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Jiji The Number One Nigerian Online Marketplace For Real People

Friday, August 28th, 2015

Everyone has a need. But our needs varies. Someone desires to buy while another desire to sell. When the buyer and seller are giving a comfortable platform to meet without much ado, they both go away smiling. The market place is the common place that buyers go to meet with seller. Back in the days, the market place has to be physical. But in this information age, distance is no barrier. The team behind Jiji understand this too well, and has put together a beautiful platform for the Nigerian teeming populace to conduct their transactions without hassles. Introducing Jiji the #1 Nigerian Online Marketplace for Real People.

Jiji.ng

Jiji

Jiji is your Number One Nigerian Online Marketplace For Real People

Catering for buyers and sellers  with different needs

For example, while the household head may want to buy a machine for his work, the lady of the home desire may be to change the furniture while their growing teenager wants a phone or tablet. It is always a good thing when every member of the household can visit a one stop market to get their needs met with high quality products being offered by assorted sellers. That’s where Jiji.ng comes in. Jiji is your number one Nigerian Online Marketplace for real people. Why bother visiting a store physically, when you can buy from the comfort of your home or office. There are many online stores, but Jiji excels where many fail. The products on Jiji, whether new or used are affordable and highly competitive in pricing. Since Jiji.ng is a meeting point for buyers and sellers, with the middlemen completely cut-off, you can be rest assured that you will get a good bargain whether you are buying or selling your products or services.

Jiji Provides Free classifieds for Nigerians

nigerian_map

On this resource every citizen of the country can sell or buy anything they need. Jiji is all about buying and selling to real people! The site presently provide over  142,971 ads and is still growing. You sure can get great deals at affordable pricing.

The process is quite simple

  1. A seller post Ad for product or service for FREE.
  2. The seller gets calls from real buyers.
  3. The seller choose the best one and the transaction is conducted.

The site’s interface is user friendly.

The team at Jiji understands that teenagers and youth are more comfortable with conducting transactions on the Internet. That is why extra effort has been put into ensuring that the older ones won’t need to go back to school before they can effectively use the tools and resources provided on the platform. Jiji.ng has a simple interface. All the necessary buttons and links are on the main page. You can conduct your transaction in less than 5 minutes once you register.

Items are in Categories.

For convenience, all products are organized into categories for example:

  • computers, tablets, and laptops;
  • cars, mopeds and motorcycles;
  • smartphones and mobile phones;
  • furniture and more.

jiji_categories

Also, a filter feature is provided to help you streamline your search. You can specify that you need a product that meets certain criteria. For example, you can easily specify that only new things or used things should be returned by your search.

Products and Services are listed

The site is not limited to physical products alone. You can look for diver kinds of services. The site can help you find a job or recruit an employee. Both employees and employers are welcome to use the site. You can call a plumber, carpenter, or gasman. To appreciate fully the features and benefits provide click the link and visit JiJi.ng! A pleasant surprise awaits you.

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Posted in Guest Post, Nigerian | 3 Comments »

8 Rules That Will Help You Create a Successful Business

Sunday, August 16th, 2015

More and more college graduates are opting to cope with the uncertainty of the job market by launching directly into business after graduation. Most people in employment are also opting for a side business to provide extra security should they lose their job or should they have to contend with a salary cut.

The threat of losing one’s job, or even becoming indigent, was bona fide by the 2008/09 financial crisis, as many people lost their homes and other property following the collapse of banks and companies from different industries.

Emerging world trends are also beginning to render most job posts irrelevant. For instance, most companies are fast becoming reliant on the internet for selling and marketing. This threatens the position of employees in sales and marketing positions. The same thing applies to software design jobs, where most companies are beginning to crowd source their ideas, thereby needing their software designers less and less.

With such trends, even those who still hold jobs find themselves in underpaid positions or find that their wages have stagnated. What’s more, the cost of living is not adjusting downwards to cater for these changes in the work environment, hence people have to work more to get more money to feed their families and maintain the standard of lives that they are used to.

Whatever your age, motivations for going into business, or the line of business you want to go into, your rate of success will be shaped by the same factors. Whether you are opening a physical store or an online business, there are some rules that apply in all lines of business and these rules create success.

Business Success

  1. Define what motivates you

Most people find motivation when they are at the lowest point in their lives. In every economic recession, there are those around you who usually seem to emerge unscathed. Most of these individuals tend to be very successful entrepreneurs, who have experienced firsthand what it feels like to be on their last dollar and have vowed to themselves never to go through the same experience again.

