Naitwa Shukuru Amos. Kabla sijakudokezea siri ya mafanikio mtandaoni, naomba nikupe stori yangu fupi: Hapo Mwanzo hapakuwa na jina Shukuru Amos kwenye uso wa dunia ya digital marketing. Yote yalianza mara baada ya mimi kutangaziwa kwamba nina wiki mbili zimebaki nifanye mtihani wa mwisho chuoni.
Hapo ndipo nikagundua ninaelekea mtaani nikiwa jobless and unemployed. “Nikimaliza chuo nitafanya nini?” nilijiuliza.
Nikisema nirudi kwetu kijijini, hakukuwa na ishu ya kufanya. Nikisema nibaki ndani ya jiji la Dar es Salaam, hapa pia hakukuwa na ishu ya kufanya.
Je, nilimua lipi? Nilianzaje? Nimejifunza yapi ndani ya miaka mitano kufikia hatua ya kazi kunifatuta mimi na si mimi kutafuta kazi? Yote haya nimeeleza ndani ya kitabu changu kiitwacho; MBELE YA MUDA: Kama Unataka Mali, Utaipata Shambani.
Tunakoelekea, kila mtu atalazimika kuingia kwenye uchumi wa digitali. Ndipo kutakuwapo kilio na kusaga meno kama hujajiandaa.
Shukuru Amos
Tatizo la Vijana wengi Tanzania ukiwemo wewe
Vijana wengi wana shida ya kujiwasilisha kizembe kwenye maombi ya kazi. Tatizo hili linajidhihirisha pia wanapoingia kwenye soko la uchumi wa digitali.
Haiwezekani mtu una followers 10,000 halafu bado unalalamika kuhusu kukosa kazi. Haiwezekani! Lakini ndiyo shida waliyonayo Freelancers wa Kitanzania. Wengi hawana jina lenye hadhi.
Pamoja na ukweli kwamba uchumi wa digitali unaweza kutufanya kuondokana na ukosefu wa ajira na umasikini, inasikitisha kwamba vijana wengi hawajawahi kupata pesa mtandaoni.
Kama unachangamoto hii, una matatizo manne. Nitakupa mawili hapa (mengine ndani ya kitabu):
Unashindwa kuandika kwa sauti yenye mamlaka.
Unashindwa kuonyesha ukomavu wa fikra kupitia maandishi.
Hapo zamani za kale, walikuwepo watu wanaitwa Alchemists. Hawa walikuwa wanajaribu kubadili madini ya risasi kuwa dhahabu. Lakini mwishowe walikata tamaa. It was impossible turning lead into gold. Mimi sitaki wewe ukate tamaa.
Unaweza kubadili content kuwa jina lenye hadhi na kufanya fursa zikutafute. Siyo wewe kuhangaika kutafuta fursa muda wote.Kufahamu tatizo la 3 na la 4, pamoja nini cha kufanya —nunua kitabu changu.
Maoni ya baadhi ya waliosoma kitabu hiki
Je, Mitandao inalipa au hailipi?
Hebu Fikiria Upo Kwenye Stage Hii:Huna wasiwasi juu ya wapi na namna gani utapata mteja, au ajira. Unapata meseji (qualified leads) 4-9 kwa wiki za watu ambao wako interested kufanya kazi nawewe.
Uko vizuri kwenye kushawishi mkikutana au kwenye simu. Watu ni wengi kuliko unavyoweza ku-handle. Huna tena habari za kuandaa CV, kujitolea au kwenda kuongeza mastaz. Unafanya kazi ukiwa nyumbani au popote. Foleni za Jiji tena basii.
Hayo yote yanawezekana. Mimi mwandishi wa kitabu hiki nipo kwenye stage hii sasa. Sitafuti kazi. Kazi zinanitafuta! Kama mimi kijana kutoka uskumani ndani ndani nimeweza, hata wewe unaweza. Mitandao inalipa ndugu yangu!
Umechoka kuandika Dear Sir/Madam bila kupata majibu?
Kama kutuma maombi ya kazi umeshatuma sana. Vyeti unavyo vya kutosha. Pengine umejaribu mitandao lakini unaona kama wembe ni ule ule. No job!
