On Monday 29th October 2001 at 2.00am in the morning, armed robbers “visited” the house where I was living with my family on Ikpoba Hill in Benin City. These guys numbered about five and ALL carried sawed-off shotguns! They didn’t call out for us to come and open the gates – they simply blew the locks off!
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Short answer: It depends. But in this article, I challenge Nigerians/Africans to do LESS copying and MORE creating of original content online, for use by others. For years, I’ve sold my own creative digital content to buyers in and out of Africa. (E.g my Ration Formulator, Poultry Farm Manager, Payslip Generator, and PDF Information products like my popular Feed Formulation Handbook).
This is the painful truth.
Creating original digital content (for possible sale) requires little or no capital investment. If you can think originally, and creatively implement ideas that come to you, your chances of hitting on a profitable niche product or service are high.
Sadly, too many Africans remain seduced by the easier option of “parroting” creative content originating from developed societies.
It’s so bad now, that journalists in our part of the world rarely do independent investigation/research of news stories today.
They simply wait for foreign media to publish, and they basically copy and paste to their own platforms.
Today, Nigerians/Africans make use of various web-based resources like Yahoo.com, Hotmail.com, Facebook.com, Twitter.com, EzineArticles.com, Youtube.com – the list is endless.
Virtually all of these tools cost no money to access. Not surprisingly, numerous Nigerians/Africans find such places most attractive to be online! “Who no like better thing?” as we say in Nigeria. Everyone loves freebies, and there really is nothing bad about that.
Examples include the home based highly skilled software/web developing young Indian; the European/American offering a variety of products for sale online, and the South African providing after hours office phone support service for foreign companies.
In contrast, what we (in Nigeria/Africa) seem extremely good at is rapid adoption of the latest creative content on the web.
Our presence on Facebook and Yahoo! alone is intimidating to say the least. Yet most of what we use them for are NOT value adding in any way!
For instance, if you are a consultant or specialist in engineering, you can choose to include Google adverts for visitors to your site to click – making you some money.
But, you could do even better by developing YOUR OWN branded content – publications/services etc – that visitors can be invited to purchase from you over time.
For instance, you could diligently add useful, relevant content to the site, to:
(a) attract new and repeat visitors
(b) boost their perception of you as a competent/credible specialist in your chosen field
(c) convince them to eventually purchase your information (packaged in various forms) or your services (e.g. consulting you or even inviting you to speak, work etc with them).
Every now and then I hear some chap announce the impressive earnings from his Google Ad words or other money earning scheme available on the web.
Quite often, I cannot help but wonder if he (and other Nigerians/Africans like him) realize they can develop their own original money spinning concepts to be deployed online for OTHERS across the world to use, make money from and share with others!
The big problem we have is that we do not like THINKING.
And that (i.e. thinking) is a crucial part of the creative process needed to develop original concepts.
Another thing we do not like is NURTURING the products of our thoughts into maturity.
We lack that aspect of emotional intelligence, which makes a person give up temporary comfort in pursuit of a valued goal.
Delayed gratification for most Nigerians is something to be avoided at all costs.
Anything we engage in must yield immediate benefit/returns – else we’ll discontinue it as quickly as possible.
Back in 1998, I recall stumbling across a personal domain name service called “Namezero.com”, whose American owners chose to startup by offering EVERYTHING FREE for the first two years.
You got a free domain name (mine was tksola.com), with all the bells and whistles – a personal webmail account with massive storage space at you domain; plus domain URL forwarding and many other powerful features.
They were new on the net, and they wanted to WIN OVER huge numbers of potential customers by PROVING they were reliable and competent.
I signed up, like many other people on the web, and enjoyed a wonderful quality of service from these chaps for those two years.
In 2000 they announced to us via email that retaining our accounts with them would require us to make payment. By then most of us had had enough time to evaluate what they had to offer, and were convinced enough to pay to KEEP what we had with them.
I took up their wonderful bundled purchase offer, and paid for two years, making great savings.
They believed in their idea enough to offer it FREE, and SERVE their potential customers for long enough to win them over as paying customers.
And they gained valuable experience providing their services to potential customers, addressing issues they raised, until the service became valuable enough to be offered at a competitive price.
We can invest time, intellect and energy into developing our own original variants of money-spinning web based solutions.
These would be targeted at the Nigerian/African population, but designed in a way that the rest of the world would still find them attractive enough to buy into.
We could start by writing our own e-books – instead of ONLY buying and selling those sold by others.
Then there are the membership websites offering useful information to a niche market. And there are countless other ways we can use the net to win over people from beyond our shores – using the net.
NB: I have already noted that some Nigerians/Africans already offer solutions like those mentioned. But the numbers are just too few compared to our potential!
Back in the ’80s it was difficult to hold a party playing ONLY Nigerian music. Today, we all know our industry practitioners have continued to succeed in creating new music that is increasingly marketable to an international audience.
We can do the same with our Internet based resources by offering more original content that others will be willing to BUY from us. And the benefits – financially and socio-economically – will be tangibly felt in our societies.
By then, just like people no longer discourage their kids from going into music, we will find that more Nigerian parents will stop frowning at their kids spending long hours on the net or the PC.
Speaking of Yahoo! boys and their online scam activities…
Those of us who depend on income earned via adverts and affiliate programs (e.g. Google ad words) originating from developed societies MUST keep the following in mind:
If those in charge of those programs acted like Yahoo! boys, most cheque payments for their Nigerian participants would NEVER arrive!
And they would not be able to brag about making dollars online! This is why Nigerians starting ventures like I propose must be honest in their dealings.
Paypal is a good example. Until recently, Nigerians could not even make legitimate use of that platform, to transact business online. And even now, with the recent entry into the Nigerian market, Paypal only allows Nigerians to send money. Receiving payments via Paypal remains a NO – NO for us!
The truth is however that, even before Paypal chose to let us in, many of our online money making Gurus in Nigeria have been using “IP hiding” software to register for and use Paypal!
Does that not imply some degree of “dishonesty” on their part?
