You have a killer product, yes. That’s undeniable, if you say so. However, it’s unlikely that it’s going to go out there and spread the word by itself. Indeed, if you want your brainchild to be a success and to make that big market breakthrough, you’ll have to do the legwork and put your marketing skills to use for all its worth. If you market well and do it right, which you undoubtedly will, your product will be well on the way to becoming the next big thing.

Reach the Right People

While you were developing your product, whatever it is, you were probably already thinking of the people you want to reach. These people are your target market and they should be your primary focus.

You have to find a way to communicate with your target market and show them what you’ve got. Make public demonstrations of your product where you can be seen by your target market. For example, you’re targeting yuppies or young professionals. Visit corporate offices and malls where these people frequent. Take out your leather business card holders and start giving away your information so they can contact you for orders.

You can also start a leaflet campaign, detailing the wonders of your product. Include the business cards from your leather business card holders so they’ll know exactly how to reach you. You can even hand out samples to your target market. Of course, don’t forget to take out your business cards from your leather business card holders and give them away. When you have suitably impressed a fraction of your target market with your samples, they’re likely to spread the word and give out the business cards straight from your leather business card holders to their peers, as well.

Accentuate the Right Function

Of course, your product has merits and can revolutionize certain aspects of life. After all, you won’t try to sell a completely useless product, won’t you?

When marketing, focus on your product’s usefulness and contribution to society. If you developed a particular kind of handbag that’s small on the outside and twice its size on the inside, stress its functionality and style. If you invented a spray that miraculously disintegrates animal waste, emphasize its contribution to the environment. If you created a large beach towel that can be folded into a mere handkerchief, highlight its convenience.

It’s important that you must understand what all consumers need and want. Function, style, convenience, affordability, and environmental contribution are what the market consistently wants. If your product has nailed one of these factors or more, don’t hesitate to take out those leather business card holders and spread the word of your great invention.

Indeed, if you think your product is as good as you think it is, by all means, share it. It will take a lot of hard work and dedication on your part, not to mention a lot of nerve, to take your product out there and get recognized. However, when the potential rewards are great, isn’t a little marketing savvy a small price to pay?

By: Bradlley Mckoy

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However, infrastructure deficits, a lamentable security situation and inclement policies have combined to deter overseas companies from venturing into Africa’s second largest economy. The installation of a democratically elected government in 1999 paved the way for radical reforms calculated to reverse this trend and boost both domestic and international investment in the country. For the business savvy though, Nigeria is a country teeming with business opportunity and potential.

According to TradeInvest Nigeria, a non-government agency that provides access to business opportunities in the country, the extent of its trade potential is unparalleled in the entire African continent. Lucrative investment opportunities exist across multiple sectors, including healthcare, tourism and leisure, agricultural and agro-processing, banking and infrastructure. The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Decree of 1995 allows foreign companies unrestricted ownership of businesses except in the petroleum sector, where investment is limited to production-sharing or joint-venture arrangements.

The range of prospects that Nigeria holds out for global investors is significant, especially considering the nation’s long-term goals of accelerated economic development and inclusive growth.

Health Care

One of the most profitable business opportunities Nigeria offers is in the healthcare services industry. TradeInvest Nigeria especially highlights the private-sector investment potential in secondary and tertiary healthcare services involving research, capacity building, health management and information technology, all of which are currently lacking. The industry offers the added benefit of serving a social cause, which is significantly relevant in a country with deplorable human development indices. In this context, Nigeria’s economic capital Lagos, a city of 17 million people, is a veritable gold mine of unexplored dimensions.

For the business savvy, Lagos is as close to a dream investment destination as any in the continent. Home to some of Nigeria’s richest and strategically located on the coast, it is serviced by a large seaport and international airport that offer easy access to the entire West African region. The Lagos state government is well aware of the city’s business potential and offers investors attractive trade incentives and tax exemptions. Relative political stability over the last decade and progressive policies have resulted in a boom for private enterprises in Lagos, most of which operate outside the ambit of government regulation and as part of the informal economy. Together with the fact that Nigeria is home to 148 million people, according to revised World Bank estimates for 2009, the scope for profitable foreign investment in Lagos and elsewhere across the country are immense.