You too could find motivation from similar situations. If you have a family, the thought of what could happen if you are laid off could spur you into action. If you don’t have an additional source of income, it could mean that you might have to lose your home and have your family live on the street or in the basement of your parents’ house.

To prevent such a scenario, investing your time and money in creating additional income sources should become a priority for you.

  1. Go into a line you are interested in

Starting a business in a line of work that you understand is one way to guarantee success. This is simply because you understand the inner workings of your industry and are less likely to make mistakes.

Starting a business in another industry could mean having to upgrade your credentials by getting some form of education. This will cost you money and time. Not to mention, your full time job is already time consuming and draining, therefore having to switch your mind to a different line of work will require a lot of mental effort.

  1. Live within your means

If you like spending, you will have a hard time building a successful business. You will find that the less you spend, the more money you will have to inject back into your business to make it grow.

Avoid getting loans to buy things which will not make you money. Also, if you can, get rid of credit cards.  Once you succeed, you will afford any car you want and you can get credit cards.

  1. Surround yourself with the right people

You can learn a lot from the people you surround yourself with. Social media platforms serve as a meeting place for people, where plans are made and ideas are shared. If you have the right people in your network, you will find solutions to most of your problems from them.

Technology designers or application developers, for instance, help each other to develop useful applications without stealing each other’s ideas or competing with each other. Participants in such projects see this as an opportunity to learn new things.

  1. Learn to promote your brand

The only way others will know what you are up to is if you aggressively promote your brand. You have to develop a maximum of three key selling points for your products or services, then market them based on those selling points. Your marketing efforts have to be convincing enough to make people want to buy.

  1. Learn to manage your time

If you are poor at managing time, you will find it extremely challenging to juggle your full time job and a side business.

You can find a few hours a day to build your business by waking up early in the morning. If this is not possible, you can dedicate your weekends towards your business.

  1. Learn to take setbacks in stride

Any business will have set backs. You might find that your sales are not coming in as you expected or that customers are giving negative reviews to your product.

Instead of giving up, such challenges should motivate you to find solutions.

  1. It shouldn’t be all about the money

Money is good because in an economy that is driven by money, it gives you the ability to afford things. However, don’t go into business just to make money.

A sense of accomplishment and satisfaction are equally, if not more, important as money. Knowing that you created a product or are providing a service that people would pay money to use is indeed a big achievement and should not be ignored.

If you take the above into consideration when building your own business, you will not only become financially secure, but you will also build a business that is relevant to people’s lives. More so, if you are persistent in your efforts, your business could succeed to become your full time job.

About the author

Noella Tesi started a successful business after getting out of debt. Her past experiences in debt give her motivation for succeeding financially. Read on for more.

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Posted in Entrepreneur, Financial Intelligence, Guest Post, small business, Tips & Tricks | 9 Comments »

14 Simple Pointers You Can’t Ignore While Choosing A WordPress Theme

Friday, August 14th, 2015

The wonderful flexibility of choosing from tons and tons of WordPress themes often makes it quite tedious to settle down for the right one. In the wake of getting their WordPress blog/site up and running in no time, a majority of webmasters tends to resort to inefficient and low-quality WordPress themes that end up causing irreparable harm to their online presence. Hence, it is better to stay informed about all the exquisite things that need to be considered for curbing the uncertainty associated with choosing the best suited WordPress theme.

In today’s post, you’ll get to know about 14 most crucial pointers that need to be paid special attention to, during the selection process for WordPress free or paid themes. So, let’s take a closer look at the things you need to keep in mind while hand-picking the perfect theme among a huge collection of WordPress themes.

Wordpress Theme

  1. Analyze the type of website that you’re intending to build

Never get seduced by the stunning designs of WordPress themes, rather, be clear on the type of website that you’re planning to create. For instance, if you’re about to build an e-commerce website, choosing e-commerce related WordPress themes will prove beneficial. On the contrary, you may also opt for the multi-purpose WordPress themes that allow you to showcase any type of business with any target audience.

  1. Check whether the theme you’ve shortlisted for your website is accompanied by an easy setup

A WordPress theme that takes long hours or even multiple days to setup should never be chosen, irrespective of whether it comes to you for free or for a small fee. Hence, prior to choosing a WordPress theme, it is recommended to check whether the same comes with an easy setup or not. Possible ways to finding the complexity of theme setup is by noticing the things below:

  • Whether or not the WordPress theme seller is offering any setup documentation?
  • Whether your website content matches with the one displayed in the theme’s demo?
  • Whether the theme seller is inclined on offering any open support forum?