Of course it does!
See what I’m getting at now?
That’s why most of our Gurus here cannot rub shoulders with their colleagues from developed societies without fear of being found out.
Would it not be better if we started our own online money making systems?
After all, many of us today use ATM/Debit cards that enable online purchases/transactions.
Does that not make PLENTY of good sense?
Would it not benefit us MORE?
And isn’t that something we would all be proud to show to the rest of the world?
I am a performance enhancement specialist. I sell my knowledge and expertise to a niche market – which does NOT include every person online!
So, why should I depend on Google Ads (alone) to make money online?
Should my website not be about me and what I can do to benefit those who need me/my services?
Yes, of course it should – and so should yours!
Visit www.briantracy.com or go to www.burtdubin.com. You will find that they all focus on offering their own content for sale to their visitors. These are individuals like you and I, who chose to “sell their own unique brands”.
In truth, there are circumstances under which I may be willing to incorporate ads on my own website. Especially if they are reliably sensitive to the “context” of my website content(but that’s NOT easy to get!).
However, if you REALLY have – and know – your stuff, I honestly believe it makes a LOT MORE SENSE to offer (via adverts and other promotional strategies) your own products and services for your target audience to buy from you.
Indeed, you will be able to make significantly greater earning margins from sales of your own products than you would from sales of other people.
And that would be in addition to cementing your credibility as an expert in your field in the eye of your potential clients/customers.
To me, that makes bucket loads of SENSE!
What do YOU think?.
PS: This article is based on excerpts from an original piece published on 1st February 2010, by Tayo K. Solagbade – on www.spontaneousdevelopment.com
It was on Sunday 6th July 1997 (my 27th birthday) that this photo was taken, with Nkechi (my wife), using my Olympus Stylus Camera’s timer. She was 22 at the time. It was our VERY first photo together. And it’s the one I LOVE the most! Tomorrow (Sunday 22nd June 2014) she turns 39. I arrived in Lagos today, about 5 hours ago to spend the weekend, and her day, with her.
Our first child was born in 1999. Then I was still in paid employment. After I chose to quit my job in 2002 (2 years after we got married), it became more of a roller coaster ride…
Since then, we’ve been through thick and thin together. And the strains stretched us to our limits. But we stayed strong (with support from loved ones) and NOW, with our kids, we’re one strong family building an exciting future.
Looking back now, it’s clear I chose “RIGHT”. 15 years are more than enough proof of it!
In my case I scored a double in this regard.
That is, in addition to choosing the right partner to LIVE with, I also chose the right vocation.
And just like it’s was not easy getting this far in my marriage, it was not easy finding my feet in my chosen vocation.
Over 80% of what I do to earn a living today requires that I do a lot of creative thinking (e.g building custom Excel Software, Web Marketing) and writing ( web copywriting, freelance writing etc) for clients in different industries – BUT with special focus on Farm Business Owners.
And I did not settle on my line of work by accident.
Instead, it came from a careful review of my life’s experiences and achievements, dating way back to my time in the university.
After graduating with a degree in Agricultural Extension, I got an offer, as Best Graduating Student, to return and pursue a graduate assistantship in Unibadan, where I’d finished from. However, at about the same time I got an offer from a wine manufacturing company, to work as a trainee sales coordinator.
The 3 of us who made it through were taken to meet the MD/CEO, who turned out to be a retired brewer from one of the country’s large multinationals. We were told how his company used very (mostly over) ripe pawpaw fruits to make fermented table wines of different kinds, sold across the country.
I was immediately excited about being a part of that process.
And so I had no difficulty choosing not to submit my application for graduate assistant program to Unibadan (University of Ibadan).
Over a period of 6 months, despite having to go out on trade visits with the Ghanaian Sales Manager for the company, I found time to hook up with my fellow recruits who were based in the lab, and they took me through the entire brewing, fermentation and filtration process employed in making the wines.
It was so exciting for me.
What I was not to know that by going the extra mile the way I did, I was actually preparing myself for the opportunity of working in a bigger brewing company.
During my 5th month working in the small wine company, I found myself in the final stages of the recruitment process being conducted by Guinness Nigeria, for new Graduate Management Trainees.
They also chose to have a selection board debate preceding the final selection interviews. I was elated. My previous experience had prepared me well. What was more, since I was applying for entry into the technical (brewing) function, I knew my time in the wine company would likely be taken to imply I would learn fast.
Thankfully the MD of the wine company had always been like a father. I went to him and showed him the letter, along with my resignation. There was little time left in the offer window. I could not do otherwise. I was not surprised that he expressed happiness for me, and wished me well – even giving me tips about how to excel in the brewing world. We stayed in touch for years.
I joined Guinness and enjoyed an exciting 7 years of rapid career advancement.
Again, this was driven by the fact that I brought my passion with me. The work to be done interested me deeply. But at the same time, I had acquired an additional competence while working in the wine company.
Something told me to take part of my salary and register for introductory computer lessons at Lagos City Computer College. MS-DOS, WordPerfect, DBase, and Lotus 1-2-3 were topics covered, at a very basic level.
I had no PC of my own. This was back in early 1994. Indeed I NEVER owned a PC of my own until 2004 – 2 full years after I became an entrepreneur. Before then I’d used computers in Guinness to develop custom spreadsheet software that automated brewers’ data recording and report generation.
As an entrepreneur, I got clients to provide me a PC with power supply and internet connection where applicable. All of that I negotiated into my terms of work with the client. And they always agreed.
And this has been the case at every stage of my life. I’ve always gone with my gut instinct i.e. how I feel about something.
I never let what others thought influence my decision.
It’s so important to get this right if you do NOT want to go through life making other people’s mistakes.
Listening too much to people about what you should choose can be dangerous. Most people do not know how to put themselves in other people’s shoes.
They are also generally very poor judges of character. In choosing a vocation, if they feel they will not enjoy doing something, they readily conclude others will not either.
In choosing a life partner, if they feel they cannot get along with a particular kind of person, they conclude others will not either.
