by Shukuru Amos
It is not a wise idea to put all your eggs in one basket. Especially if you have little ownership of that basket. Recent feuds between governments and social media giants highlight the risks of relying on third-party platforms for business.
Here’s why owning your business website is essential, especially with increasing government interventions.
Government-Social Media Conflicts
Governments are increasingly exerting control over digital platforms. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, faced charges in France for insufficient policing of content, while Mark Zuckerberg was pressured by the Biden administration to moderate information during the Covid-19 pandemic. Brazil’s Supreme Court even temporarily shut down X (formerly Twitter) due to a conflict with Elon Musk.
These incidents reveal a growing pattern of government influence over online platforms.
Why Owning Your Website Matters
- Sovereignty Over Content: Your website is your domain. You control the content, free from government or platform policies.
- Data Control: Social media data is accessible to governments, but your website allows you to control customer data and safeguard privacy.
- Brand Integrity: Your website lets you craft and protect your brand narrative without the risk of external censorship.
- Resilience Against Bans: In regions prone to censorship, owning your website ensures continued accessibility, even if social media is blocked.
It May Get Worse in Africa
Africa’s political diversity creates unique challenges. In countries with authoritarian tendencies, governments may justify internet shutdowns or platform bans by citing global trends.
Take recent protests in Kenya for example. They were organized via X Spaces. President Ruto eventually had to face furious young people in an online debate on the platform formerly known as Twitter. Tanzania authorities have long been wary of the platform.
So the episodes we are currently seeing, especially the case of Telegram’s Durov, are likely to be cited in future by governments seeking to defend their own crackdowns on social-media platforms, justified or not.
For businesses in these regions (personal brands and solopreneurs included), having a website isn’t just a marketing tool—it’s a lifeline for communication and operations.
Strategic Recommendations
- Hosting and Domain: Use hosting services and registrars outside restrictive jurisdictions to avoid government interference.
- Decentralized Technologies and Backup Plans: Explore blockchain or decentralized hosting solutions that are resistant to censorship. Prepare contingency plans with alternative communication channels or emergency hosting options if your primary site is compromised.
- Content Strategy: Build a content plan that respects local laws while maintaining your brand’s voice to avoid site takedowns.
Conclusion
Recent government clashes with social media remind us of the risks in relying on third-party platforms for business. Owning your website isn’t just about digital real estate—it’s about protecting your business’s voice, data, and operations in an increasingly volatile online environment.
For businesses, especially those in politically sensitive regions, this control could mean the difference between thriving and merely surviving.
by Shukuru Amos
Hebu tuwe wakweli Kuhusu Kupata Wateja Mtandaoni . Tangu uamue kuuza maarifa mtandaoni hakuna kilichotokea. Juhudi za kupost na kucomment kila mara zinaishia kuwa mbuzi wa masikini –hazizai matunda. Watu hawakufuati kutaka huduma yako.
DM yako ni kavu kama jangwa la Kalahari. Hadhira uliyonayo (followers) hawakufuatilii. Likes na comments ni za kumulika kwa tochi. Hata Likes zikiwa nyingi, bado mauzo ni sifuri.
Mbaya zaidi, hata haujui kwanini unafeli mtandaoni. Haujui shida iko wapi!
Ukweli ni kwamba huna hadhira inayokuchukulia serious. You don’t have an audience.
Jina lako mtandaoni halina hadhi, hujaweza kujitofautisha na ndiyo maana watu hawaoni sababu kwanini wakuchague wewe. You are just another voice in the noise.
Hii makala itakusaidia sana.
Nimeamua kuandika kitu ambacho utakifanyia kazi papo na kuanza kona mabadiliko.
Twende kazi!
Shida ya kwanza: Huna kitu kinaitwa “narrative”
Kosa kubwa unaloweza kulifanya mtandaoni ni kuingia bila kuwa na simulizi inayokutambulisha. Hapa siongelei historia ya maisha yako sijui wewe ni nani, ulizaliwa wapi ikaja ikaenda….hapana. Hiyo ni sehemu tu ya kuunda narrative.