Theme Design

  1. Check out whether the WordPress theme is enriched with Third-party plugin support and compatibility

The more compatible a theme is with a plugin, the better it is for the overall speed and performance of a WordPress powered blog/website. Hence, while picking a theme for your WP blog/site, don’t forget to check for the third-party support and compatibility feature. Some of the most popular plugins that your theme should be compatible with, include BuddyPress, WPML and bbPress.

  1. Check the level of customization available with the WordPress theme

The capability of changing the look and feel of a theme is simply unbeatable. With the huge crowd of free and premium WordPress themes, it is imperative for you to choose the one that can be customized with utmost ease and flexibility. While some WordPress themes come with a default customizer, allowing webmasters to change the visual appearance and functionality of the theme; there are other WP themes which expect the webmasters to rely on PHP and CSS code for tweaking the way the theme looks and works.

  1. Simplicity is the word for an ‘Outstanding’ WordPress theme

The web market is flooded with free WordPress themes that comprise of complex features. Though such themes might look truly stunning in their display, they might not turn to be the best asset for your WordPress site. Hence, I suggest you to stay away from the fancy world, rather go ahead with choosing a WordPress theme with simple design. Easy modification and cross-browser compatibility are two of the best known advantages of using a simple WordPress theme.

  1. Ensure that the theme you choose for your WordPress portal is mobile-friendly

Mobile Friendly Theme

If a majority of reports are to be believed, about 30% of all website visits are being received from mobiles, tablets and other hand-held devices. Considering this, you can’t do away with the utmost urgency of installing a fully responsive theme onto your WordPress website/blog. Fortunately, a huge collection of WordPress themes available in the web market is mobile-friendly by default, but it is always better to check with the vendor whether the one you’re shortlisting is 100% responsive.

Check for a clean and intuitive navigation in the WordPress theme

Despite the amount of time, money and effort that you put into making your website beautiful and feature-rich, a poor navigation can easily make your layout look cluttered, keeping the visitors annoyed. Hence, in order to refrain visitors from leaving your website/blog, it is recommended to choose a theme that has an intuitive navigation system, allowing visitors to navigate through different sections of the website.

  1. Check whether the theme is accompanied by a Pre or Post-Sales Support

During the process of shortlisting a suitable theme for your WordPress blog/site, it is advised to spend some time on identifying the pre and post-sales support that is available with the respective theme. For instance, there is a good count of WordPress stores and marketplaces which render open access to their customer communication areas and support forums. Additionally, you may choose to get in touch with the theme’s support team via telephone, email etc.

  1. Check whether security and compatibility patches would or wouldn’t be released for the WordPress theme

During the process of shortlisting a WordPress theme for your website/blog, it is better to pick up the one for which you’re sure enough that the security and compatibility fixes would be released without a fail. For instance, after six months of using the WordPress theme, you must be confident about receiving a reply regarding your specific queries. All in all, it is better to choose a themes company that has been into the business of designing and delivering bug-free WordPress themes backed by a strong support team.

  1. Check whether the theme comes with social media integration feature

Today, it is quite unusual to find a user who doesn’t have an account on any of the popular social media platforms. Hence, if you are running a WordPress powered blog or website, you might be interested in attracting users to comment/share or like the posts that have been published on your portal. It is a cool and trendy WordPress theme (equipped with social media integration feature) that allows you to make the most of your social media presence via enhancement in total page views.

  1. Unique designs make for a perfect WordPress theme

As the WordPress webmaster, your intention to stand apart from your competitors can meet its end if you opt for a theme with 100% unique design. The web market has a good suite of WordPress themes which are an accurate replica of other popular themes. You should stay away from such themes and instead choose the ones which are completely interactive and loaded with several features like tons of page builder shortcode modules, free fonts, layouts and a lot more. Check out whether the theme that you’re about to settle down for has a perfect blend of contemporary web design trends like full-width visuals, grids, ghost buttons, slow load effect etc.

  1. Get to know about the Terms of Service associated with the WordPress theme that you’re planning to choose

Irrespective of whether you’re excited about choosing a free or a premium WordPress theme, a timely knowledge about the Terms of Service related to the theme is greatly befitting. For example, there are several free WordPress themes which expect multiple backlinks. You must avoid installing such themes and instead opt for a different free theme which doesn’t come with too many backlinks. Moreover, do check out the Terms of Service laid down with the theme. Doing this will act as a guarantee that the hardwork of the theme designer is being appreciated and that the theme won’t lose its credibility in any way. Browse through the free-to-download WordPress themes available in the WordPress’ Official Themes Directory. Here, you’ll find a wide array of good themes that come with simple terms of service.