And that FACT should make you realise the need to TAKE YOUR OWN decision, regardless of what others think or say.
Nothing stops you from considering what you are told.
But always let your heart and good sense do the final decision making for you.
And of course, never fail to let the creator guide you as well.
The problem is most of us fail to pay enough attention to realise it.
Everything I’ve said here is based on decades of hard won experience, dear reader!
And I’ll put up that photo, next to THIS one on this blog (and Facebook), then print out a special framed copy for our home.
For now, I invite you to rejoice with us :-))
I saw his point, and agreed with him.
However, like I said in my post (and as the comment of a friend –Chukwudi Ernest Awazie – indicates) nothing has changed since he said those words, about 10 years ago!
He wrote:
“…But, is that the recent or has been happening norm in developed countries?”
We need to appreciate how things we struggle with, WORK in other climes, to understand what we CAN do in our world, to make things work better.
Virtually every word that follows below was typed on the small keyboard of my Blackberry Pearl 9105 smart phone, under 20 minutes.
I did not stop till I was done. If you are familiar with that phone, you know it does NOT allow for two-handed typing.
That should give you an idea of how INTENSE I was in putting this together. I simply could NOT bear to wait till I put on my laptop!
Hopefully, you’ll find this to be useful reading…
You see decades ago, in developed societies. Even before Thomas Edison’s time, “Bankable Ideas” had ALWAYS enjoyed access to ready financing.
People who had such ideas earned the recognition and support of those with access to what was/is aptly called “Risk Capital”.
How else do you think Edison managed to keep going “trying” many different experiments and failing for so long before breaking through?
E.g. Until he discovered the tungsten filament that made his invention of the light bulb possible?
Remember that he had to maintain a lab, with equipment and staff to pay salaries too.
Without funding, he could not have gone far.
Note also, that Edison only had a few months of formal schooling. So that would have been a handicap of sorts at first!
With courage, and persistence he proceeded.
The people who went on to back him were not bankers. They were mostly wealthy individuals or groups, who saw an opportunity to grow their fortunes via mass marketing profits, if his idea, that they saw had useful potential, worked.
And it eventually did.
One account I read has it that Thomas Edison once told those not comfortable with the rate of progress, to feel free to pull out.
In other words, he wanted them to be in it for the long haul, like he was. They had to be willing to trust his judgment, and genius.
His famous statement (below) was made when an associate suggested there was no point doing more experiments, since he’d not gotten any results:
“Results! Why man, I have gotten a lot of results! I know several thousand things that won’t work.”
(Source: http://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/07/edison-lot-results/ )
Talk about keeping the right perspective about what you’re doing. That’s what Edison did that made him so successful.
Those who stuck with him reaped the rewards for their patience.
Without “Risk Capital” invested in the idea from “Edison’s brain”, the light bulb we all take for granted today, would not exist.
Who knows, we would probably have continued using some advanced “lantern” of sorts!
Tesla achieved fame and recognition for his achievements in electricity generation – filing an impressive number of patents under his name.
I’ve used lots of anecdotes from Edison in past articles. This article offers one or two from another man who used his “brain as collateral”.
Below is a screen shots that shows an excerpt of how Tesla went from being penniless, after losing his company, to starting a new company, and going on to even greater successes.
Note that during the “interval” before he found new success, he had to actually WORK as a ditch digger, for $2/day! He was quoted as having questioned the value of his education during this period.
Some of my entrepreneurship talks involve telling my audience how I developed a near hatred for “traditional schooling” during the really dark YEARS I endured as a startup in NIGERIA.
Today, I’ve channeled that “anger” towards re-orienting all who will listen, about the need to augment what one learns in school, with practical lessons about what it takes to survive in the real world.
Click here to read an absorbing Wikipedia account of Tesla life history.
As you read it, notice the common theme of how with each loss or setback he suffered, Tesla he simply reused his “brain” as collateral to attract funding to enable him bounce back, continue work, or take it to the next level.
That’s what Ben Bruce was referring to!
A lot of today’s wonderful man made innovations and inventions would never have seen the light of day, without them.
Note, in the screen shot below, how ONE wealthy individual on his own “invested” a hefty $100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Dollars) with Tesla.
This was apparently for pursuit of further research work in a specific area the giver hoped to reap benefits.
Sadly, Tesla diverted the funds into a new project he was working on. But the point being made here is that Tesla’s brain was the only collateral involved in that exchange!
And when you combine all that with being (what I like to call) an “Ideas Generator” and “Genius” – which both Edison and Tesla epitomized, it will rarely matter how badly you fall.
Your reputation would basically speak for you!
You will be most likely to subsequently find people willing to give you the money you need without asking for ANY collateral to secure it. That is of course, IF you do as Edison suggest by not giving up, and PERSISTING instead!
If you’re someone looking for financing or other forms of support for your idea, take note of what I’ve said above.
It’s the key to “attracting” and winning over those who can help you.
In other words, it is still happening.
People with bankable ideas are still getting financing they need without using physical collateral.
The PC and Internet technology revolution has even taken it to a whole new level!
It’s now really up to every society to make the most of what’s obviously possible.
Do your research and you’ll see that what I say is true!
I can say this because it has happened to me – as an entrepreneur – over the years.
But it has always been on a much smaller scale, that it could be.
Why?
Because we are basically, we are too risk averse for our own good.
Only when that changes will we – as a people – reap the fortunes of innovation and creativity that other societies we wish to emulate do!
In Nigeria/Africa, wealthy individuals, and businesses/finance houses that have funds, need to look out for good ideas to invest in, like their counterparts in developed societies do.
And when they find them, they need to apply the thinking described above, which has helped developed society produce the world’s top entrepreneurs, who in turn now create wealth for their economies.
[NB: This issue of my newsletter is a public service edition.] Last Saturday a.m (7th June 2014), I published a blog about my near 12 hour traffic jam ordeal coming from Seme border to Mile 2 the day before (i.e Friday).
What I did not mention was that before that, I’d had unpleasant money-related “disagreements” with BOTH Beninese and Nigerian officials in crossing the border posts.
