I had over 40 similar messages on SMS and WhatsApp. This to me is very unprofessional. That’s aside calling me more than 3 times a day using different numbers to ask me to repay their loan. Not everyone falls in this category to be intimidated. Am sure this app will only attract crooked customers who tolerates such communication manners.

    Repayment deadline – They do opposite of what they promise on Googleplay. They tell you their loan tenure is 90-365 days with APR of 14-33%. You will be in for a shock when you sign up and wait for 2 weeks. That’s the rates they will charge you in 7 days. That’s a breach of contract. Not forgetting the amount of private information they have collected from you.

    Overall, this is an app I wouldn’t recommend to anyone who is looking for a quick loan. That’s unless you are ready to be embarrassed and overcharged.

    Zenka

    I first learnt about Zenka loan app at the height of Covid-19 in the year 2020 . There was a video campaign on most social medias advertising the app.

    They promise to give you loan for a period of 61 days to 1 year.

    App UI Design – The app UI is clean and sleek. They use unique fonts in their app as well. The screenshots you see on Playstore is exactly how the app looks like when you download and sign up.

    Loan Application process – The process of applying for a loan with Zenka is easy. You only sign up and share your national ID number and phone. Next, you fill in a questionnaire before you are allocated a loan limit, a process which takes 5 minutes.

    Loan Application Time and Interest Rates – From downloading the app all through to loan approval and depositing to my Mpesa took me around 15 minutes.

    I was allocated a loan limit of Ksh.3,000 on the first loan I applied with zero interest rate for 61 days.

    This is an offer that none of the lenders on Googleplay does. Am yet to see the practicality of their APR interest they promise of 170-224%.

    Customer Service and Credit Collection– Since I I took the loan, I have received only one marketing message from them. Compared to others, this is one of the peaceful loan I have taken from an app.

    Who knows, maybe I will begin to see their true colours once the loan deadlines approaches.

    Repayment Deadline – The deadline to repay the loan is from 61 days to 1 year. This a good time for anyone to look for money and repay the loan.

    Overall, Zenka is good app that you can take loan from owing to the time period you are given to repay back. Also, the peace of mind one get while using the app is worth.

    And thats it on Loan apps.

    Conclusion

    Loan apps are here with us to stay. It’s up to you as a user to practice discipline when borrowing. Sadly, once you take a loan, you can only run away from it but you cannot hide.

    On the other hand, digital lenders have many loopholes they need to seal.

    With more negative reviews and flagging of the loan apps on googleplay, their services will risk suspension and the people who had borrowed money from them will be left celebrating they luck.

    Also, Central Bank of Kenya and Office of the Data Protection Commission is on their case in a bid to regulate them.

    Every digital lender therefore need to listen to the customer feedback and do as the customer request. Customer is the king here. For them to buy from you, respect and dignity has to be upheld.

    As I close, if you need help with video production services, you can request a quote on www.techtubestudio.com.

    Until next time bye bye and take care.

  • Digital Lenders Under Scrutiny By Central Bank of Kenya and Office of The Data Protection Commission Over Malpractices

    A lot has been going on lately around digital lending apps or loan apps as many call it in Kenya. In a move to regulate this sector, Central Bank of Kenya(CBK) have listed requirements they need digital lenders to provide in order to be licensed.

    Players in the digital lending business had until September 2022 to submit these requirements for approval.

    By mid September 2022, Central bank of Kenya had approved only 10 digital lenders out of 288 applications they received. They said the process is ongoing and will update the public once more lenders are approved.

    List of Approved Digital Lenders in Kenya

    1. Ceres Tech Limited
    2. Getcash Capital Limited
    3. Giando Africa Limited (Trading as Flash Credit Africa)
    4. Jijenge Credit Limited
    5. Kweli Smart Solutions Limited
    6. Mwanzo Credit Limited
    7. MyWagepay Limited
    8. Rewot Ciro Limited
    9. Sevi Innovation Limited
    10. Sokohela Limited

    You can find full details of these digital lenders including their contacts and location here.

    While the process of regulation by Central Bank is ongoing, the Office of the Data Protection Commission (ODPC) in a notice dated 5th October 2022 said they are auditing 40 digital lenders whose practices regarding the processing of personal data has been raised to the data commission as complaints by various members of the public.

    Public Notice from the ODP

    It’s important to note here that Data Protection (Complaints Handling and Enforcement Procedures) regulations 2021 took effect on February 2022.