  1. Look for a WordPress theme that’s loaded with shortcodes

Shortcodes serve as the right means of attaching media data to your WordPress posts and pages. Hence, get on with looking for a theme that comes with shortcodes out-of-the-box, allowing you to embed audio, tabs, video, grids, lists and Google Maps into your WordPress website.

  1. A WordPress theme that relies on the Cherry framework shouldn’t be missed

Launched by TemplateMonster, Cherry framework has served as the parent framework for a whopping 900+ child themes. Equipped with multiple shortcodes, widgets and Bootstrap options, Cherry framework has an admin panel that resembles the traditional WordPress admin interface. That means, even a non tech-savvy individual can quickly set up a WordPress website/blog within minutes. WordPress themes that rely on the Cheery framework are by default loaded with stunning WordPress features like XML Sitemap generation, custom post creation, easy import/export data procedures, SEO optimization and many more.

Final Thoughts

The kind of theme that you install on your WordPress site/blog will determine the fate of your online presence. Hence, take my words and pay heed to each of the above mentioned pointers to get hold of the WordPress theme that looks awesome and allows you to achieve your kind of web-based portal.

Author Bio: My name is Andrey. I am a web developer in CMS Web Development Company. I am fond of finding simple solutions to complex problems. If you loved the topic, do share and comment. Also, you can follow me on Twitter for more updates.

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Posted in Blogging, Wordpress | No Comments »

Lawsuit Funding Companies – Banking on the Small Entrepreneur

Saturday, July 18th, 2015

If you are a keen business executive, you must have observed the temerity with which small enterprises are fighting Fortune 500 in court. This is unusual considering these large conglomerates are flush with cash to crash plaintiffs.

Well, the secret lies in litigation financing, an aspect of financing that can help you safeguard your business even when the world around you seems to be crumbling.  Take for instance if an employee takes you to court over a case you have grounds to win.

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur

Fighting Against All Odds

Fighting such a case can be devastating to your business if there is no other source of capital.  Luckily, litigation funding companies are bankrolling businesses in order to enable them fight any cases. Your enterprise might be facing one of the following situations:

  1. Intellectual property rights
  2. Disputes concerning assets
  3. Customer compensation suits
  4. Suits on unlawful termination or liability issues pertaining to your firm

Benefits of Lawsuit Funding

These are just a bit of legal issues your company can face at any time.  To survive then, you need to bank on a financial partner who trusts you will eventually win. Litigation funds help to pay attorney fees and clear other costs pertaining to your case. The advantage of these loans includes:

  1. Protection against bankruptcy due to a court case
  2. Spreading risks thus avoiding by avoiding litigation expenses
  3. Peace of mind in order to concentrate on your business as attorneys deal with your lawsuit
  4. Easy approval after assessment of the strength of your case
  5. No upfront fees and you only pay when you win. In essence, it is a no recovery no payback agreement which relieves you off any pressure.

The benefits go on and on but what you cannot deny is the fact that for once, the small business has a partner to lean on when the ground gets shaky.  You also feel more confident on your side as you will know these experts have already seen the strength in your suit.

Tips on Using Lawsuit Loans

Now that you appreciate the benefits of this kind of financing, it is time you started exploring the industry in order to identify the best firm to work with. Here are some tips on getting the best out of the deal:

  1. Weigh the options: While this might appear like a new industry, it has been in operation for a long time. This means there are many players out there therefore research and comparison is called for. You need to take time and examine as many companies as possible before picking the best.
  2. Understand every minor detail: It is critical to understand every aspect of the agreement to avoid disagreements in future. For an entrepreneur, more legal tussles can ruin operations and you must avoid them at all costs.
  3. Understand the application process: The agreement involves you, your attorney and the funding firm. A lot of research will be necessary but it is always crucial to follow the guidelines of your lawyer before applying.

There you have it; your business at last has a source of recourse in case you are slapped with weighty litigation.

BIO

Anita Burton is one of the most recognized legal writers for the last three decades.  Today, she focuses on aspects of the law that can help hapless citizens such as lawsuit funding companies.