I Share My Experiences Below, to Warn Intending Travellers About What to Expect….
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In this recent article (click to read) I explained why I believe domain names can no longer determine web marketing performance like they used to. Well, the results I’m getting since losing my 9 year old spontaneousdevelopment.com a month ago, are proving me right!
In less than 4 weeks, I’ve re-built my website and re purposed the content onto my 1 year old domain (tayosolagbade.com), AND my sales leads generation – and conversion – has actually increased!
Instead, my online presence has always been focused on generating quality SALES leads for my unique range of products and services.
Hint: Careful analysis of the sources of these leads, has given me deeper insights into how to maximize the results I’m getting. Want to know what I discovered? Email me via tayo at tksola dot com.
Today, I was in a conversation with a prospect who’d emailed me from Owerri in Nigeria about my popular feed formulation handbook. I’d replied that he call me on my mobile line here in Cotonou (+229-66-122-136), and he’d done that this morning.
We spoke for over 10 minutes, during which time I learnt that he was rearing about 1000 birds, and wanted help reducing his feeding costs.
Like so many others, he was buying commercial feed, and that was leaving him with next to nothing in profits by the time sales were done.
From my assessment of his understanding of feed formulation, I told him he would be better off purchasing my handbook (to learn best practice feed formulation and compounding), along with the Ration Formulator software (to put what he learns into practical use).
He agreed, and we discussed prices …etc.
At this point I really began to like the young man. He was really thinking smart.
And that’s something that always excites me. You see, I am keen to connect with business owners who are willing to dig deeper to better understand their operations, so as to get improved results.
I told him that he would find my Poultry Farm Manager app useful for tracking mortality rates and other useful Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) like Hen Day Percentages, Feeding Rates , Feed to Eggs Conversation Ratio (for layers), as well as Feed to Flesh Conversion Ratio (for broilers).
During our conversation, he asked my why I was not based in Nigeria, given what I told him was the heavy patronage I was getting from Farm CEOs in Nigeria.
It was a question many before him had asked me.
Since we were on phone, I went ahead and gave him a brief explanation, that was a summary of what I’ve since written in an published some months back.
In case you also wonder, it’s titled "Why I relocated from Nigeria to Benin Republic"(click to read).
About 5 minutes later a phone text message from him arrived that read as follows:
“Tayo,
I need the (Poultry) Management software. Pls. I will also need clarification on how one can separate broiler chicks from layer chicks after hatching your eggs. Or how can one produce broiler chicks and layer chicks? Thanks for your time."
====Start of Email Transcript====
Hi John,
Since you want to purchase the Poultry Farm Manager as well, the total investment breakdown is now as follows:
1. Feed Formulation Handbook – N8,000.00
*All handbook buyers get a FREE copy of my 30 page Annotated Pictorial Introduction to Feed Ingredients (N7,500 value) – you get it FREE.
2. Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator – N12,500.00
3. Excel-VB driven Poultry Manager (Mini Monthly version) – N25,000.00
Click the link below to download/view the PDF preview of the Mini Monthly version of the Poultry Farm Manager: I created this mini version following requests from farm owners from within/outside Africa for a less "pricey" version.
<Download link removed – email tayo at tksola dot com if you want it>
You can watch the demonstration video for the original, full fledged version of the Excel Visual Basic driven Poultry Layers Farm Operations Management software (priced at N250k):
http://www.tayosolagbade.com/pfmgr.html
ABOUT PAYMENT….
<text deleted>
Find payment details below:
<Bank details removed – email tayo at tksola dot com if you want them>
Email or SMS me the transaction details if/when you pay, so I can confirm(in case the alert does not come).
PRODUCT DELIVERY DETAILS:
Once your payment is confirmed, I’ll email you the items you’ve paid for, personalized with your name and other details (including your photo, if you send it in).
The Excel-VB Ration Formulator app will be accompanied by a PDF user guide that gives step-by-step instructions on how to use it.
Same applies to the Poultry Farm Manager.
The Feed Formulation handbook will be delivered as a PDF document, as will its accompanying 30 page Annotated Pictorial Introduction to Feed Ingredients.
Recent buyers in Kano, Jos, Uyo and Warri have paid to have me send them physical printed/bound copies of the handbook, and branded DVDs containing the software, complete with tutorial videos etc, via Fed Ex and DHL. If you want that, let me know.
Whatever you choose to buy, I will be accessible by phone/Skype/Facebook chat or email to support you.
Let me know if you have further queries.
You can call me on +229-66-122-1361 (in Cotonou) or +234-803-302-1263 (if I’m in Nigeria).
With kindest regards.
Tayo K. Solagbade
====End of Email Transcript====
He’d watched the video I put online, and contacted me via the web form on the video page.
Following my initial response, he sent in a series of questions that I believe others may find my answers to useful.
====Start of Email Transcript====
Isaac,
1. You asked: How much is the software in dollars?
Answer:
I always refer prospective international buyer to http://www.coinmill.com or http://www.xe.com
See attached screen shot taken some minutes ago, when I converted N25k to USD using www.coinmill.com
It came to $154.32 USD.
If you wanted to check for N250k, that would be a multiple of 10 i.e. $1,543.2 USD
2. You asked: How will I receive the software after payment
Answer:
2 possibilities…
A. I email it to you in a compressed zipped folder (.zip extension)
In the email will be a download link to a PDF user guide, personalized for your use, with your contact details.
B. If you prefer, I could send it to you on a DVD, with the PDF user guide You cover courier delivery feeds. Last time I checked, delivery to Tanzania was N15k via Fed ex
In my opinion, choose this option only if you’d like to pickup another physical product, like my Feed Formulation & Compounding Video Tutorials, Handbook & Software Bundle.
Otherwise the courier expense overhead would be too great.
The decision is however yours to make.
3. You asked: How do I pay?
Three (3) possibilities:
A. Bank transfer to my USD denominated domiciliary account with…
B. Via Western Union
C. <third option removed for privacy. I regard it as a last option as it involves receiving payment via a 3rd party>
4. You asked: any surety with the software that it has been approved to work for both broiler farmers and layer farmers. Looking forward to hear from you.