Information Technology Opportunities

One of Nigeria principal infrastructure lacking is in the field of communications and information technology, which contributes in large part to its underachieved economic potential. While the poor telecommunications network is a serious bar to business expansion and proliferation for local and foreign businesses alike, it is also a high-growth sector for potential investment by global players. A case in point is VOIX Networks Limited, a Nigerian IT and communications technology products and services provider that is looking to expand with the help of overseas investors.

The company’s mission of creating a more connected Nigeria has translated to a wide variety of products and services, including prepaid calling cards, wireless internet and cellular telephony. Despite the large-scale success of its operations, VOIX has managed to achieve only a fraction of its full potential in the absence of private investment to bankroll its expansion plans. Considering Nigeria’s ambitious plans to generate sustainable economic growth through industry-wide development, telecommunications comprise a potential boom sector for private investment with uncharted growth potential.

Solar Power

Nigeria’s most fundamental infrastructure deficit is in the field of power generation. Earlier this year, the government announced it is looking to attract $100 billion in investments for the power sector over the next five years1. Power supply is erratic and insufficient in most areas across rural and urban Nigeria, forcing businesses to operate on generators and face security concerns during frequent outages. The Lagos state government is once against at the forefront of efforts to rope in overseas investment in solar-power generation by announcing attractive terms of operation. Because of its tropical climate and equatorial location, Nigeria has tremendous potential not only to meet but overshoot its current electricity requirements through solar power generation.

For a country that has historically depended almost exclusively on non-renewable resources for revenue, this marks a substantial shift in attitude. Nigeria’s hot climate and wide plains make it the perfect location to achieve massive solar power generation. The added benefit comes by way of employment generation for hundreds of skilled and unskilled workers required for the construction and maintenance of such power plants. There is little doubt that solar power, potentially, is Nigeria’s sunshine sector.

Others

From fertilisers to agricultural equipment leasing services, steel production to catfish farming, chemical supplies to waste recycling – Nigeria holds within its borders a virtual cornucopia of investment opportunities for global players. The country’s tumultuous history and record of outdated policies are slowly but certainly being overcome in the spirit of economic reforms and deregulation. There are still clear and present dangers that thwart substantial foreign investment from landing on its shores, the most prominent emerging out of militancy and terrorism in the Niger Delta region and civilian unrest elsewhere. Trade barriers, an investor-unfriendly tax regime and large-scale bureaucratic and political corruption still present massive challenges to any sustained effort for inclusive growth. Abuja’s ambitious 2020 plans, initiated by former president O Obsanjo to take the nation to the top twenty world economies by that year, are contingent on acquiring massive private sector investment.

The fate of Nigeria’s economic and human development goals rests primarily on its ability to create an environment that sustains foreign investment in diverse sectors. The real test of savvy, from this point of view, applies as much to the Nigerian regime as it does to the investors it desperately seeks to attract.

By: Peter O Osalor

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Caffeinated Content

Social waves (trends), give your business a chance to respond with innovative and creative products and services that solve problems or meet needs.

This new decade promises plenty of change. Here are 5 major trends to watch for and respond accordingly:

Localism – people want to do business with local suppliers

Driven by economic change, environmental concerns and soaring energy costs more North Americans are buying local. From produce to clothing brands more people are choosing to keep shipping minimal and support local economies.

Unusual and most likely directed to the early adopters to date, local marketing behavior has been spotted in the local branding of international products.

Absolut City Series launched special blends of Vodka for certain cities and labels them accordingly. Starting in New Orleans, other cities with unique potions include Boston, and Los Angeles. Even bank machine ATM’s have caught onto the consumer drive for local pride. In East London, the machines are primed with an option to read the instructions for each transaction in Cockney, if preferred.

Evidently, the online community has caught on as a quickly emerging trend within SEO, or search engine optimization, is the local search specialty.

Capitalism is giving way to Socially Conscious Behavior

Obvious greed is no longer palatable to society. A growing and powerful movement of socially aware and disciplined business has emerged. From “going green” to sustainable uses of energy, and charitable contributions to actual partnerships with developing countries, corporate greed has met its vixen in socially mindful business applications.

While no one is claiming that socially conscious business doesn’t involve greed (didn’t we just hear about revealing emails that cast doubt on climate change?), the change of guard seems to insist that greed be curtailed at least, and that ideas with the Triple Win Strategy behind them, inspire new ways of doing business.