Ndani ya MbeleYaMuda, nimeandika “Usiwe mtafuta kazi maarufu” kwani hakuna mtu anasema “Muone fulani huwa anatafuta kazi”. Watu husema “Muone fulani huwa anafanya hicho kitu.”
Mbele Ya Muda ni kitabu chenye MADINI yatakuyokufanya ujione ULICHELEWA kuanza kufaidika na NGUVU ya Mtandao.
Kimeandikwa na mimi, the most followed Tanzanian marketer on LinkedIn. Ambaye uandishi na uwasilishaji wangu unafuatiliwa sana kwenye mtandao huo.
Moja kati ya mada zilizomo ndani ya MbeleYaMuda, utajifunza Personal Branding, Uandishi na Uwasilishaji unaoleta Pesa na KUHESHIMISHA Jina. Pia utajifunza kuhusu Biashara Mtandaoni, Saikolojia ya Maudhui na mengine tufanye siri yako. Maana yana ukakasi kidogo kuyasema hadharani. Lakini ndiyo siri ya mafanikio mtandaoni.
Majibu, Maujuzi na Maujanja YOTE Utayapata ndani ya kitabu hiki.
Kitabu hiki kwasasa kinapatikana kwa mfumo wa soft copy pekee. Bei ni Tsh 29,900/=
BOFYA HAPA kununua kitabu, au BOFYA HAPA kunicheki WhatsApp. Au nipigie 0742 085 089.
On November 30, 2022, ChatGPT was released. Since then Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a game-changing technology. It is reshaping everything, including social media marketing.
There is an endless stream of content on social media as brands and influencers desperately seek attention. And AI is at the center of all this.
It is unwise to adamantly dismiss AI. According to an analysis of over 15,500 news articles and blogs, there was a staggering 550% increase in interest in AI from 2022 to 2023. Social media marketers are swiftly caught on. More companies are planning to double or even triple their use of AI across various activities.
Source: Hootsuite Social Trends 2024 Survey
The Surge in AI Applications
The Hootsuite survey reveals compelling statistics showcasing the surge in AI adoption by organizations. In 2024, there is a projected 318% increase in the use of AI for customer support activities and a 260% increase in AI utilization for image editing.
Consumer Skepticism: Adopt with Care!
It is not all fun and game having an AI tick off some tasks from your busy schedule. A lot of people are having doubts. The survey uncovered that 62% of consumers are less likely to engage with and trust content if they know it was created by an AI application. Adopt with care.
Generational Divide in AI Trust
Your uncle does not really like this whole new AI thing. So keep in mind that different generations perceive AI-generated content differently.
Gen Z appears more adept at distinguishing between AI-generated and human-created content, expressing higher levels of trust and engagement. In contrast, baby boomers exhibit the opposite tendencies, showcasing a greater reluctance to embrace AI-generated content.
Redefining Authenticity in the AI Era
Despite some people’s doubts, AI is inevitable on social media. So marketers will have to redefine authenticity. In 2024, the most successful brands will shift their focus from who (or what) creates the content to the brand experience it provides.
With AI in the mix, the critical questions become: Does it feel right? Does it reinforce the brand? Does it work? By addressing these, concerns about whether a bot created the content become secondary.
Working Smarter with AI
Here is what to do if you’re a marketer or brand trying to effectively navigate the AI landscape in 2024:
Know Your Audience: Understand your audience’s perceptions of AI based on factors like age, culture, geography, or interests.
Delegate Wisely: You should know which tasks to delegate to an AI and which require a human touch.
Establish AI Policies: To avoid potential pitfalls, set clear policies and best practices for AI usage in social media.
To Sum this Up: Do Not Fight AI
AI is not going anyway it’s here to stay. Brands that embrace AI intelligently, consider consumer perceptions, and redefine authenticity, are poised to thrive in this new digital landscape.
Note: The statistics and insights mentioned in this article are derived from the Hootsuite Social Trends 2024 Survey.
Remember, in the dynamic world of social media, adapting to technological advancements like AI is not just a choice—it’s a necessity for those who aim to lead the way in 2024 and beyond.