Answer:
Not sure what you mean by "approved"…
I have never had to get my apps "approved" for use.
Basically, I expect those who come to me to know what they want.
If they don’t I offer guidance about what would be useful to have for best practice purposes.
If they are convinced, they go on to buy.
If they are NOT convinced, we part ways amicably. :-))
Now, if on the other hand, you meant to ask whether my Poultry Farm Manager has been "proven" to work for broilers and layers, here’s my answer. And it is necessarily a bit long:
Isaac, there’s another app I sell to farmers, which is more popular is the Excel-VB Ration Formulator (See video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99xm1EQJJdo)
It has been bought and used by buyers within and outside Africa since 2004.
During that time I have actively taken feedback from users who were willing to give it, to improve on it.
That’s why it’s evolved into the powerful, yet highly flexible, low cost and user friendly feed formulation resource it is today.
I decided to develop the Ration Formulator when I identified an unmet need for such a solution in the market, through my interaction with Farm CEOs.
The same situation led me to develop the Poultry Farm Manager for a 12,000 layer farm in 2009. The couple who owned the farm hired me to build it for them.
So we sat down to draw up the Functional Requirements Specifications, that ensured the final app did exactly what we agreed was needed to allow daily data recording and report generation for timely decision making.
Since then, I have customized it for use with another farm in South West Nigeria. It was after finishing that project and writing about it on my website that I began getting enquiries from farmers from even the USA.
This made me realize that once again, off-the-shelf apps probably did not meet the needs of farm owners. That was when I chose to put the Poultry Farm Manager software online for sale.
Take a good read through the PDF I sent you, and you’ll see I mentioned that the app was originally built for Layers farms.
However, many of the enquiries I’ve been getting have come from Broiler farm owners – some having both broilers and layers.
That’s why I (as I said in the PDF I sent you) I decided to ADD extra interfaces to capture broiler records and generate corresponding industry relevant Broiler Key Performance Indicators (e.g. Feed to Flesh Conversion Ratio and Feeding Rate).
Anyone who buys the N25k app will find it offers useful value well ABOVE the N25k s/he’s paid. You would be able to use it satisfactorily to do what it promises as spelt out in my PDF.
Simply put, it works. And you have access to my zero cost support 24/7 via phone email, facebook, chat etc, if any issues arise.
This is the trade off I am willing to make, to help interested Farm CEOs.
Those who decide they want the rest of the full app’s features can then let me know.
Anyone who wants special inclusions/modifications will also let me know, and I would supply details of what delivering that would entail.
This is how I work Isaac.
I collaborate with farm owners to develop low cost custom solutions that do what they need them to do.
Over time, with each app, I am able to fine tune the main app, using the feedback I get, to instantly be used by all other businesses. This was how I got my Ration Formulator to be ready-for-use by anyone.
And it was also how I got my Payslip Generator to be the same way (see video at http://www.excelheaven.biz or http://www.excelheaven.tayosolagbade.com)
Personally, I believe most smallholder farm businesses will continue to need the help of extension professionals highly skilled in low cost development of easy-to-use apps, to run their businesses.
A one size fits all solution will then evolve from those efforts. My successes over the years prove this is the way to go.
Hope this helps.
Do let me know if you have any further queries.
Tayo
====End of Email Transcript====
Or do you have any questions of your own you want answered with regard to any of my products?
If yes, simply email me via tayo at tksola dot com or fill/submit this web form, to ask me now!
Such great sales conversations with serious prospective buyers happening almost every day of the week. And over 60% actually end up as sales!
Now, if the traffic widget on this blog is anything to go by, I’m getting NOTHING close to what I was getting when this website of mine was hosted on spontaneousdevelopment.com – the 9 year old website.
Yet, this newer domain tayosolagbade.com is harvesting much higher Google generated sales leads within less than ONE month!
Wow!
This proves what I’ve learnt over 10 years of studying the results I get online, that NOT everyone needs lots of traffic to make sales.
If you know what you sell, and identify your target audience correctly, then develop and implement an effective strategy for attracting those who fit your target audience profile, you’ll get all the traffic you need!
If you’re a Farm CEO or independent professional (e.g. experts-who-speak
and consultants in various fields) looking to cost-effectively reach potential buyers, an intelligent Web Marketing System(WMS) can help you.
This article outlines key elements that comprise such a system …including my special service offer to support YOU!
I’ll tell you.
First, let me say that further down I tell you how to request a PDF download about my offer to help you get started, and also teach you to carry on by yourself.
When you go through it, you’ll be shocked to discover that my offer effectively lets you eat your cake, and still have it!
Now, I’ll explain those key elements you need in your arsenal, to achieve Web Marketing success…
So, you definitely need a website. But let me tell you this.
It’s not just any kind of website.
First it must NOT be a static html based one. Secondly, it must be dynamic and database driven.
And thirdly, it must be user friendly, to the extent that a novice owner can quickly learn to make most content updates and modifications to it, without help, once s/he has been taught how.
Remember this: Stay away from bells and whistles!
You see, functionality (what you want the website to do for you) must be the main determinant of the shape/form you choose to give your website.
Today’s serious minded and smart buyers pay bells and whistles little attention. They know something better can turn up tomorrow – even from a high school kid. And they know it’s rarely a sign of quality, and credibility. Even scam websites look better than some authentic corporate websites!
A better way to impress is to offer useful content on a regular basis.
That’s the core of web marketing success. Indeed marketing success generally!
That’s why I offer all clients a FREE WYSIWYG based dynamic/database driven website, charging a fee for only the content copy writing.
If you pay for 3 or more years hosting with my CB Solutions web hosting platform, and you request it, I will build your website for you, using a powerful CMS (either Joomla! or WordPress) that allows YOU manage it yourself.
And you’ll also get the content copywriting at no charge.
View Business & Pro hosting plans here….