    With new regulations in progress, digital lenders still have a long way to go.

    On the other hand, opportunities in the digital lending space is still huge.

    Overview of Digital Lending Services in Kenya

    So, will the regulation by Central Bank of Kenya and ODPC help protect customers from Exploitation? Yes, definitely.

    To be honest, there is a lot of unethical business practices by mobile app lenders. This going by the ratings and reviews left by customers on the google play store on each of the listed apps.

    The most popular unethical practice by loan apps is them calling customers several times a day and sending them many threatening messages even before the loan deadline is due.

    This takes me to the big question which is, why did it take CBK so long for them to move and regulate the digital lenders?

    Were they speculating first on how they operate then proceed to regulate them in order to protect the public from exploitation?

    Well, this might be true. But let’s wait and see actions that will be taken against unscrupulous operators in this market space.

    What Central Bank Want Digital Lenders To Do

    While announcing their move to regulate digital lenders serving customers in the Kenyan Market, Central Bank of Kenya listed a number of key things they need digital lenders to adhere to when issuing credit/loan. This was gazetted in a special issue of Kenya Gazette supplementary No.45. Among these key things are;

    1. Provision of credit – A digital credit provider may set borrower limits in its credit policy and the limits shall comply with any requirements prescribed by the Central Bank.
    2. Credit Collection -A digital credit provider, it’s officers, employees or agents shall not in the course of debt collection engage in any of the following conduct against the customer or any other person:—
      • Use of threat, or violence or other criminal means to physically harm the person, or his reputation or property;
      • Use of obscene or profane language;
      • Make unauthorized or unsolicited calls or messages to a customer’s contacts;
      • Improper or unconscionable debt collection tactic, method or conduct.
      • Any other conduct whose consequence is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt.

    Take time to real all the regulations here.

    Do you think regulations by central bank will help protect Kenyans from preying digital lenders? Let me know in the comments section below.

    And if you need professional video production services, you can request a free quote here.

    Until next time, bye bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • 5 Self Development Books For Entrepreneurs And Freelancers

    Self development has today become part and parcel of every entrepreneurs and freelancers life. If you an entrepreneur and you are not investing your time on self development, then you are missing out on one of the most important ingredient to growth.

    As an entrepreneur or a freelancer, you need to always stay positive as you build your business lest you fail. Among the many tools of self development is books. How much do you invest in self development knowledge today?

    Video – 5 Self Development Books For Entrepreneurs And Freelancers

    It’s important to mention here that not every self development book ticks with everyone. In my journey as a freelancer and entrepreneur, I have drawn many lessons from books, audio books and videos.

    Here are are 5 self development books that I recommend for entrepreneurs.

    #1 The Richest Man in Babylon -By George Samuel Clason

    This is one of the best classics when it comes to finances and building wealth. The book was published in the year 1926. The author uses parables set 4,000 years ago to pass his message on financial management.

    The Richest Man in Babylon

    The parables are told by a fictional Babylonian character called Arkad; a poor scribe who became the richest man in Babylon.

    My take away from the book

    Before your spend your earnings from business or salary, put aside part of it. It should be not be less than a tenth no matter how little you earn. It can be as much more as you can afford. The point is, pay yourself first. The author goes on to emphasize this point under 5 Laws of Gold and I quote;

    Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earnings to create an estate for his future and that of his family.

    The Richest Man in Babylon.

    #2 The 80/20 Principle – By Richard Koch

    The 80/20 principle is one of the great secrets of highly effective people and organizations.

    80/20 Principle

    80/20 principle asserts that a minority of causes, inputs or effort usually lead to a minority of the results, outputs, or rewards. Taken literally, this means, 80 percent of what your achieve in your job comes from 20 percent of the time spent.

    The 80/20 principle can and should be used by every intelligent person in their daily live by every organization and by every social grouping and form of society.

    This book is very helpful if you are fond of multitasking or overworking. After reading this book, you will be able to narrow down to only those things that brings you value.

    #3 Winning Through Intimidation -By Robert Ringer

    Winning Through Intimidation is one of the best books ever written By Robert Ringer on being intimidated while doing business by prospective clients. At the end, you learn how to handle intimidation and finally come out as a winner.

    Winning through Intimidation

    My biggest take away from the book on being intimidated ;

    The theory of NEXT states: The key to maintaining a positive mental attitude is to recognize that no one deal is important. The person with a true positive mental attitude possesses the power to say ‘NEXT!’ and quickly move on to the next deal when things don’t work out.