PS: 2024 is going to be a competitive year for brands on social media. If you’re tired of worrying about when or where the next customer for your business will come from, let’s talk. Contact Shukuru Amos from Tanzlite at +255 742 085 089.
Attention: During the week starting 13th of November 2023, many people in Tanzania received WhatsApp messages from a foreign number. The person identified to be a representative of an agency from Tanzania.
Our agency, Tanzlite Digital was among the brand names these automated messages used. Some of the messages read:
My name is Ayanna, I am a Senior Representative Officer at Tanzlite Digital Marketing agency . Our company is recruiting part-time/full-time online employees, Our job is very simple, May I take a few minutes of your time? I would like to share a job offer for you.
FAKE!
And another similar message came from Vinza Masana
First of all, this is a PURE Scam. Just look at it yourself. It’s bullshit.
Our response to this fraud
Let us reiterate what we posted on all of our social media channels:
First: There are no titles or hierarchical structures at Tanzlite Digital. If you receive a message that sounds corporatey, like some senior somebody from us —that’s NOT us. We don’t have Vinza Masana, Ayanna, or any representative with a foreign number.
Second: Tanzlite doesn’t reach out to anyone. People reach out to us.
Third: We single out talent from LinkedIn only. Not in your WhatsApp app.
Fourth: There’s no one in a foreign country with a foreign number representing us.
And lastly: You’re too smart to be scammed by this automated WhatsApp message. It’s the AI version of “Ile hela tuma kwenye namba hii.”
What should you do when you receive such a scam message?
Block and report that number to WhatsApp IMMEDIATELY. Don’t even waste time to reply because it is probably not a human on the other side. Just automated messages reaching you by guessing random numbers. They will probably come with a different name and company but, you have been warned.
In GOD DID, Jay-Z raps “OG sold to those, you called kingpin/If those your drug lords, then who are we then?”
A year or two ago, I was reached out by one of these nominated agencies to prepare a digital strategy for a campaign for one of Tanzania’s biggest telcos. It was a rush. I was contacted in the morning and the next day morning was pitch day. Fuck! I cursed. But I did what I could.
So, the next day we pitched after minutes of being put on hold by the people on the other side. They were waiting for some of their members to join the meeting. We pitched. I doubt they were listening.
It was clear to me that this agency was wasting time. The telco already had an agency in mind. But this agency was glad they even got the chance to pitch. Because in Tanzania, agencies don’t compete on competence. It’s something else.
I’m glad I was paid for my time.
A few weeks later we saw a campaign done by another agency. It was so normal the only way you could deem it successful was by taking solace in the number of impressions. Not the conversations it managed to start.
The funniest thing to ever happen to me in 2023.
On the evening of October 26, a hilarious thing happened. A fool from the Tanzania Marketing Science Association called me. “This is [name] from TMSA. I’m calling to inform you that you’re nominated for the Tanzania Marketing Awards. I want to confirm your attendance tomorrow”
But we were not nominated. Nothing that I heard of. They posted the list of their friends as nominees and I got a call a day before the event. How could they make such a blunder? I shared about this in this post. Allow me to feature some of the comments:
…niliandika kuhusu Hawa. Wametengeneza kundi afu kikundi kinajiamulia nani apeww kazi ipi…Kwamba usipokuwa mwanachama hupati…what happened to free choices…
…many winners in this ‘system’ owe their success primarily to aggressive promotional efforts rather than the quality or excellence of their services. Regrettably, this has the effect of misleading the public, as it often rewards mediocrity rather than recognizing deserving service providers.
Reminds me of a time I saw one of my acquaintances who had done nothing in Marketing getting an Award for the same, just because their organization contributed to the event.
By the way, the Tanzania Marketing Science Association should be called for what it is — Tanzania Association of Marketing Lobbyists.
The Underdogs
My agency is younger than these nominated agencies. But in the past four years, we have beat all of them on SEO. We are number one on organic search. None of these nominees even make it to the second page of Google Search results. But you are being told they are the best.