Article writing is at the heart of today’s credibility boosting web marketing.
Ultimately, nothing else beats it as a means to achieving the end of timeless marketing that attracts sales leads to you, even while you sleep.
You’re reading this right now, NOT because you saw an advert I paid for somewhere on or off the web.
Like many thousands of other readers who follow my work online, you most likely found me via the trail of my past writings, syndicated via social media, on other websites, and/or thrown up in search engine results pages.
Some people spend good money to get similar exposure. But after their money "expires", their "visibility" also diminishes as well.
In my case, and the case of those smart others who use this strategy, what we publish online stays there, and keeps getting found by others.
Our names become more recognized over time, and this confers an authority status on us, that boosts the credibility of the solutions we offer.
If you adopt a similar strategy, you will reap the same, or even better rewards.
This is related to 2. above.
But this time you’ll be writing to further cement the credibility you earn with those who read your articles and sign up for your newsletter.
Your newsletter should ideally be branded with a unique name that accurately describes what you do, and how it benefits those you want to sell to, or influence.
Even more important, for this and item 2. above, is that you must convey the impression of consistency by following a regular schedule in implementing these 2 strategies.
Otherwise, those you seek to attract may struggle to buy into you, for the long term. And you do need that to happen to ensure selling success!
Again, I offer to help those who signup for my offer.
For the 1st 3 months: I will create & subsequently publish YOUR branded monthly HTML e-mail newsletter using an automated mailing list software.
This is crucially important.
You need a blog to act as your mouthpiece – Your PR manager, if you will.
This is where your "news" and latest updates, and ideas will be published from.
In other words, your articles and newsletter will ideally be deployed from this platform.
But you’ll also need to link it to your other online self-promotion channels (e.g. Google plus, Facebook, Twitter etc).
Where possibly, you will set them up to be be automatically updated from the blog, anytime you add new content. That will save you time, and effort and boost your content syndication efforts dramatically.
I call this "implementing blog content driven, zero cost search engine optimization and social media marketing to make potential customers contact YOU."
No problem.
I can collaborate with you and/or anyone you assign from your team, to write, publish & syndicate articles online in YOUR name.
All you need do is signup for my Web Marketing for CEOs offer. Details further down.
This service is NOT open to groups or large organizations (e.g. educational or religious institutions, or social clubs etc).
Instead, Farm CEOs, and independent professionals (especially experts-who-speak, consultants and solopreneurs in various fields) are the main target audience.
a. Give You Free Web Marketing Coaching
I will prepare for you – and coach you to use – a PDF Web Marketing Plan (think of it as a Biz Plan for your online presence) written and customized specially for you/your company, so you can continue your web marketing after I leave.
b. Send you a Weekly Web Marketing TIPS Newsletter
You will get a LIFETIME subscription to my new Web Marketing for CEOs TIPS newsletter – delivered ONLY to web marketing clients/club members."
I DO NOT sell subscription to this resource.
c. Give You a Lifetime 50% Discount to my Products/Services
After the first 3 months (in which I do 2, 3 and 4 for you) expire, you will FOREVER be able to purchase all my products/services at 50% off.
In case you’re wondering…the products/services include:
(a). Items 2 to 4 above…
(b). My Custom Excel-VB driven software e.g. Payslip Generator; Biz Contacts Manager; Invoice Generator, Poultry Farm Manager etc (but excluding my Feed Formulation products).
(c). My Cost-Saving Best Practice Farm Business Support Services (e.g. the BOPMS for Profitable Farm Management)
(d). My information products at www.lulul.com/sdaproducts (but excluding my Feed Formulation Handbook).
You’ll simply note down those you want, and send me your request.
Answer: I want MORE people to KNOW me. I also want MORE web hosting clients – who will REAP web marketing profits, THEN tell others about what I DO for them!
Click here to send me a request for my PDF offer which contains full details.
My reason for doing this is to further boost my name recognition as a Performance Improvement Specialist in the area of Web Marketing Systems development and implementation.
The LOW entry fee is designed to make it easier for as many as may need support, to come on board..
However, this is NOT an all comers club. Not everyone who indicates interest, and says s/he is ready to pay will be accepted by me.
I WILL therefore have a serious discussion with EACH person who indicates interest, to decide if I can work with him/her.
If my gut tells me you’re unlikely to be willing/able to meet me halfway, to achieve the goals we agree, I won’t take you on.
And that’s also why the offer is ONLY open to a limited number of people at a time.
It’s possible some people will be able to take what I’ve said above and run with it, to achieve their desired goals.
If you’re able to do that, my congratulations to you – and do let me have some feedback on how you get on 
Incidentally, this is not the first time I’m writing about all this.
But it is the first time I’m making an offer of this kind.
And that’s because what I see suggests most people still do NOT get it!
So, if you’re one of the many I have over time come to discover need support to get it done (and there is NOTHING wrong with needing support), then the offer I’ve made here is for you.
If you’ve been following me online before May 2014, you most likely will want to know why I moved my website to www.tayosolagbade.com.
My first online presence was located on the primary domain www.spontaneousdevelopment.com. And I built it up over a period of 9 years to one that generated high value income generating sales leads that won me clients within and outside Africa.
On 1st April 2013, I began traveling slowly across West Africa as a Location Independent Multipreneur, sharing updates on this blog.
But on 4th May 2014, my 9 year old domain was taken over and made inactive by Aplus.net – a web host that I moved my website from 2 years ago, in protest about VERY base service and support they were giving me.
THIS (i.e. http://tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets – see screenshot), is the “reincarnated” Self-Development (SD) Nuggets blog, to which I just successfully installed the MAIN database containing over 630 posts, on my new domain: TayoSolagbade.com.
So this was not the first time I was getting a raw deal from that company.
Click here to continue reading…
Quick Take Away: This article was first published online in 2006. It is based on a true occurrence on my former primary domain – spontaneousdevelopment.com – which got taken over on 4th May 2014 by Aplus.net . Now that I’ve successfully relaunched my website on tayosolagbade.com, re-publishing this article on my new primary domain, I believe, will help those who read my writing understand that these things CAN – and do – happen. So we must simply learn from them and MOVE ON to better heights!