    Robert Ringer

    The author writes; The reason its okay if a deal falls through is because day-to-day ‘failure’ is an integral part of a long-term success. So part and parcel of to a true positive mental attitude is to quickly move to the next deal when the deal you’ve been working on blows up.

    #4 Cashflow Quadrant – By Robert Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter

    Rich Dad’s CASHFLOW Quadrant is the second book in the Rich Dad Series and reveals how some people work less, earn more, pay less in taxes, and learn to become financially free.

    CashFlow Quadrant By Robert Kiyosaki

    No matter what you do in life, its very important to know where you fall in the cashflow quadrant. It represents four different methods in which income or money is generated.

    These are Employee, self-employed, business owner and investor. For example, an employee earns money by holding onto a job.

    The concept behind cashflow quadrant is, different methods of income generation require different frames of mind, different technical skills, different educational paths, and different types of people. Different people are attracted to different quadrants.

    #5 The Game of Life and How to Play -By Florence Scovel Shinn

    First published in 1925, this book has inspired thousands of people around the world to find a sense of purpose and belonging. It asserts that life is not a battle but a game of giving and receiving, and that whatever we send out into the world will eventually be returned to us.

    The Game of Life and How to Play It

    Most people consider life a battle, but its not a battle, it is a game.

    It is a game however which cannot be played successfully without the knowledge of the spiritual law, and Old and New Testaments in the Bible gives the rules of the game with wonderful clearness. Jesus thought that it was a great game of giving and receiving.

     And that is it from me.

    Is there a book you have read that inspired you and you will like to share here?

    Let me know in the comments section below.

    If you need help to create and produce professional scripted video content, let me know here. You will get a response within 24 hours.

    Until next time, bye bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • 5 Short Term Contract Offers In Technical Video Production

    If you are hired as a producer or your business is contracted to offer Technical video production services, you can create several short term contracts to other freelancers in the creative industry.

    For instance, if the contract is to plan and produce a webinar or a live stream, a lot may be required from a Technical Video Producer or The Project Manager. This means that you will not be working alone. You will need a team of other technical professionals to work with you like a director, sound engineer e.t.c.

    Video – Short Term Contracts You Can Create As A Video Producer

    Here are some of the professionals you will need in your team to provide technical video services.

    #1 Audio Engineer

    black and white audio mixer
    Photo by Jadson Thomas on Pexels.com

    Sound is a critical component in an online production especially live events. If the sound is not audible, then the event/webinar will not be in anyway effective. While in most occasions sound issues may be arising from the participants computer or gadget, the worst case will be the participants not hearing the speakers voice at all.

    That’s why sound engineer plays a big role here.

    #2 Director

    The Director monitors the speakers/participants during a livestream and switches between different screens as each one of them speaks. The responsibility of the director will vary based on the kind of livestream being broadcasted live. For instance, if it’s an live event and there are 3 cameras, the director will be the one calling shorts as needed from the camera persons.

    It’s important to have many directors for big events.

    #3 Live Support

    During a live event, or premiere, there is a need for someone to provide real time feedback to questions or concerns being raised by participants. Among these could be problems with sound, or video e.t.c.

    Also, live support is needed for events that are translated to other languages based on those attending.

    #4 Video Producer/Editor

    A video producers or editor in this context task is to record the livestream and save it offline. The recorded stream can later be edited and shared on various platforms in bits.

    The video producer also oversees the overall production and guides the director on other post-production needs. The producer is involved with the management of the project at hand.

    #5 Script Writing

    In rare occasions, scripting is needed. Most of the content in the videos that are streamed online are prepared by the presenter. This means that the have all the information, the only thing they need is technical services.

    You many need other guys to help depending on the how big the event will be and the budget your client is offering.

    Conclusion

    Technical video production is a broad subject in the online sphere. It is therefore important to have knowledge and understanding on how to carry out the assignment.

    And that is it.

    I hope you found this blogpost helpful, scroll down and share your feedback. I will be happy to read.

    And if you are looking for Technical Video Production Services, you can request a quote on our studio here. We will get right back to you as soon as we can.

    Until next time, bye bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • 5 Important Things That Clients Look At In A Video Production Consultancy Proposal

    The requirements needed in order to submit a video production consultancy proposal varies. Some requests for Proposals (RFP) are simple and straight forward while others are detailed and a bit complicated.
    Irrespective of the demands that the client is requiring; one thing remains clear, the client wants a video in a certain format delivered to them. E.g Documentary.