Our Swahili articles reign supreme on digital marketing-related queries. Every day, tens of Tanzania’s small digital entrepreneurs read our actionable articles and leave “thank you” comments. Ask the nominees to show you their Search Console Analytics, if they even know what that is.
If you come to LinkedIn, my agency is the most followed Tanzanian agency. We beat all of the nominees on important metrics like engagement, and impactful writing. You won’t even see most of those nominees on LinkedIn.
Smart Codes is not smart enough to even get three comments per month. And that is the effort of both humans at the agency and ChatGPT.
Don’t even get me started about me. I am the most followed Tanzanian marketing professional on LinkedIn. I have authored a book that has sold TZS 1,187,600 in the first two weeks of launch. I have all the transactions in case you’re doubting Thomas.
All that demonstrated competency in the open, online market but we didn’t even show up on their list of nominees. Our only fault is that we are sons and daughters of the dispossessed nobodies. We hate the soul-selling approach of lobbying and simping to big corporations.
“I think mediocrity is too well hidden by parents who hire private tutors. I am here on my own.” My favourite quote from Industry by HBO
Thankfully, I get clients from foreigners who judge from what they see not who knows who. Sometimes I get clients from diaspora Tanzanians or outliers who hate the endemic Uchawa system that has plagued the agency landscape in Tanzania.
Next time you see these awards, just know that it’s a cohort of chawas gathering to give each other little pats on the back. All of the nominees here are also unashamedly the sponsors of the awarding body. Who do they take a Tanzanian public for, fools?
If God forbid one of these individuals holds higher government positions, it is time to weep.
This article was first published on Shukuru’s newsletter, the Social Rhetoric.
Watu wengi wanalalamika biashara zao hazipati wateja mtandaoni pamoja na kwamba wanapost bidhaa zao Instagram, WhatsApp na kwenye majukwaa mengine ya digitali.
Wengine huanza kufikiri pengine kufungua website itasaidia kupata wateja kuliko kuwa na Instagram au WhatsApp pekee.
Wengine hudhani kununua akaunti yenye followers wengi basi itasaidia kupata wateja. Wanatafuta akaunti inayouzwa, yenye followers 10K au zaidi, wananunua. Lakini bado hawapati wateja. Na hata kile wanachokipost hakipati likes wala comments pamoja na kuwa na followers wote hao.
Hata matangazo ya kulipia (sponsored ads) hayawasaidii. Wanajikuta wanapoteza pesa tu.
Wengine wanawalipa “wataalamu” wa social media wanaojitangaza wanakuza akaunti na kuongeza followers. Followers kweli wanapata, lakini kuuza bado inabaki changamoto!
Hayo yote niliyoyataja hapo juu ni baadhi ya malalamiko tunayopata kila wiki kutoka kwa wajasiriamali wanaouza bidhaa mtandaoni.
Malalamiko haya pamoja na maswali mengine tunayapata kupitia kampuni yetu,Tanzlite Digital, inayosaidia wafanyabiashara kukuza biashara zao na kujipatia wateja kupitia majukwaa ya digitali.
Malalamiko ni mengi. Nitatumia makala hii kueleza ukweli kuhusu kupata wateja mtandaoni.
Nini Kinafanya Watu Wanunue Bidhaa yako Mtandaoni?
Zipo sababu kuu tatu zitakazokufanya uuze bidhaa mtandaoni:
Soko na Bidhaa yenyewe.
Jina lako mtandaoni (Watu wanakufahamu?)
Uwezo wako kushawishi kupitia Maudhui.
Ubora na Soko la Bidhaa Yako
Hapa naomba tuelewane. Kama kitu unachokiuza ni kile ambacho watu wanaweza kukipata kwa urahisi mtaani kwao —basi hutopata wateja mtandaoni.
Kwanini wanunue kwako wakati bidhaa hiyo hiyo inapatikana kwa mangi au na maduka mengine ya karibu?
Jiulize; unaweza kuuza soda mtandaoni? Au wembe au majani ya chai?
Kama kila mtu anauza kile unachotaka kukiuza mtandaoni basi inabidi uwe na OFA nzuri, au kuwe na ubunifu na namna ya uwasilishaji bidhaa yako kwa watu ili kujitofautisha na wengine. Vilevile ujenge mahusiano mazuri na wateja wako ili waendelee kurudi na kuwaambia wengine.