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Posted in Entrepreneur, Financial Intelligence, Guest Post, small business | 1 Comment »

Business Tips To Help You Succeed As An Entrepreneur

Thursday, July 16th, 2015

Prospective entrepreneurs often wonder about how established business owners managed to achieve their success. There is no quick or short path towards becoming successful in the world of business. The key factors that determine your ability to reach your business goals include having the right attitude and taking action.

Pursue your Goals Passionately

You will enjoy a fulfilling life if you make the bold choice of pursuing your dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur. Anyone who gets the chance to work in an industry that he or she is passionate about will be more motivated and productive.

While financial goals are a crucial aspect of starting your own business, you should ideally start a company that has the potential to make a positive impact on people’s lives. This will enable you to not only run a profitable venture but make a worthwhile difference to the lives of other people as well.

Being committed to your business objectives requires you to be passionate about your ideas. Your level of commitment has a significant effect on whether or not you will succeed. Take pride in the work you do and the service or products that you provide.

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur

Focus and Consistency

Your desire for generating income and growing your business should never distract you from being consistently good at what you do. Maintaining focus and making an effort to be among the best in the industry will make it easier for you to achieve profitability and growth over time.

Enjoy your Work

Several successful entrepreneurs can attest to the fact that being positive has contributed to their achievements as business founders. You should be able to enjoy what you do and your business should add joy and fulfillment to your life. If your business makes you miserable, it would be a good idea to try something else that actually interests you.

Your employees also need to look forward to work each day and be actively involved in various aspects of business operations. The happiness and motivation of your employees will enable them to serve customers better and work more efficiently. Look for people who genuinely want to add value to the company and contribute to the success of your venture.

Never Give Up

Difficulties and challenges are inevitable when starting a business and you may not always get the results that you aim for from time to time. The road to entrepreneurial success is not always smooth but you should never give up.

Tenacity and resilience are essential because they make it possible for you to be firmly entrenched in the pursuit of your goals. Whenever you encounter failure, use the experience as a valuable lesson and keep on trying until you reach your goals.

Learn and Grow

Every time you get new ideas note them down in a journal that you can refer to for inspiration. List also your goals so that you can track the progress that you are making. In order for you to learn how to be a successful entrepreneur, you should be willing to listen and gain knowledge from other people.

A good entrepreneur also needs to learn how to delegate duties especially in regards to areas of the business that he or she may not have the skills for. Hire people who have the qualifications to carry out the work that you may be unable to do and allow yourself to have enough time to spend with friends and family.

Positive Working Environment

The free time you get when you delegate is also useful for helping you focus on other ways to implement in order to grow your company. The work environment should encourage people to communicate and share information that is useful for the business.

People need to be able to interact freely and be comfortable enough to express themselves. This type of work environment creates confidence and makes every member of the team feel valued by the organization.

Take a Break

With technological advancement, people are able to accomplish several tasks as long as they have computers and internet connections. Although this has made it possible to carry out tasks faster, it is still important to get out and face the real world occasionally. Take a break from your computer screen and mingle with inspirational people.

Succeeding in Entrepreneurship

Regardless of where you are located or the kind of profit you are able to make, it is important to be surrounded by positive motivated people who will give you the encouragement you need to keep your business running. Being a successful entrepreneur takes hard work and determination. Entrepreneurs who have been able to achieve success in their venture share a number of similar characteristics.

  • In order for you to be set apart from your competitors, you need to be persistent, positive and passionate about your business. Such attributes need to be cultivated because they enable you to possess the skills that are necessary for developing a business effectively.
  • Business strategies cannot thrive without passion. If you approach your business ideas with a reluctant attitude, your willingness to succeed will soon fade away. Keep on persevering until you get what you want because every effort you make will be rewarded in the long run. Taking the plunge into the business world is exciting but you need to be cautious about how quickly you move.
  • Manage your risks efficiently and try to make them as small as possible so that you will be able to recover faster in case anything goes wrong. The outcomes of business risks provide entrepreneurs with lessons that they will never forget.
  • Many entrepreneurs usually begin by working for other people. The amount of time they spend in a particular industry prepares them for the process of starting their own businesses. Find a mentor who you respect and admire because his or her mistakes and success will help you learn what you need to know about running a business.
  • Confidence and effective communication are essential traits for any entrepreneur who wants to promote a venture effectively. A business owner should have the ability to market the company and share its vision while prioritizing the needs of the customer.

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Posted in Entrepreneur, Nigerian, small business, Tips & Tricks | 3 Comments »

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