    Video – 5 Important Things That Clients Look At In A Video Production Consultancy Proposal

    Always have the ‘end product‘ in your mind. Irrespective of the qualifications the client is demanding, ask yourself;

    • Can I deliver what the client is requesting?
    • Do you have access to the tools needed or knowledge to do the work?
    • Can your experience replace the academic qualification you don’t have?

    With this in mind, what carries weight in a video production consultancy proposal, is your experience. On this blogpost, I will share with you 5 things to focus on in your proposal in order to stand out.

    Understanding TOR

    First, the client is interested in knowing your understanding of their Terms Of Reference. Terms of reference in this case is a description of what the client is looking for. e.g A 15 Minutes documentary. This must be demonstrated in your cover letter. Take time to summarize this in one paragraph.

    selective focus photo of terms and conditions written on a paper
    Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

    After telling your client that you understand the assignment, explain your approach to solving your clients problem which is providing video production services.

    Read and re-read the Terms Of Reference while preparing your proposal to ensure you don’t miss a thing. If you find something that is not clear, request for clarification via e-mail. Its easy to prepare a proposal when you understand what client is looking for from you.

    Your Resume/Company Profile

    Your individual, business or company resume is what follows next after the cover letter. The ‘work experience‘ section of your resume is what the client will focus on.

    Does your work experience match with the type of video production skills the client is looking for? If it does, then you will be the lucky person to be invited to the next phase of this process which is the interview.

    When writing your resume or curriculum vitae, put as much detail as you can about your work experience so that you can stand a chance for the position the client is calling for.

    Also, ensure that the reference persons you have listed in your resume is up to to date.

    Links to Samples of Your Work

    wood flight fashion vacation
    Photo by Amar Preciado on Pexels.com

    In the creative industry, samples of your past projects have a lot of weight. After the client is done looking at your paper work, they will now proceed and look at links to works you have successfully completed in the past. It can be linked to your work experience. e.g Link to a documentary you produced for a client.

    Always keep record of every job you complete for your clients. In this case, if its photography, videography or graphics designs; have them saved somewhere in the cloud where you can easily share when requested.

    Note: It’s always good practice to seek consent from your client to use the content you produced for them in your website as part of your portfolio. Many clients are more willing to give you consent especially when you are sharing a link originating from them as it benefits both of you.

    Preliminary Plan and Timelines

    In many occasions, the client gives their expected start date and end date for the project in their Terms of Reference. Based on this, you are therefore required to propose your plan and timeline for the project as you foresee.

    Use details like the locations the client has indicated for filming and the subject of the shoot, stages of production you will be involved in(preproduction, production and post production) and review and revisions stage.

    Some companies indicate dates in which the contract will start and end while others don’t. Make sure the duration you have proposed does not exceed their time in days unless you have a valid reason.

    Financial Proposal

    You can only provide an accurate quote when you have a plan and set timelines in place. The plan and time will guide you to prepare your quotation.

    For instance, if you are expected to travel to 10 locations, you can evaluate the distance and allocate time as needed. Use the time to come up with the cost based on your daily or hourly rates.

    After all is said and done, Financial Proposal is what will determine who gets the contract. It’s important to mention that organizations vary. Some are operating under a budget while others don’t.

    Don’t underquote because you really want the work. Quote what you are worth because you have the skills and experience to complete the job.

    And that is it.

    Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments section below.

    And if you need Videography and Photography services, request a quote for free on Techtube Video Studio by clicking here.

    And until next time, bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • 6 Types of Content To Market A Business Online Today

    Search engines like Google and Bing rank business online based on several factors. Biggest among them is content. If you are able to share your message in different content formats, then you rank higher.

    So, what type of content do you need in order to achieve high ranking?

    Well, it depends on the ‘keyword density‘ in the content you share as that is what search engines use to rank business websites.

    On this blogpost, I will share with you, 6 types of content that you need to consider when planning to market your business online for a long term.

    #1 Themed Blogposts

    macbook air flower bouquet and magazines on white table
    Photo by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels.com

    Themed blogposts is among the biggest contributor to high rankings on search through keywords. To get started, buy a domain name and start a blog. The best platform to run a blog is WordPress owing to its popularity. Your journey will begin once you publish your first blogpost. With your own blog, you have the freedom to write articles in a style that you want.