Lakini kwa bidhaa kama vile karanga, mchele, vitenge, na baadhi ya nguo —hizi zinapatikana kila mahali. Usishangae kuona hupati wateja mtandaoni.
Watu hawatafuti mtandaoni vitu ambavyo vinapatikana kila kona mtaani kwao.
Ili kupata wateja mtandaoni, bidhaa yako inatakiwa kuwa na upekee, ubora na soko lake liwe halijachuja (saturated) kwa kuwepo wa utitiri wa bidhaa hiyo kila mahali. Tofauti na hapo, ni bora ufungue duka mahali penye mzunguko mkubwa wa watu (foot traffic). Kama vile Kariakoo.
Mitandao inasaidia kufikisha bidhaa yako kwa watu wengi. Lakini kuuza inategemea na bidhaa yenyewe.
Jina Lako Mtandaoni (Brand Authority)
Kule Instagram wapo watu wanauza bidhaa za aina mbalimbali kama vile nguo, viatu, na electronics. Lakini yapo majina machache maarufu kama vile (kwa Tanzania) Vunja Bei, Frank Knows, David Sportwear, na kadhalika.
Hao na wengine wengi wenye waliojitengenezea jina mtandaoni wanapata wateja na kuuza bidhaa zao.
Unajua kwanini wanauza? Ni kwa sababu watu hupenda kununua kitu kutoka kwa mtu wanayemfahamu, au wamewahi kumsikia, au watu wengine wanamuongelea.
Je wewe umetengeneza jina? Hakuna mtu yuko tayari kukutumia pesa ikiwa hakufahamu, hajawahi kukusikia, wala haoni watu wengine wakikuongelea. Hapa watu kukuongelea maana yake angalau kuwe na comments kwenye post zako mtandaoni.
Naomba nitoe mfano. Kuna watu wanauza bidhaa za makampuni ya network marketing au MLM kama vile BF Suma na Forever Living.
Hawa watu wanashida kubwa. Kwanza kabisa wamepigwa pesa yao ambayo hawataweza kuirejesha kuuza bidhaa hizo. Pili wewe siyo daktari, siyo mtaalamu wa lishe, huna pharmacy, na huna zahanati. Isitoshe huna hata mtu mmoja uliyemponya kwa dawa zako. Dawa yenyewe unasema inatibu “magonjwa mbalimbali”. Kwa kifupi hauna authority ya kumshawishi mtu anunue bidhaa kutoka kwako.
Tatizo siyo bidhaa, tatizo ni nani anauza hiyo bidhaa.
Narudia tena; watu hawanunui bidhaa bali wananunua jina la mtu linalohusiana na bidhaa hiyo. Daktari akikuandikia dawa, unaenda kuinunua na kumeza si kwa sababu unaijua hiyo dawa (inaweza isiwe bora) bali kwa sababu unamwamini daktari.
Nikupe mfano mwingine, hivi majuzi tajiri Elon Musk alitangaza bidhaa mpya ya pefume. Ndani ya masaa machache aliweza kuuza chupa 10,000 kwa bei ya dola za kimarekani 100 kila chupa. Jamaa alitengeneza dola milioni moja ndani ya masaa tu.
Hiyo ndiyo nguvu ya kuwa na jina. Tengeneza jina kwanza halafu kuuza mtandaoni itakuwa rahisi.
Kutengeneza jina mtandaoni si kuwa maarufu (fame, celebrity). Ni kujenga taswira yenye kuaminika miongoni mwa watu unaowalenga.
Kumbuka, Kuwa na Jina Mtandaoni Siyo Umaarufu.
Hapo awali nimesema ili uuze mtandaoni lazima uwe na jina. Hapa simaanishi umaarufu (fame, celebrity). Hapana. Jambo la msingi ni kuhakikisha unatengeneza jina miongoni mwa watu unaowalenga kununua bidhaa yako. Si lazima Watanzania wote wakujue.
