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.
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.
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.
TikTok app with the message “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now” are seen in this illustration taken, January 19, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
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.
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.
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!
Let’s talk in the language you understand: the bottom line. What is the financial impact of not having a website for your business?
In 2024 and beyond, where every click can translate into cash, your absence from the online world isn’t just a missed opportunity; it’s a tangible loss. Here’s how much you might be losing every day by not having a website:
The Value of Visibility
Imagine your business as a physical storefront in Kariakoo or Mlimani City. Now, think about how many potential customers walk by each day. Online, this scenario plays out on a much larger scale.
Here’s how it breaks down:
Organic Traffic: If your website were up, it could attract, say, 30-40 visitors daily from organic searches alone. That’s 30-40 potential customers who are actively looking for what you offer.
Monetizing Visits: Let’s assign a conservative value to these visitors. If each visitor is worth $1 to your business (and they often are worth much more), you’re looking at a daily potential revenue of $30-40. Over a month, that’s between $900 to $1,200. Annually, you’re talking about $10,800 to $14,400 in missed opportunities.
The Cost of Not Being Found
Search Engine Dominance: People are searching for your products or services right now. If they can’t find you, they’re finding your competitors. Each search is a chance for someone to become your customer, but without a website, you’re not in the race.
The Invisible Business: Consider this: if a business isn’t online, does it exist in the eyes of the modern consumer? Increasingly, the answer is no. You’re not just losing potential sales; you’re losing credibility.
The Fear of Investment
You might be thinking, “I can’t afford a website.” But let’s flip that:
The Cost of Inaction: Not having a website is far more expensive than the initial investment in creating one. The daily loss in potential revenue far outweighs the one-time cost of setting up.
Long-term Growth: A website isn’t just an expense; it’s an investment in your business’s future. It’s a tool that works for you 24/7, attracting customers while you sleep, eat, or work on other aspects of your business.
The Power of Digital Presence
Credibility and Trust: A professional website instills trust. Customers are more likely to do business with companies that have an online presence, seeing it as a sign of legitimacy and commitment.
Customer Engagement: Beyond sales, a website allows for engagement. You can share your story, your values, and your products in a way that builds a relationship with your audience.
Conclusion: The Time to Act is Now
Every day you delay in getting your business online, you’re essentially watching money walk out the door. Here’s what you need to do:
Invest in Your Future: A website is not just a digital brochure; it’s a revenue generator, a credibility booster, and a customer magnet.
Choose the Right Partner: With Tanzlite Host, you’re not just getting a website; you’re getting a partner in your digital journey. We understand the fears, the costs, and the benefits, and we’re here to make sure your online presence is as profitable as it can be.
Don’t let your business be the one that’s invisible. The cost of not having a website isn’t just theoretical; it’s real, it’s measurable, and it’s happening right now. With Tanzlite Host, you can turn those potential losses into gains. Your customers are waiting to find you.
Do founders have a planned posting series towards product or service launch? Usually “NO”. They construct castles in the air of massive sales and money raining down on them.
Without having covered all the bases, the founder appears out of nowhere with a GPT-ish message on the launch day:
“Exciting news! Our launch is finally here!”
The founder is excited, but the audience is not. Their launch from “finally here” to “finally nowhere” happens quickly. Many business founders struggle with this spontaneous launch because they lack a well-thought-out strategy.
Have you heard the term “foreplay”? This is the music to lure the audience to your launch tune.
Foreplay before product launch
You probably are aware of the word Foreplay in another context. It applies in product launches too. You can’t just come out of nowhere and tell people the big news.
You must build a personal connection and aura of desire and anticipation with your target audience.
You must get out in the crowded bazaar and scream to attract the customers. Believe me, people are deaf and suffer from short-term memory impairment. That is why you must create episodes with the climax episode of “Final Launch.”
Here’s a strategy for a planned succession of product launches leading up to the ultimate launch. Pre-sales will already be taking place before the product is launched. Each episode develops anticipation and curiosity in the audience.