    What I have learnt from experience blogging is; writing consistently and sticking to one theme will compound in time in terms of “keywords‘ and give you the best results you are looking for. Repeatedly writing content using the keywords around your business will contribute to high keyword density hence high ranking on the search engines.

    Note: You don’t have to setup a separate blog aside your business website. You can have a blog page on your business website where you share informative content with your audience around your business.

    Photos

    Photos play a big role in content ecosystem. It can be used in graphic designs for flyers, digital cards or on your blogposts as featured image. Also, if you are sharing your content on social media, you can use photos to make it trustworthy.

    Videos

    Not everyone is a good reader. Some people prefer to watch videos. That is why its important to consider creating videos to complement your blogposts and post them on YouTube or any other social media platform. It is not a must that you write blogposts, but I recommend you do if you are serious about growing your business.

    Videos will generate results if your story is well grafted. You build trust with customers through videos as they will be able to see your face and know the owner of the business they are interested in.

    Graphics Designs

    neon signage
    Photo by Ivan Bertolazzi on Pexels.com

    You will need different graphics designs for marketing your business on social media. The graphic designs can be in form of posters or images with text in it. You only come up with different designs that suit your current needs.

    Among the common graphics you will need in this process include;

    • Blog featured image
    • Social media poster
    • Digital flyers
    • YouTube video thumbnail and more.

    Podcast Content

    Having podcasts as part of your marketing content will help popularize your business. Though it is not common, it contributes largely in boosting your search online.

    For instance if you are hosting a video interview with someone online for sharing as video content, you can repurpose the same to podcast. The only thing you will need to change is the intro to suite podcasts standards.

    If you have time and budget, consider creating podcasts around your business.

    Sales letters

    People use sales letters subconsciously every day. Lets start with your business website landing page. It’s a sales copy. Every e-mail that you send to prospects has the power to either build and bring down your business. That qualifies it to be called a sales letter. Before you write one, ask yourself, what story/narrative style will turn a prospect to a customer?

    A well grafted e-mail copy with a call to action at the end should be your aim. Use case studies, stories, testimonials e.t.c. Take your time to write and have the customer in mind.

    When writing a sales letter leverage on other business content like a blogpost on a case study, a video, audio, graphics e.t.c. to drive the message home.

    And these are the 6 type of content you need to start considering to market your business online.

    Conclusion

    There is no right time to start marketing your business online. The right time is now. Start where you are and build your resilience from there. Before sharing anything, brainstorm first. If you like writing, you can start sharing your content by signing up for WordPress free blog or any other blogging platform that has the free offer for starters.

    If video blogging is the easy way for you, you can start by recording it on your phone and sharing it on social media.

    You are the only best marketer of your business. No one does it better than you.

    If you need help to develop content for your business from blogging, photography, video creation, graphics designs, podcasts and sales letters, do not hesitate to reach out to me here. I can help you.

    And for those people looking for help to produce video specific content, do not hesitate to request a quote on www.techtubestudio.com.

    And until next time, bye bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • Examples of Technical Video Production Services You Can Provide Online

    There is a growing demand for technical video production services online. Both small and big organizations are now seeing the value of Technical Video Production Services and are seeking services of experienced contractors. This is a sign of hope to many freelancers in the gig economy who can plug in to these opportunities.

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    Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

    So what does technical video production entail? Well, it’s a broad subject. In a layman’s language, it’s more of the provision of ‘technical‘ services and production of ‘tech‘ related videos.

    Before I go further on this blogpost, I will like you to keep in mind that the kind of technical video production services I will be discussing here is online based.

    #1 Providing Technical Video Services

    Small and big organizations with many employees today carry out most of their trainings online in order to save on costs. On the other hand, event organizers are now exploring the option of ‘paid livestreams’ to the events they organize.

    Technical Video Services

    In order to achieve the best results in these trainings and live events or perhaps in premiering pre-recorded webinars; proper planning is needed to ensure everything goes on well as planned.

    This is where the services of a contractor or persons well versed with live video streaming technology is needed.

    #2 Offering Overall Design And Look Services

    For an event/training to look professional and be effective, it’s overall look and design has to stand out. As a service provider, you are required to consult and provide designs for the overall look of the event.

    Here you will be working closely with a professional graphic designer and the client team. In this case, skills of an interior designer may be needed if the event is being live streamed.