Kama watu 1000 wamekufollow baada ya kuona unachouza basi hilo ndilo jeshi lako. Kama wamekufollow kwa hiari maana yake wamevutiwa na unachokifanya. Endelea kuwapa maudhui bora (waelimishe, wachekeshe, wape mbinu za kutumia bidhaa yako n.k). Hao watu 1000 wanaweza kusambaza habari zako kwa wengine na hivyo ndivyo utakua na kujipatia jina.
Lengo ni kujiweka katika mazingira mazuri ya kuvutia wateja. Hakikisha profile inavutia, haina makosa au picha zisizo na ubora.
Hapa pia naomba nikazie jambo; kununua followers ni kupoteza pesa zako. Epuka mtu anayekwambia atakupatia followers.
Uwezo wa Kushawishi Wateja
Unaweza kuwa na bidhaa nzuri lakini ukashindwa kushawishi wanunuzi. Unaweza kuwa na dawa inayotibu kansa lakini watu wasiamini kwa sababu huna ushawishi.
Hii ni changamoto ya kushindwa kufahamu saikolojia ya mteja unayemlenga pamoja na kushindwa kuandaa maudhui (content) yenye mvuto na yenye kushawishi.
Jiulize; zile picha, video na maandishi unayopost mtandaoni yana nguvu ya kushawishi? Yana mvuto? Picha ni kali au ni low quality?
Yote hayo yanachangia kama watu watavutiwa na kukuamini au hawatavutiwa na kukutilia mashaka.
Kwa mfano tuseme unauza pazia. Badala ya kusema; OFA! Jipatie Mapazia Mazuri kwa Bei Nafuu. Tunapatikana Kariakoo.
Unaweza kusema; Pendezesha Nyumba Yako kwa Pazia Nzuri Ili Wageni Wakija Waone Kweli Wapo Ndani Ya Nyumba.
Wanawake hawanunui pazia bali wananunua UFAHARI wa kupendezesha nyumba. Wakienda kununua pazia swali wanalojiuliza kichwani ni “Pazia gani litapendeza ndani ya nyumba yangu?”.
Jaribu kucheza na saikolojia ya mteja unapoandaa maudhui ya kupost Instagram au popote unapopatia wateja. Onyesha Matokeo; nini mteja atapata akinunua bidhaa yako? Je atapata mwonekano mzuri? Je chumba chake kitapendeza?
Katika kuandaa maudhui, onyesha matokeo ya bidhaa. Usionyeshe bidhaa.
Badala ya kupiga picha mabaro ya vitenge dukani kwako, piga picha ya mwanamke aliyevaa kitenge na kupendekeza.
Badala ya kupiga picha mapazia uliyotundika dukani mwako, piga picha pazia zilizotundikwa ndani ya nyumba. Watu hujaribu kutengeza picha kichwani ya namna gani nguo itaonekana wakiivaa, au pazia litaonekanaje likiwa ndani ya nyumba. Usionyeshe tu bidhaa, onyesha matokeo.
Ukiwafahamu wateja wako vizuri, na bidhaa yako ikawa iko vizuri, basi hata yale matangazo ya kulipia yatazaa matunda. Vinginevyo utakuwa unachoma pesa.
Hitimisho: Ukweli Kuhusu Kupata Wateja Mtandaoni
Mitandao ni njia tu ya wewe kufikisha bidhaa yako kwa walengwa. Kuhusu kuuza au kutokuuza inatokana na sababu nyingi ikiwemo bidhaa yenyewe, soko, pamoja na uwezo wako wa kushawishi.
Kwa ujumla mitandao imerahisisha sana jinsi ya kufikia wanunuzi wa bidhaa za watu. Bila mitandao kama WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Tovuti na mingineyo, watu walio mbali wasingeweza kuona bodhaa yako na kuwasiliana nawewe.
Kila mtu anaweza kuuza chochote mtandaoni mathalani kitu hicho kina soko na muuzaji anaweza ku-supply hiyo bidhaa.
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Asante kwa kusoma makala hii. Naitwa Shukuru Amos, ni mwandishi na mtaalamu wa masoko ya digitali (Digital Marketing). Wasiliana nami kwa WhatsApp hapa.
