Self-Devpt. Nuggets™

A few days ago, I published on this blog a new post titled “TKS Mode: Order Custom Sewn Traditional African Outfits from Cotonou“. The title is self-explanatory and details can be read by clicking the foregoing linked article.

So, that is not why I’m writing this blog.

Instead, I’m writing this to share the news that the very first client has signed up for this announced service – making payment in full 100% upfront as required.

He’d written me the Facebook message shown below, a few hours after I published the product page on my blog and posted a link to it on Facebook:

I replied by supplying my phone number and asking him to connect with me on Whatsapp:

5/14/2016 12:53 PM: WMSTops: Got u bro

 

5/14/2016 12:53 PM: î…„ Messages you send to this chat are now secured with end-to-end encryption. Click for more info.

 

5/14/2016 1:04 PM: Tayo K. Solagbade: Hey Topsy!

5/14/2016 1:10 PM: WMSTops: Yes bro

5/14/2016 1:11 PM: WMSTops: Tried calling u now but was told u can’t be connected on what’s app call ; guess it netwk palava

 

5/14/2016 1:13 PM: WMSTops: Love those African dresses o and how do we go about it

 

5/14/2016 1:14 PM: WMSTops: Do I have to send my measurement to u?

 

(Text deleted for relevance and privacy)

 

5/14/2016 1:41 PM: Tayo K. Solagbade: Had to call the tailor to verify specifics before replying. Yes you need to send me your measurement.

5/14/2016 1:42 PM: Tayo K. Solagbade: The tailor’s price (including buying the fabric) is FCFA 30k. A year ago, this was N10k. But the current exchange rate at the border is about N1k to FCFA 1.8k (banks here do not deal in Naira). That means FCFA 30k will cost about N16.7k to buy.

 

5/14/2016 1:42 PM: Tayo K. Solagbade: He says if you order for 2 such outfits, he’ll do them for FCFA 55k. The 2nd could be for you or a friend who will also have to send in his measurements.

 

5/14/2016 1:44 PM: Tayo K. Solagbade: A separate N5k payment is required to cover the role I have to play from start all thru to getting the finished outfit to clients. However you can pay N2.5k

 

5/14/2016 1:45 PM: WMSTops: Ok bro and that’s noted . How do I make the money available to u ?

5/14/2016 1:46 PM: WMSTops: Lol…. That is service charge

5/14/2016 1:47 PM: WMSTops: They are always very good at their trade and that’s why I love dresses being made by them cumin with good finesse

 

5/14/2016 1:50 PM: WMSTops: Use to have a Senegalese tailor like that I’m lagos b4 he relocated to only God knows where ……. Very goo at his trade . He doesn’t even need measurements but just looking at u and will give u a good job

5/14/2016 1:50 PM: WMSTops: Thanks bro and just let me know how to make money available to u

 

5/14/2016 1:50 PM: WMSTops: Cheers

5/14/2016 2:00 PM: Tayo K. Solagbade: Like I said in my Facebook message, I’m coming to Lagos on Monday to sort out some issues regarding my Online banking so I can make website hosting renewal payments for 2 clients that just paid me cash here in Cotonou. (Text deleted for relevance and privacy)

 

5/14/2016 2:01 PM: Tayo K. Solagbade: You can pay to the GT account below which I use for the online banking payment processing with my Paypal account, so I can cash and return to Cotonou with it during the week.

5/14/2016 2:02 PM: Tayo K. Solagbade: Bank: (Text deleted for relevance and privacy)

5/16/2016 9:41 AM: Tayo K. Solagbade: Quick update: Today turned out to be a public holiday, so there’s no work or school. A document I am supposed to have renewed for me at the Cotonou Commiserait Central (Police HQ) for my trip can only be obtained tomorrow. I can’t travel without it, so I’ll be waiting to get it 8a.m tomorrow. That means I arrive Lagos tomorrow and I’m likely to return latest tomorrow nite, as I have a Web Marketing Lecture I’m giving to small scale manufacturers I met during the recent trade fair at the Cotonou Stadium here.

 

5/16/2016 9:42 AM: Tayo K. Solagbade: <image omitted>

5/16/2016 9:58 AM: Tayo K. Solagbade: Not sure if you are aware, but I created the Pineapple drink in 2013 while staying on the national university campus in a town called Calavi, on the outskirts of Cotonou,

 

5/16/2016 9:59 AM: Tayo K. Solagbade: Here’s the basic product page I setup then: http://tayosolagbade.com/boisson-tayo.html

 

5/16/2016 10:03 AM: Tayo K. Solagbade: Confession: I intend to use everything I’ve said above as content for the article I plan to publish on my blog with photos of me holding the pizza. I often write details via email etc to others as a time/effort saving way to create new and interesting content to publish on my blog loool. Hope you enjoyed the read!

 

5/16/2016 10:07 AM: Tayo K. Solagbade: By the way, if you’d like me to bring back your money with me, for the tailor to start work when I return, it’s best you pay in the funds to that GTB account so I can cash it and bring down with me tomorrow p.m or latest Wednesday a.m. This is just FYI. Don’t bother to respond if NO. Have a great week.

 

5/16/2016 2:02 PM: WMSTops: Bro, paid 35k into your account for those dresses . Confirm receipt

 

5/16/2016 4:04 PM: Tayo K. Solagbade: Yes. Seen the alert. On the road. Will email you next steps later today. In your service, Tayo

 

5/16/2016 5:31 PM: WMSTops: Ok bro and no wahala . Cheers

 

Below is a screenshot of the email alert I got, confirming the payment:

I was visiting a friend in a town outside Cotonou, when the final 3 exchanges shown above took place. Right after that, I promptly called up Modiu, my tailor, and told him the payment had been made in full.

He was silent for a few seconds then he asked if I was serious.

I had expected this, because he’d not shown much enthusiasm on Friday, when I was creating the sales page, mainly because the idea behind it was strange to him, having sold his services using offline methods only for over a decade.

I replied that I was, reminding him that I’d told him I was confident we could attract enquiries at low to zero cost, and in less time, using less effort too.

The excitement in his voice when he spoke after that was unmistakable, and I’m sure that by this singular achievement, I’ve won myself a new believer in my Web Marketing skills, due to the personal benefit that has accrued to him so unexpectedly!

Next step: I’ll be sending the buyer a template for use in sending his measurments across to Modiu.

Lesson to take away: Web Marketing WILL work for ANY business no matter how ancient or unconventional it is. You just need to be willing to apply your God-given creative intellect to find the ways to make it work for you. If you need help, consider joining my Web Marketing Club at http://tayosolagbade.com/smclub-nonfarm.html