Page 26 – Bellafricana

Jemimah Iwok published in Events May 27, 2020

Who Is A Mentor?

Hi there! I think there are three kinds of people reading this post today:

A. The Mentor and

B. The Mentee.

C. Those wondering if having a Mentor is really worth it

Are you A, B or C? Or a little bit of all three? Lol.

First off, to our mentors in the House, we say “Thank You” for your continuous efforts for setting businesses up for success. We appreciate you all for being pillars of support, and source of constructive criticism when needed.

Signed,

Jemimah

President, Association of Mentees

(I sincerely hope there isn’t such an Association in which case, I have usurped the position of the current leader.😅)

To the Mentees, Congratulations! You just signed yourself up for phenomenal growth.

If you find yourself in the third category, then I hope these lessons I picked up at the IG LIVE session with Lanre Adisa will help you see how important a Mentor is for your business growth.

Today I will be discussing my Key Takeaways from the IG LIVE session we had with Mr Lanre Adisa. Before I get started, I would like to give you some background gist (trust me for that).

Prior to the Launch of our new membership platform, we had a line up of insightful IG LIVE series and Webinars. (Catch up on how the Launch went down here). One of such IG Live Series is the one I mentioned. Mr Lanre Adisa has been a longtime supporter of the Bellafricana Brand and an awesome Mentor too.

Bellafricana has come a long way, but that journey will be incomplete without Mr Adisa’s name in the story (look at me talking like I was actually there😅), so who better to discuss the topic: “Leveraging on Mentorship for Business Growth”

First of all, who is a Mentor? Oprah Winfrey says: “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.”

Wikipedia defines Mentorship as “a relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person”

So the Question is : Just how important is a mentor to your business growth? Who can be a mentor? How best can you maximize this relationship?

Here are some things I learnt:

1. A Mentor inspires you to achieve your GOALS

It is a mentor’s job to inspire, and if need be, push you to achieve your GOAL. Why is the word “goal” emphasized? Because before you approach your mentor for help, then you can’t be clueless. So, make sure to have something you’re working towards.

2. Your Mentor can support you in ALL ways, however monetary assistance is not obligatory

Yes! A lot of Mentees go into relationships with Mentors because they expect financial support. There’s nothing wrong if a mentor wants to provide monetary support, but he is not obligated to. A mentor can however provide links, or information as to how financial support may be achieved,

3. A family member can be a mentor

A family Member as a mentor? Yes, that’s totally fine because most times in the end, what you build with Mentor-Mentee relationships transcend professionalism and evolve into something more filial

4. Want to make your relationship with your mentor valuable? Do your due diligence:

If you want to cultivate a seamless relationship with your Mentor, you need to play your own part. Make research, do your homework, so it’ll be easier to get the help you need. This is not to say that you must have everything worked out (If you did, why do you need a mentor then, right?) But be sure to be prepared, to the best of your ability.

So, I’ll just stop here and hope you were able to learn a thing or two from this IG LIVE session just like I did.

Were you in attendance? Please leave a shout-out and let me know what I missed out.

PS: Here’s a replay of the session in case you missed it!

Jemimah Iwok published in African Food, Fashion May 22, 2020

Have You Supported A Local Business in Nigeria Today? (Part 1)

Queen-Idia-print-mimiremi fabrics on bellafricana

Hi there, have you supported a Local Business in Nigeria today?! You know, there’s a lot of misconception surrounding local products in terms of its meeting up to International standards in terms of creativity and quality.

I am here to correct that misconception. Made in Africa products are beautiful, creative, and top quality. I’m not just saying this because I’m African. I’m saying this because I have proof. And I’ll share this proof with you.

So sit back, relax and enjoy these amazing products made in Nigeria (Africa):

Food produce

a. Proudly Made-in-Nigeria Coffee

Presenting to you, tasty, rich made-in-Nigeria coffee by Happy Coffee Nigeria. Explore more here

b. Nourishing Meals for Babies

AugustSecrets is evolving to be the company from Africa, leading the cause for child nutrition with wholesome solutions. Explore more Here

c. Healthy Snacking Options

Lami Foods, the company that produces healthy snacks in a variety of flavors is proudly made-in-Nigeria too. Check out more here

d. Tasty Pap Paste

Have you ever had pap that tastes and looks like yoghurt? Ologi pap is tasty and proudly made-in-Nigeria. Explore more here

e. Dried Beans Flour

Dried Beans Flour for the win, proudly made-in-Nigeria by AdarexFoods. Explore more here

f. Dried Fruit snacks and Powders

There is barely anything this Nigerian company cannot transform into powder. The powder alternatives contain the same amount of nutrients as the normal ones, and even last longer. Limlim Dried Fruits is the name. Explore more here

g. Quality herbs and teas

Kiolar Foods is your go-to for quality spices, herbs, and teas. Need to get more? Check them out here