Kuwa na narrative maana yake ni ule mjumuiko wa stori, mawazo na vitendo vinavyojenga taswira yako ya kipekee. Mambo gani unasimamia, yapi unayapinga —yaani how are your choices, values and action build up a narrative around your identity?
Unataka mfano? Sawa.
Tuseme haupendi kuajairiwa, ulijaribu ukaacha kazi na sasa uko na mishe zako binafsi (Solopreneurship).Kwahiyo narrative yako itakuonyesha kama mtu anayependa uhuru na ni mjasiriamali.
Mfano mwingine wa kuunda narrative yako ni kuunda misemo yako na namna pekee ya uwasilishaji. Yaani hautumii maneno na lugha iliyozoeleka kwenye niche yako.
Hakikisha una “kaongelee” kako, misemo yako, misimamo na mitindo yako.
Hakikisha una kaongelee kako, misemo yako, misimamo na mitindo yako.
Shukuru Amos
Kwa mfano mimi; nina misemo na misimamo yangu maarufu kule LinkedIn:
- “Kataa Fikra Elekezi”
- “Social Rhetoric”
- “Content Alchemist”
- “Holiday posts are useless”
- “Awards are useless”
Usitumie msamiati wao. You’re not just another corporate person using corporate verbatim.
Kama kila mtu kwenye B2B anasema yeye ni “Best au award winning service provider” basi kaa mbali na utambulisho wa namna hiyo. Toka kivingine. Utofauti unakumbukwa. Utofauti unakaa akilini.
Shida ya pili: Una Uoga na Aibu
Tatizo lingine linalopelekea kufeli mtandaoni ni kwamba huna ujasiri wa kuongea kwa sauti yenye mamlaka. You’re being too safe. And shy.
Acha kuremba maneno unapoongelea upuuzi unaofanyika in your niche. Even worse, umeingia kwenye niche fulani na ukafanana na wote walio kwenye hiyo niche.
Sasa nani akusikilize ikiwa umeingia na kuwa kama uliowakuta?
Be a contrarian. Kosoa kile ambacho wengi wanakiamini kwa kuonyesha ama kiko overrated au ni simply useless. Kataa Fikra Elekezi zilizomo kwenye tasnia hiyo.
Hivyo ndiyo utaweza kuonekana na kuchukuliwa serious.
Shida ya tatu: watu hawajali
Umeingia mtandaoni ukijua unachokijua. Lakini hujakaa kudadavu ni kina nani hasa unawalenga. Wanahitaji nini? Kipi kinawakosesha usingizi?
Usiwe tu na hadhira ya jumla, ni lazima uchimbe mpaka umpate unayemtaka.
Kama uko kwenye fitness, unaweza kuamua unataka kuhudumia wanaume au wanawake? Pengine ukaenda niche zaidi ukasema fitness coach for stay home moms, au fitness coach for busy female corporate workers.
Shida ya nne: Maudhui yako yanaboa
Hii ni changamoto ya uwasilishaji. Uandishi wako hauna ladha, hauna vichombezo shirikishi kama vile misemo na tamathalli semi. Yaani unawasilisha tu ilimradi.
Kama ni video basi usemaji, mazingira na vielelezo vya mwili havivutii.
Shida ya 5: Hauko serious
Hapa kuna mambo mawili; bidii na kujigharamia kuwa bora.
Nikuulize swali, ndani ya miezi 9 iliyopita umewahi kulipia maarifa? Yaani kununua kitabu, course, coaching session. Au paid subscription kama vile Medium Membership, X Pro, newspaper subscription n.k. Kama jibu ni hapana au haukumbuki basi hauko serious.
Kuhusu bidii: Kama mwezi huu unajaribu, mwezi ujao hatukuoni; halafu baada ya muda unakuja tena unafanya fanya unapotea tena. Hapa si bora utafute ajira na ukawe mfanyakazi mtiifu. Mafanikio mtandaoni yanahitaji watu wanaojituma.
Kama haujui kinachokufanya usifanikiwe mtandaoni, hauwezi kupata suluhu. Kama haujui ni aina gani ya maudhui yanafanya vizuri, utaendelea kubahatisha.
Nina matumanini makala hili imekufanya uhoji mkakati wako mzima wa kuuza maarifa mtandaoni.