Worth noting is the premium example: Pepsi. Known for 23 years of Superbowl ads, with stars like Michael J Fox, and Michael Jackson, Pepsi has chosen to forgo the ad in 2010. Their marketing efforts are launching The Pepsi Refresh project. Promoted with ” Together We Can Do A Lot Of Good”, Pepsi is taking their campaign online and recruiting the public to join them promising, “Every Pepsi Refreshes the World.”

Starbucks has been heavily involved in LOVE campaign, challenging the world to drink coffee and buy product, and at the same time give through Starbucks to aid Africa in their terrifying war with AIDS and the rapid infiltration of the disease into African society.

Boomers Have Arrived

Baby Boomers, or those born from 1946 to 1964, are at least 46 in 2010. In the US alone, that defines almost 76 million individuals who have the most discretionary income to spend, save and invest. Boomers expect quality, long life, and certain luxuries.

Health care, youthful appearances, relaxation, personal passion and wisdom are only a smattering of the buzzwords “50 somethings” are fond to quote.

Their desires have simplified over the years, and after the latest economic scare, they may not be as frivolous with their spending. Still, this demographic group controls the economy and their consumer demands and ingenuity will help fuel the full market recovery.

The Internet has Gone Mobile

No longer tied to the home PC with dial-up or even cable service, today’s consumer can carry a Smartphone such as the Blackberry or I Phone, and have access to the web anytime, anyplace. Mobile computing with access to applications that assist buyers to locate the best deals within blocks of where they are at the moment, will require new forms of marketing and a new paradigm to “mom and pop” businesses.

People Love Living in the Urban Centers

In North America, according to Unhabitat’s “Global Report on Human Settlement in 2009″ there is currently over 80% of the North American population living in cities. The effect will be reflected social behavior, compact living, and a new style of offline social networks that mirror their online mentors.

“And, as we’ve remarked here before, all things being equal, people who live in compact communities tend to keep more of their paychecks as disposable income and spend less time commuting and running errands, meaning they have more money and time to buy gadgets, experiment with innovative tools and update their systems… thus perhaps fueling more and faster innovations.” (Alex Steffen with World Changing.com)

By: Harmony Thiessen

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From her years of youth , Martha Stewart had an entrepreneurial mindset. She modeled, didn’t have to worry about the average day job life, while following her business startup later on , after her years as a model. Martha started Omnimedia, which came from humble beginnings. Her witty business sense and determination to succeed as a CEO single mother has indeed paid off fruitfully.

In the corporate world, it is a predominantly male mental baseball game. We always hear of the big name company corporate CEO’s being men. However, not only did this intelligent lady succeed as an unwed mother, but she earned a level of respect from both sides of the gender fence, in addition to going from small potatoes to a conglomerate giant. She has in fact changed the game, along with having the way for other entrepreneurial driven women to succeed as CEO’s of their own startup empires.

The great thing about being in business for yourself is that once your foundation is established, no matter how much you have blundered in your life, there is always a chance to rebound back into life at any age. You won’t have to have a certain feeling about waking up in the morning and go to work, knowing that the job you work for now is not something you want to be in for the rest of your life. As your own boss, you set your own hours and charge people a reasonable fee, as well as making the price of your product or service fluctuate as you please. Lastly, running a business as a woman frees a lot of women’s minds from being financially dependent upon the man to provide.

By: Shawn Drewry

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Business Savvy

One of the most important impressions that you can make on your clients, customers and employees is the impression you make with the choice of your corporate gift. The corporate gift decision can be a tricky one. If it’s too expensive or extravagant, it may look like bribery to customers and clients. If it’s too inexpensive, you run the risk of looking cheap to the most important people that you interact with. A popular trend in corporate gifts that is both affordable and luxurious is branded electronics.

Branded electronics is an extremely broad term that ranges the gamut of technological promotional products. It includes promotional USB memory sticks, digital picture frames, clocks, radios, MP3/MP4 players, as well as a slew of other items that can fall into the category. Promotional electronics that are used as corporate gifts show clients, customers, and employees that your company is forward-thinking. It shows that you follow the trends of the retail market because you are giving them a popular gift. Most importantly, it shows that you are giving them something that you want them to use. Let’s look at the most popular technology corporate gifts available today.