On Tuesday 20th June 2006, I discovered that a hacker exploited a site recommendation script I installed 3 days earlier(!), to send out spam email from my website, causing my web host to take it offline for 7 days i.e. up till Wednesday 28th June 2006 a.m. If you own a website, and are trying to build online credibility towards doing legitimate business, you may (want to?) know how damaging this kind of attack can be – and what you can do to protect yourself.
Incidentally, no matter how big or small your website is, spam robots will come to it – and hackers will test your website for loopholes they can exploit to launch spam attacks – so you must learn latest security concerns and take preventive action to protect yourself.
If you think it can never happen to you, let me warn you: that’s exactly what I thought, UNTIL I made the slip which allowed a spam artist drive a massive “spam mail truck” through my website!
In this article, I offer you an insight into my personal experiences and learnings, plus provide URLs (some sent to me by the support department of my web host – others I found through my own subsequent research) leading to useful advice from experienced webmasters, and professionals with proven competence in this area.
It was the evening of Friday 16th June 2006, and I was rounding up the updates on my websites, when I decided to search online for and install another site recommendation script on my website in place of the one that for some reason I could not fathom, continued to return a “500 – Internal Server Error”. The Google search results page threw up a slew of referral scripts offerings from various authors – some free, others for sale. At this time I was just keen to test and see if I could get one to work on the site.
Soon I settled for one called “The PCman Website Refer a Friend”. Within minutes, I had it installed and running. One thing I did not do, and which I would advise (based on the benefit of painful hindsight) ANYONE who uses third party scripts on his/her site to do, is to check and confirm the programmer has taken pains to secure the script code against exploitation (Specific details/links to URL resources on how to go about this provided further down).
Note: It was only after the event, and following prompts from my hosts, that I checked and found the PCManrefer script had inadequate security written into the code. The resulting “security hole” was what the hacker later exploited remotely to launch a massive spam attack.
After trying repeatedly, and confirming I was using the correct password, I decided to try logging in to my webmail – so as to send an email to the support department for assistance.
This presented a problem as well. Each time, I tried, I got a message like “Dropped by ISMAP server”. Now quite alarmed, I decided to type the URL to my website – http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com. My worst fears came to pass – The browser printed a “Page Not Found” message in bold! At this point, I promptly went to my host’s website and initiated a chat session with the operator.
The following chat conversation took place:
—–start of chat session——
<operator name deleted>: Hello! How may I help you?
<operator name deleted>: hi
Visitor42152: Hi
Visitor42152: I cannot login to my webmail or access my entire website
Visitor42152: MY reg no is <number deleted>
<operator name deleted>: We are writing to inform you that during the past 30 minutes your web hosting account (username = deleted) has sent 625 messages to the email subsystem of the hosting server. This is in violation of our terms of services, and as such, any websites
<operator name deleted>: belonging to that account have been taken offline.
<operator name deleted>: In order to reactivate your account you will need to contact our support department and agree not to abuse our servers again. Any further incidents like this will cause our system to remove your account completely and without warning
Visitor42152: I am working from a cyber cafe I normally do not use though it’s close to my home
Visitor42152: I am certain this is due to activities of email spammers who use the same ISP as these guys
<operator name deleted>: send an email to <email deleted>
Visitor42152: How long will it take to resolve this?
<operator name deleted>: 6 -12 hours
—End of chat session——
Well, I did not get it resolved in 12 hours. In fact, by the time I was finished exchanging emails with the support department, I learnt my account would be suspended for 7 days, with the warning that if it happened again, my account would be reconsidered for termination without notice.
Below, I reproduce the exact text of the explanation given by my host’s Abuse Department, when I requested for details that could help me understand how the problem had occurred, and what I could do to prevent a re-occurrence. You will notice that the Perl script I installed (i.e “pcmanrefer.pl”) some days before the problem, was identified by the administrator as one of three found to have poor security built into their code.
— “Aplus.Net Abuse Department” <email deleted> wrote (I have re-arranged – but NOT edited – the text for readability):
> Hello,
> Basically the attack is performed on scripts that trust the information that the submitter enters and are therefore easily exploitable. You can refer to these two documents that describe in details this very specific attack:
> http://www.anders.com/projects/sysadmin/formPostHijacking/
> http://www.nyphp.org/phundamentals/email_header_injection.php
> I have reviewed the spam evidence sent to us and in the headers the subject is different every time which means the script used is taking the input data from the visitor and doesn’t edit it at all:
> Subject: Incredibly undervalued, you’ll not want to miss this opportunity the protracted I have found several such scripts in your FTP space:
> /cgi-bin/mailer/simplemail.pl
> /cgi-bin/mailer/mailer.pl
> /cgi-bin/pcmanrefer.pl
> There might be others that are compromiseable too but you know better the structure of your website and which exactly script is sending the data unchanged. The bottom line is to filter out all input data as suggested in the two articles above.
> Thank you,
> <administrator name deleted>
When I eventually gained access to my server space, I found confirmation that it was indeed the “pcmanrefer.pl” script that had been exploited: Its referral log file (refer-log.txt), had grown to a massive 11.1 Megabytes size(many million bytes up from its 0 bytes size when I uploaded it less than 9 days before)! Opening the file revealed huge volumes of email addresses and message contents, originating from bogus “addresses” at my sub domain e.g.InvestorsWeekly@spontaneousdevelopment.com; my@spontaneousdevelopment.com; stephannie@www.spontaneousdevelopment.com (“who is SHE??”, I said to myself) – and many, many more!
When my hosting account was suspended, my websites could not be visited, nor could I access mails sent to my webmail account at my domain during that seven day period. But that was just one side of it. ALL the short URLs that I had created to point to various sub domains on my main website were put up for removal by the service provider, who placed a bookmark update link on a page leading to the respective home pages – with the following message:
“Due to enormous phishing spam with our sub domains (<domain names listed here deleted>) we will close this short url re-direction. Please update your bookmarks”
One example of a short URL that was affected by this problem is http://www.cbsolutions.v27.net, which I had set to point to cbsolutions.spontaneousdevelopment.com– the mini site for my Creative Business Solutions (CB Solutions) delivery service.