Ninaitwa Shukuru Amos. Ni mwandinshi wa kitabu cha Mbele Ya Muda. Ndani ya hiki utajifunza kuhusu personal branding, maudhui na biashara mtandaoni. Pia nimeandika Mwongozo mfupi kukusaidia Kutengeza Profile Yako ya LinkedIn au X mwanzo mwisho.
Mwisho
Unaishi kwenye Ulimwengu wa Digitali. LAKINI kwanini habari za kupata PESA na MAFANIKIO Mtandaoni unazisikia kwa watu wengine tu? Na ukiangalia bado KIJANA kabisa. Ni kweli umekubali kuwa mtazamaji kwenye Uchumi wa DIGITALI? Hapana bwana!
by Shukuru Amos
Habari kwa Digital Writers Tanzania. Sasa Unaweza kujipatia pesa kwa kuandika kwenye jukwaa la Medium. “We’ve added 77 countries to the Medium Partner Program” taarifa rasmi kutoka Medium ilisema mnamo August 6, 2024.
Kabla ya hapo, Tanzania haikuwemo miongoni mwa nchi ambazo writers waliweza kujipatia pesa kupitia makala zao kusomwa. In fact, hakukuwa na nchi hata moja ya Afrika.
Kama ilivyo kwa majukwaa mengine yanayolipa watengeneza maudhi, kuchelewa kwa Tanzania kuwa kwenye orodha ya Medium Parter Program ilitokana na shida ya njia ya malipo. Wanatumia Stripe kugawa malipo.
Mwezi Februari nilijaribu kujiunga nikaambiwa “You are located in a country that is not eligible for payouts.” Basi kwenye orodha hii mpya, Tanzania imo. Kazi kwako msaka maokoto mtandaoni.
Je Jukwaa la Medium ni Nini?
Mtandao wa Medium ni kama YouTube lakini kwa waandishi. Ni jukwaa la waandishi wa makala zinazohusu mada mbalimbali. Yaani unaweza kuandika chochote kwa ujuzi, uzoefu au maoni yako. Medium inakuwezesha kumiliki blog yako ambayo tayari ina wasomaji maana watumiaji wa jukwaa lile ni takribani milioni 100 kila mwezi.
Je Unalipwaje kwa Kandika Medium?
Kupitia Medium Partner Program, ukiandika makala yako ikapata engagement kama vile likes/claps, comments na activity zingine kama highlights, unaweza kujipatia kiasi fulani cha pesa (in dollars). Zikifika dollar 10, zitatumwa kwenye akaunti yako ya benki yoyote hapa Tanzania.
Masharti ya Kujiunga.
Ni lazima uwe mtumiaji wa Medium Pro, wenyewe wanaita kuwa Medium Member. Ni dola $5 kwa mwezi. Kama hauko tayari kutumia pesa ili upate pesa basi fursa hii si yako. Pia uwe umechapisha makala kwenye jukwaa hilo kwa kipindi cha ndani ya miezi 6 iliyopita. Hii maana yake: Unaweza kujiunga leo na ukaandika makala zako mbili au tatu hala ukaomba kujiunga kwenye programu ya kulipwa. Epuka kutumia AI kuandika makala zako, hiyo hawataki kabisa. Wanataka ubora na uhalisia.
Zaidi ya hapo hakuna masharti magumu. Unaweza soma zaidi hapa kufahamu Medium Partner Programu ni nini.
Je ni Nini cha Kuandika?
Andika chochote unachokijua, uzoefu wa maisha au ujuzi wako kitaaluma. Hakuna masharti ya nini cha kuandika. Ila ushauri tu kwako Mtanzania, andika kwa Kiingereza ili usijifunge kuandikia Waswahili tu.
Mimi binafsi ninaandika makala kwenye jukwaa la Medium. Unaweza kuni-Follow hapa.
by Shukuru Amos
Dear Newly Registered Business Owner in Tanzania,
Congratulations on navigating through the bureaucratic maze! You’ve secured your spot with the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA), the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), and have your City Municipal license in hand.
You’re now officially recognized by the authorities.