    #3 Production Of Tech Related Videos

    Owing to competition in the online market place and the requirement for software developers to be certified by authorities, it’s recommended for any software or hardware tech product to have a written instructional manual on how to use it. Having such instructions is good for marketing purposes. Here are some of the services you can provide as a Tech video producer.

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    Photo by Athena on Pexels.com

    #3.1 Instructional Video Production

    You can find work in a software development company to produce Instructional Videos or How to Screencast Videos. You job will be to translate written instructional manual into videos with the help of a voice over narration.

    This can be done using existing written instructional manuals or software documentations. Depending on the complexity of the product, some may need that you rewrite the scripts using simple language and produce the videos in 2D or 3D modelled designs.

    Additionally, instructional video production may require you to seek services of a script writer, voice over artist and a screencast video editor.

    #3.2 Tech Products/Website Video Reviews

    This is basically reviewing different tech products like phone, computers, laptops, USB’s, earphones e.t.c. In this, you review a product and share your view on what you think of the product after using it. Mostly, companies use this for marketing purposes as well as research and development.

    On the other hand, you may be asked to review web services like web hosting, VPN‘s and more.

    This are just few among the many opportunities that the online marketplace presents.

    Conclusion

    There is growing demand for Technical video production services online. It’s therefore up to you as a freelancer or an entrepreneur to spot and pursue them. I suggest that you build a nice portfolio that you can showcase to your potential clients online. Having a website that people can visit and see your work will be great.

    With this said, I will like to urge you to press on and be on the lookout for these opportunities.

    I hope you found this blogpost helpful, scroll down and share your feedback. I will be happy to read.

    And if you are looking for Technical Video Production Services, you can request a quote on our studio here. We will get right back to you as soon as we can.

    Until next time, bye bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • 4 Ways To Identify a Good Online Business Idea with Traction

    While most people already know the kind of business they want to run online, many entrepreneurs don’t know which lucrative market niche to venture into. There are many ways to decide on this. Here are some ideas on how you can find a niche online.

    Build An Authority Via Social Media

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    Most of the successful personal brands online was built on social media and blogging. First, they chose a niche around what they loved. They then built a following by sharing relatable content with their followers on the niche.

    This meant that whoever followed them on social media and blog loved what they shared. And due to overwhelming support, they proceeded to sell their products and services to their followers. Most of them get opportunities to endorse brands from what they do.

    It doesn’t stop here, one has to use this opportunity to up their game and build a legitimate business.

    4 Ways To Identify A Good Online Business Idea Without Chasing Clout

    Offering Freelancing Services

    While I started my business online way earlier before I joined the freelancing platforms, what inspired me to take my business online is the online freelancing platforms. I offered my services as a freelance video producer. My experience thought me that there was a demand for screencast video production services.

    If I had not offered my services as a freelancer, I could not have learnt how to niche down.

    Experimenting With Your Passion

    What do you love doing? Can you do it even without getting any pay? For any idea to become a business, it has to be adding value and impacting people positively. E.g writing about farming, drinking or creating videos about you cooking, doing exercise every morning e.t.c.

    Start a free blog on WordPress or blogger and share your lessons. Alternatively, you can share it with your followers on social media and get feedback.

    With the feedback, you will be motivated to build a business around your idea.

    Taking An Existing Business Online

    In Kenya, many of the big successful businesses are offline. This is because it was founded and built that way. They are directly in contact with their customers. They employ the traditional networks in operating their business.

    Having a successful business offline is good. It’s sustainable so long as one offers good customers service. With this said, there is more advantage to being in both offline and online marketplace. People across Kenya and across the world can find your business and buy from you.

    student cheating during an exam

    The only way to join the online marketplace, is by setting up your business online presence. Do you have an offline business with products that can be sold online and shipped? Think about it and take advantage of the online marketplace opportunity.

    Once you have you have your idea ready, you can now start your online business.

    Read more on How to Start An Online Business In Kenya

    And if you need professional video production services, you can request a quote here.

    And until next time, bye bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • How to Update Your NHIF Outpatient Hospital Online

    Video Tutorial: How to Update NHIF Outpatient Hospital

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • 3 Ways To Edit Video Using Camtasia 2022 Editor

    In this video, I will show you 3 ways to edit video and remove unwanted parts using Camtasia 2022 video editor.

    Video: 3 Ways To Edit And Remove Unwanted Parts of a Video Using Camtasia Studio 2022

    Camtasia Studio 2022 FREE download Link

    Camtasia Studio 2022 FREE download Link

    For professional video production services, request a quote for free here.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.