My mind raced back to all the articles I had published at the Ezine articles directory, in which I had used the short URL addresses in the resource box invitation to readers(at the end of the article). A number of those articles carrying the short URLs had been syndicated on other websites, where I would not have access to make changes to them. I realised that it would only be a matter of time before readers of some of my articles would find themselves confronted with a “Page Not Found” browser error, or a general advert page for domain names sales etc – instead of my site: Definitely not good for the image I was trying to build online!
I provide the above details to give you an idea of just how bad this can be – so you can really understand why it would be in your best interest to make sure you never leave yourself open to the extent that this type of problem can affect your website.
I deleted the “pcmanrefer.pl” script, and the other two that were identified by the hosting provider’s administrator (see email above). I also removed another mailing list managment CGI script that I installed a month before.
In a way, I felt like I was taking medicine after death. But at least by this time, I actually had a better idea of WHAT had happened, HOW, and WHY – and what I could do to protect myself for the future.
Next, I visited the URLs emailed to me by my web host. Out of curiosity, I also did a number of searches on Google, to see what else I could learn about “form post hijacking”, and spamming in general.
IMPORTANT NOTES!
1. It would interest you to know that I no longer use a site referral script on my wesbsite. Instead I have developed a simple email recommendation template that anyone who is so keen to tell another about my site can use. Visit http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/referus.htm to see what I mean. There are many other effective ways to get marketing exposure for a website, and I am currently modifying my website design/marketing strategy to accommodate them. As time goes on, visitors to my website will see ample evidence of this.
2. Some of the resources whose URLs are listed below, were published as far back as 2002, so they might not exactly offer relevant or effective remedies that can be successfully applied today. However, the educational value they offer towards understanding the problem(s), in my opinion, would still make them worth a visit.
So, with that note of warning, I wish you happy reading and good luck in your fight to protect your website against exploitation.
1. Using Apache to stop bad robots | evolt.org – by Daniel Cody
http://www.evolt.org/article/Using_Apache_to_stop_bad_robots/18/15126/
2. Why Some Scripts are dangerous to use on your Website – http://webnet77.com/help/dangers.html
3. http://www.anders.com/cms/75/Crack.Attempt/Spam.Relay – By Anders Brownworth
Interesting Crack Attempt to Relay Spam (Comment: this is actually a precursor to the full article referred to me by my web host titled “Form Post Hijacking – How to solve the problem.”)
4. By Anders Brownworth – Form Post Hijacking – How To Solve The Problem article author
http://www.anders.com/projects/sysadmin/formPostHijacking/
5. http://handsonhowto.com/cgi101.html – A Hands-On How-To(Securing the CGI script section – useful) – from Brass Cannon Consulting
6. WWW Security FAQ: CGI Scripts – http://www.w3.org/Security/Faq/wwwsf4.html -by Lincoln Stein (lstein@cshl.org) and John Stewart (jns@digitalisland.net) – hosted by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) as a service to the Web Community.
7. Stopping Spambots: A Spambot Trap – http://www.neilgunton.com/spambot_trap/
8. How to block spambots, ban spybots, and tell unwanted robots to go … Spamming of referer logs is a growing nuisance:
The Phoenix is a mythical bird. Click here to learn more about it, to understand why I’ve referred to it here, with regard to my re-incarnated website presence :-))
I’m gradually putting finishing touches to the new look website and content at TayoSolagbade.com. It’s now leaner, and smarter!
Many thanks again to those who “forced” my hand by taking over Spontaneousdevelopment.com (click to read the full story about how I lost that 9 year old domain)!
I developed an elaborate Web Marketing System for him in June/July 2013.
I should point out that most of my authentic clients have similar relationships with me. We relate more like FRIENDS, than business associates. And that includes those I have NEVER met in the flesh!
By the time we parted ways he’d told me about 3 projects he wanted me to handle. Two for him. One for a private university he runs with Victor Ogar, his Nigerian partner of many years. All three relate to the Web Marketing based Hosting Service I provide.
He has since paid for 2 of the 3 projects. So, it was not all talk :-))
Think about it. One day my website was gone, some days later, I put a better one up.
All the while, some of my clients would have been watching (including prospective ones!) to see how I would deal with the challenge.
What I’ve now successfully done with TayoSolagbade.com, can only make me look more convincing than ever, with regard to my competence as a Web Marketing Specialist who offers website hosting services!
And it’s likely to make it easier any serious minded person, to choose me over any other provider s/he is considering.
“May you also get to live your dream too!“
And while you’re working at it, remember that no matter how bad it looks or feels, there will always be something better that turns up…IF you do NOT give up.
Having said all the above about my hosting service, it only makes sense that I provide some details for anyone who may be interested.
First, let me state this: My hosting service is VERY targeted.
In reality, I mainly offer it to clients who hire me to develop Web Marketing Systems for them.
The number of plans I offer, and their pricing reflect that. And so it may be difficult to compare the “prices” with what some other web host may offer you!
Below is the link to my Hosting Service website:
You’ll notice that the “WebMarketingforCEOs” plan is NOT listed.
That’s because I reserve it for clients who engage my services in Web Marketing Systems development.
Instead, you’ll see the Business and the Pro hosting plans alongside the “Budget Base” plan.
If you wish to host with me, without taking up my FREE Web Marketing Support offer, I recommend you pick either the Business or the Pro hosting plan.
If you pay for TWO years you get FREE Monthly Web Marketing support from me (details when you contact me). And you’ll also be FREE from worrying about renewing your domain name/hosting for 2 years.
Simple. I’ve seen that my clients’ busy schedules makes web marketing hard for them.
This promo enables me help you, since YOUR website’s success is MY success. By helping your website succeed, I make it easier for you to continue making renewal payments.