But here’s a thought: while you’ve checked all the regulatory boxes, have you considered the most crucial registration of all?
The Fourth Registration: Your Website
In the digital age, your business’s journey doesn’t end with government approvals. Here’s why your next step should be establishing a robust online presence:
- Visibility Beyond Paperwork: The three authorities you’ve registered with ensure you’re legal, but they don’t guarantee you’re visible. A website is your business’s introduction to the world, where it matters most – in the eyes of your customers.
- Customer Trust and Credibility: A well-designed website isn’t just a digital brochure; it’s a testament to your professionalism and commitment. Potential customers expect to find you online. If they can’t, they might question your legitimacy or simply move on to competitors who are digitally present.
- Market Expansion: With a website, your business isn’t confined to local foot traffic or word of mouth. You’re accessible to anyone with an internet connection, expanding your market exponentially.
- The New Business Card: In the digital era, your website URL is the new business card. It’s where customers go for more information, to contact you, or to make purchases. Without it, you’re missing out on direct engagement opportunities.
Why Most Businesses Overlook This Step
It’s easy to think that once the legalities are sorted, the business is ready. However, this mindset overlooks:
- The Digital Shift: Consumer behavior has shifted online. People research products and services before making decisions. If your business isn’t there, you’re not part of their decision-making process.
- Cost vs. Benefit: While there’s an initial cost to setting up a website, the return on investment in terms of visibility, credibility, and customer acquisition is immeasurable.
Your Next Move
- Invest in Your Future: Think of your website as an investment, not an expense. It’s where your business lives online, working for you 24/7.
- Choose Wisely: With Tanzlite Host, you’re not just getting a website; you’re gaining a digital partner. We specialize in crafting websites that not only look good but are optimized for search engines, ensuring you’re found when potential customers are looking.
Conclusion
You’ve done the hard work of getting your business registered with the authorities. Now, complete your registration in the eyes of your customers. A website isn’t just another step; it’s the final, crucial piece of your business identity.
Welcome to the digital world, where your business truly begins to thrive. With Tanzlite Host, your digital registration is just a step away.
by Shukuru Amos
Earlier this year, we introduced Tanzlite Host. This is not just another name in Tanzania’s web hosting services; we’re rewriting the rules.
Here’s how our unique approach to business is setting us apart and why it’s the most profitable model in the industry:
A Different Kind of Web Hosting Business
At Tanzlite Host, we’ve flipped the traditional model on its head:
- Web Design First, Hosting Second: We’re fundamentally a web design agency that provides hosting. This means every website we host, we’ve likely designed. This approach ensures that we’re not just hosting your site; we’re invested in its success from conception.
- Volume vs. Value: While many competitors chase volume, we focus on value. One corporate website project with us can be equivalent to years of hosting renewals. For instance, our corporate website packages start at Tsh 670,000, which matches the cost of our ESSENTIAL hosting package for 7 years. This model reduces the churn associated with constant sales efforts.
Why Our Approach is More Profitable:
- Long-term Relationships: In Tanzania, where SMEs might not last long, our model ensures that even if a client doesn’t renew, they’ve already invested significantly in design and development. This reduces the pressure of constant new sales to maintain revenue.
- Service Over Sales: Our business thrives on retainer services, one-time revamps, and additional features. This creates a more stable income stream than the volatile sales cycle of domain and hosting packages.
- Exclusive Design-Hosting Bundle: We rarely allow clients to purchase just hosting from us if they’ve had their website designed elsewhere. This exclusivity ensures that our hosting service is tied to our design expertise, creating a symbiotic relationship where both services enhance each other’s value.
The Best Offer in Tanzania:
Understanding the financial challenges of starting a digital presence, Tanzlite Host offers an unbeatable deal:
- Free Hosting and Domain for One Year: If you choose us to design your website, you get your hosting and domain for free for the first year. No other provider in Tanzania matches this offer. It’s our way of empowering you to start your digital journey without financial barriers.
Conclusion:
Tanzlite Host isn’t just about hosting; we’re about partnership, design, and empowerment. Our approach, focusing on design first and hosting second, not only aligns with the needs of Tanzanian businesses but also positions us as the most profitable model in the industry. Karibu!