Monday: Post a Case Study
A case study provides a solid foundation for future episodes. It provides tangible evidence of your successful efforts. It is usually based on a real story of innovative ideas, hurdles, and how you beat the odds to achieve your target. A digital marketing agency, for example, could present an eBook launch case study.
“Our client had planned a book release. Instead of immediately introducing the book, we took a different method. Everything starts with an introduction to the book, providing small portions.
The writer’s interactions in the comments further lock up his genuineness. Of course, everyone is excited about their product and considers it a masterpiece, but the challenge is to involve the audience or potential customers in your excitement.
The two-week method convinced them that this was a masterpiece.
The book’s cryptic portions pique the reader’s interest and the “what is next” phenomenon. By the time the book was released, we had already received preorders.
The digital noise of these two weeks proved a hit with readers eager to obtain the book and be the “The fortunate recipients.”
Here, the case study adopts the form of storytelling and illustrates how unconventional means can be used to complete a project. You are capturing the attention of your target audience by exhibiting your competence in your field.
Tuesday: Share Painfully Good Advice
What people enjoy doing in the internet realm is “offering advice.” People often don’t want to offend others when giving advice, resulting in sugar-coated posts.
The true issue, however, is to provide advice that is both enlightening and representative of reality. Painfully good advice may be as sharp as a knife, but it is ultimately beneficial.
As the saying goes, the truth can often be uncomfortable, and so is brutally good advice. This type of advice can be obtained from anecdotes about famous personalities and how venturing into an uncomfortable zone leads them to outstanding accomplishments.
It may not be pleasant to receive, but the insights will lead to improvement. Painfully good advice is a reminder that embracing the uncomfortable is the key to success.
Wednesday: Share Real-Time Skill
Actions speak louder than words. People are more interested in practicality than in theory. To claim yourself an expert, you have to show your real-time skills to the audience.
Exhibiting Real-time is more than just proclaiming one’s expertise. It is about constructing a communication bridge and validating your skills.
It is quite simple today because social media has set the stage for everyone. The comment sections on Linkedin, blogs, Facebook, and other social media platforms are the best grounds to prove your authority in your field.
The audience feels incredible knowing they can contact their mentor or an expert.
For example, there is a skilled social media marketer. He not only offers useful information regarding digital marketing, but he also engages and shares his expert opinion in the comments.
The marketer demonstrates his real-time skills by swiftly responding to inquiries, providing useful advice, and participating in important discussions. This may be taken to the next level with webinars and virtual events.
Thursday: Kill one Objection
The “Kill one Objection” technique is the most effective way to handle criticism. Rather than answering multiple objections, this strategy involves finding one misleading perspective and providing convincing, grounded-in-reality testimony.
You may heighten your launch position by focusing on one main objection rather than multiple objections and striking with well-researched, fact-based arguments.
This strategy requires extensive research and analysis of a pressing misconception. You kill the objection with a tailored argument and evidence that illuminates the audience’s understanding. It will also have the critics’ eyeballs on your launch.
An example of this can be “The hesitation of some businesses to hire a digital marketing agency.” The objection to being killed here could be “losing control over one’s business” or, more commonly, “cost concerns.”
Monday: Make a Show Don’t Tell post
Enough wilth the talking; this is the day to demonstrate a real time skill. Display your expertise by showcasing your successful projects. In a competitive market, relying entirely on “self-praise” will result in a bubble that bursts soon.
The “Show them” strategy will build trust and capture the attention of potential buyers. Prove them why you are the preferred choice.
Tuesday: Talk about Common Mistakes
Today, you draw another arrow from your arsenal in order to engage the audience deeply. It highlights a typical mistake businesses make, such as underestimating the value of content writing.
Addressing typical mistakes allows you to position yourself as an expert with extensive expertise in your profession.
It will affect both groups. Those who fall prey to common mistakes. It will demonstrate your empathy for them. The opposite group is the one responsible for creating such a mistake.
You have the opportunity to educate and show them how to avoid it. The audience will be captivated and want to hear more from you.