USB Memory
Promotional USB memory sticks, sometimes called flash memory devices are some of the most popular corporate gifts because they’re useful items that are constantly in demand. These small devices plug into a port on your computer and essentially make your most important files portable. They are available in a variety of shapes and colors and they are priced according to the amount of available memory on them. Memory capacity ranges from 128MB all the way to several gigabytes. Additionally, USB memory sticks can be customized with files, videos, and pictures. You can attach a holiday message in the form of a picture or a video and have them uploaded to the USB drive to make the gift more personal.

Digital Picture Frames
Digital picture frames are some of the hottest retail gifts during the busy holiday season. Pictures off of a digital camera’s memory card or a computer can be easily uploaded to these frames giving users a wide selection of photos to look at. Many offer slideshow features, displaying all pictures uploaded to the device in a constant stream. Using promotional digital picture frames as corporate gifts is an excellent way to brand your company with a personal touch. Imprinting a message of holiday wishes or continued success for the upcoming business year will ensure that your company name and logo is seen every time users look at their most cherished pictures.

MP3 and MP4 Players
It’s safe to say that one of the most popular products to come out of the technological revolution has been the MP3 player. Digital music players were revolutionized with the invention of the iPod, and since that time they’ve expanded to become digital media players. TV shows, movies and videos can now be accessed from anywhere with the help of one of these items. Many of these items can hold several hundred gigs worth of MP3 (music) and MP4 (video) files. Choosing promotional MP3 players and promotional digital media players as your corporate gifts is a way to give your customers and clients something that they can use outside of the office and still be reminded of your branding.

Keeping up with the times and giving clients and customers gifts that are hot now is a definite way to ensure that they remember you. Whether you choose promotional USB sticks, digital picture frames, MP3 or MP4 players as your corporate gifts, branded technology is the best way to get your company remembered this holiday season.

By: Sarah Shepherd

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Successful business owners are successful, in many cases, because they did not make the same mistakes their contemporaries in similar businesses made. No business can survive if it insists on making all the possible mistakes themselves. In the 21st century, based on terrible examples of mega business failures many communities, even states, have now pinned their hopes on entrepreneurs and small businesses for their security and growth.

They have seen the news stories of how other communities in other parts of the country have moved away from their focus on capturing big companies, thus putting all their eggs in one basket, and supporting small and family owned businesses. Many giant companies have failed. Others are failing every day. But, at the same time many small business owners are doing well and expect continued growth, even though it does not make news or maybe because they are flying under the radar.

In today’s business environment company owners believe that if they are doing well, even great, the best strategy is to keep it to themselves. Many successful family businesses have a person whose job is to keep them out of the news. Big publicly held companies, there aren’t that many of them really but they do burn up the airways with their news releases, trumpet their successes and are hammered by their failures – in public.

The vast majority of all companies, privately held and family owned, can check the news from these giants, take what’s working for themselves and avoid their mistakes. Think about it. If you have a great idea for starting or growing your business and you read business news stories illustrating how a company with seemingly unlimited resources failed in their attempt to do the same thing, you’d want to know it.

You might go ahead with it anyway, but you’d be better informed and less likely to make their mistakes. You’ll have plenty of your own without repeating the ones reported about in the business news. Publicly held companies are required to tell the news outlets anything and everything that might effect their credit rating or their stock prices.

Small business owners and entrepreneurs can go to school on their mistakes. Especially if they can consolidate business news reports from numerous outlets at the same time, for a wide ranging and in depth perspective. Small businesses historically do well during downtimes. Using various business news outlets and news consolidating services successful entrepreneurs do real-time research, looking for opportunities and land mines.

Startups or even businesses in the pre-startup phase can avoid mistakes that would cripple them. Existing companies can use consolidated business news reports to identify new markets, expand their company either horizontally or vertically or both to leverage their existing market position. And every company can use the experiences they see described in an RSS feed or a white paper to test their own business assumptions, before taking action rather than after they’ve lost their business, farm, or home on a sure-fire idea.

Everyone I know has RSS feeds on their computer’s start page. They select the feeds that impact them personally, politically, or from their company’s perspective. This is fabulous. Breaking news in your face as it happens. In addition we all use one or more search engines or one of the dedicated news consolidating search engines to leverage the news contained in our favorite RSS feeds.

In seconds, after seeing a news story, we can see virtually every news story locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally – any story that’s been published. Making bad decisions based on a lack of information is either stupidity or laziness or a combination. With consolidated business news on-demand new ideas for your company are just around the corner.

By: Charles Wallace

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