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.
Are you a founder sitting behind a mahogany table, the old CEO way, and with zero online presence? Then you have to consider what that does to you and your company.
Social media is where successful brands are built. Brands that gain, not just followers, but interests and revenue. To achieve this kind of success, a brand needs a human element. Who best to do it if not the founder?
If you are not making your online presence felt to the world, you are sending your brand to the realms of the unknown.
Now is not the time to play low-key and leave it all to the marketing department. It is time to become a Chief Storyteller. If you don’t know how to do it, ask your marketing team for assistance.
CEOs can use social media to position themselves as industry leaders and brand storytellers. And by doing so, the interaction they generate will bring traffic to their business. This is by far the best digital strategy; founder + company marketing.
Your job as CEO of a startup is to be the Chief Storyteller and the brand ambassador sharing your company’s story every chance you get.
Companies realized a while ago that going digital is important. So they flocked there. Most companies are spending a lot of money on promotions. From influencers to ads –you name it. But for some reason, they struggle to establish a genuine connection with the target audience. Why? Well, that’s because there is a missing part to their online marketing efforts.
Why a Founder/CEO Marketing is Important?
CEOs who have abandoned social media may be ‘quiet quitting’ on their own business. You will lose a big chunk of people to your competitors who, in addition to company posts, have a digitally outspoken personality that gets eyes to their brand.
Professor Ndubuisi Ekekwe, faculty lead at the Tekedia Mini MBA program, is an excellent example of founder marketing. He is one of LinkedIn’s top voices from Africa, engaging an audience of over 165,000 people. He is aware that a company alone (Tekedia Institute) alone will not suffice. So being active, and writing extensively on his personal profile draws students to the Tekedia Mini MBA program.
Ndubuisi’s posts are more than simply his company updates. He contributes value and knowledge in his posts. This strategy fosters his image of a thought leader and a person that has wisdom.
Undoubtedly, a post on the CEO’s profile will gain more attention than one on the business page. Speaking from a human perspective is more impactful.
Founder’s Personal Brand: A Brand’s Best Ally
Founder’s (or CEO) marketing will complement your company’s brand marketing in a way outsider influencers can’t. It can help earn genuine engagement of the Brand and the audience.
Businesses cannot succeed without trust. The online visibility of the founder opens the way for credibility and trust in the Brand. See the image below:
If Microsoft promoted this from their company page, they wouldn’t get this much engagement. Why? People don’t often interact with a company page. Microsoft has over 10 million followers but likes on its posts rarely pass 200.
People need a face, not a logo. A logo cannot achieve the level of trust that a CEO of that Brand can establish. Founder Marketing contributes to the Brand’s increased visibility.
As a social CEO, you must engage with your audience meaningfully. That can take the shape of Tweets, Linkedin Posts, TikTok videos, or whatever platform you like. Just be careful not to post all about your business. Share your opinions on pressing matters such as geopolitics and how they affect business. Sometimes remember the youth and share experience-based career tips. You will be likable.
Ryan Reynolds making fun of Nuvei CEO for not being on social media
Real personalities breathe life into brands. Especially now that demand for business transparency is greater than ever. A CEO can win over consumer trust and create emotional bonding with other people.
A social CEO consequently becomes the public face of the Brand or business. Furthermore, it is comforting to learn from their engagements that CEOs are not distant figures who only attend meetings.
A Tweet or a Post by a Social CEO is not just another noise in the realm of Social Media. It is an echo of their remarkable Leadership.
P.S.: If you are looking to see how a mix of founder and company marketing will help grow your business, click HERE to contact us.