Wednesday: Change of perspective
Turning the spotlight on a different perspective sets you apart from the crowd. It depicts your originality and is a good way to increase engagement.
Furthermore, it can also have an element of controversy, arousing curiosity in your target audience.
Give the audience something sour instead of honeyed words. Don’t be just another monotonous launch; feeding the audience a changed perspective will allow them to be more interested in your offering.
Give your target audience the opportunity to consider an issue from a different perspective and question conventional beliefs. This new approach will demarcate you from the mob.
Thursday: Testimonial
It is time to enhance your reputation in the industry by sharing a few testimonials. When the audience observes people supporting and thanking you for resolving their problems, they gain trust in your skills.
Testimonials contribute to your brand building. It quotes you as a thought leader. Meaningful discussions aid in networking and provide valuable content to the audience.
Friday: Launch Day
Finally, It is time to bang into the market with your launch. All that hard work will pay off as you will have your audience turned into your customers or clients.
It is time for social engagement and for remaining focused. Collect feedback as it will serve as testimonials to your great product.
Did you note that the two-week strategy was centered on consistency? Consider each day an event, a series of events that culminate in the grand finale of the product launch.
Instead of simply announcing a product with empty seats in front of you, why not gather potential customers before the launch?
This method facilitates a smooth market landing while cultivating trust and excitement among the audience.
When you combine things you’re not supposed to combine, you become interesting and easily stand out from the pool of sameness.
What makes Bruce Lee interesting is his rare combination of philosophy, martial arts, and striking thoughts. There wouldn’t be much thrill to the Bruce Lee personality if he niched down and lesser focused on just martial arts.
The average person is either good at one thing or made to believe they should be good at, and talk about only one thing. That’s the norm. So when the few among us single themselves out as multi-talented with diverse interests, we immediately take notice.
And they reap the benefit of recognition and building a brand. This is especially important in the digital economy whose currency is attention.
You want people to look at you and curiously say “Who is this guy/gal”? And the best way to do that is to combine things you’re not supposed to combine. By refusing to walk into laid expectations of you.
The people who don’t get this are executives and management gurus.
Consider the chief executive officers of corporations: they not just look the part, but they even look the same. And, worse, when you listen to them talk, they will sound the same, down to the same vocabulary and metaphors. ~Nassim Taleb
What executives get wrong about Musk’s Social Rhetoric
Who does this?!
Senior executives and management gurus who criticize Elon Musk for his erratic/childish behavior miss one point. Once you become a billionaire like that, you stop being human. People write you off as you already have made it. You stop being relatable.
There’s a common thread of human hardship and suffering that connects us all. But as a billionaire, everyone assumes you’re exempted from that thread. Even your rags-to-riches story stops to hold water at some point. You’re closer to a comic book character than someone with real feelings.
It is even worse if you sound like you were downloaded from Deloitte, speaking in perfect corporate discourse.
No one sees you as like them. Just a lifeless corporate figure who is incredibly irrelevant outside the corporate climate.
So how do you make yourself relatable?
The only way to make yourself human again is, as Mr. Musk does, either by working on your sense of humor or flaunting your personality flaws. Make people say “he’s just like us”.
Even better, make people say “That’s just Elon being Elon.” Cancel culture will leave you alone.
It is about signaling what you can get away with
The highest status of a free man is indicated by voluntarily adopting the manners of the lowest class. People who use foul language on social media are sending an expensive signal that they are free— they don’t have a boss to answer to. An employee, executives included, tends to watch what they say on social media –most just stop posting.
The element of risk
The best rewards come from taking risks, not playing safe. Anything a person does that involves risk tends to inspire trust. Speaking your mind in the age of outrage and calling out is risky. Executives who subdued their opinions are forgotten once they retire.
It is also about skin in the game
People who are a proven asset of getting things done dont give a fuck about whether they look or sound like their profession. Their proven competence dwarfs any doubt about their look or choice of words. On the contrary, incompetent or fraudsters compensate for it by looking the part.