See article: 7 Unique Gift Items For Women

h. Processed food flours and grains

Toks foods is out to promote healthy meals all over Africa through our healthy foods. With their nutritious processed flours and grains (such as cassava flour, Ofada rice, etcetera), you’re guaranteed of top quality.

i. Processed food spices

From Crayfish to Chilli pepper, and lots more, Ady’s Food Mart provides cooking, shopping and delivery services to a wide clientele across Nigeria and the world where African dishes are appreciated. Get the best of Ady’s food mart here

2. Hand Printed Fabric and Ready-to-wear pieces

a.Hand-dyed Fabric

Presenting to you, hand dyed fabric pieces in several patterns and colors, courtesy Asologe Fashion House. Explore more here

b. Hand Painted fabric

Look very closely at these piece. Do you know they’re handpainted? Yes, Mimiremi Textiles makes the hand painted pieces with the a variety of patterns and styles. Explore more here

c. Children’s African Wear by Little Weavers

Little Weavers makes beautiful ready-to-wear pieces for kids and teenagers with African Fabric. Pretty isn’t it? Explore more here

d. Adire Tees

These Tees are pretty, aren’t they? Well, courtesy of Dhoney Nigeria, these oversized unisex tees are yours to keep, (and even gift that special one). Check out more beautiful Adire pieces here

e. Adire and Batik fabric

Adire by Teeny specializes in handcrafted Adire and Batik. They also produce fabric souvenirs from their products. You should check them out. You’ll love what you see!

f. Batik Fabric

The Bellafricana family has one of the best Batik fabric in Nigeria, and even beyond. That’s House of Bolt. Need some more convincing? Check them out here

Aren’t these creative local business in Nigeria all lovely? Yes! Made-in-Africa products are here to stay! And this is just the tip of the iceberg! We will be showcasing so many products from creative Indigenous brands which also happen to be Bellafricana Members too! Bellafricana marketplace is doing her part to promote and empower these local businesses. Will you also do your part by supporting and patronizing them too?

Jemimah Iwok published in Travel May 20, 2020

Top African Countries you don’t need a Visa for

Africa is home to several countries renowned for their amazingly beautiful landscapes and their rich cultural heritage. Its no wonder that all these and more make any and all of these countries, the perfect tourist attraction.

One problem arises though. The initial zeal and longing you have to explore these countries dies out as soon as you remember the horrors of procuring a Visa😪😪.

Well, Fret not! We have put together a list of Eight countries where you can travel to, Visa-hassle free 💃🏾💃🏾. So, come along with your passport, let;s take you on a ride.

1. Cape Verde

Description: Cape Verde is an island country located just off the west coast of Africa.
Travel Time from Nigeria: 4 hours 30 minutes (By air)
Requirements upon Entry: All they need upon entry into their country is your passport as proof that you are a Nigerian citizen and your return ticket.
Duration of stay allowed: As much as is allotted to you.

2. Cameroon

Description: Cameroon is located in central Africa although it shares borders with Nigeria, Chad and Gabon. It is home to the most amazing wildlife parks.
Travel Time from Nigeria: 1 hour 17 minutes (By air)
19 hours (By road)
Requirements upon Entry: Just Your Nigerian Passport
Duration of stay allowed: Visa free for 90 days

3. Benin Republic

Source: www.traveltowestafrica.com/

Description: Located in west Africa, This French-speaking country is home to ten million people and one of the biggest wildlife parks in Africa.
Travel Time from Nigeria: 38 minutes (By air)
3 hours 30 minutes (By road)
Requirements upon Entry: Just Your Nigerian Passport
Duration of stay allowed: Visa free for 90 days

4. Côte d’Ivoire

Description: formerly known as Ivory Coast, this country is located on the south coast of west Africa. The French speaking country is home to several modern landmarks and tourist attractions such as zigguratlike, concrete La Pyramide and Banko National park.
Travel Time from Nigeria: 1 hour 40 minutes (By air)
14 hours 41 minutes (By road)
Requirements upon Entry: Just Your Nigerian Passport
Duration of stay allowed: As long as you like

5. Burundi

Description: Burundi is located in east central Africa, and though it is one of the smallest countries in mainland Africa, it is renowned for its amazing nature display.
Travel Time from Nigeria: 4 hours 20 minutes (By air)
Requirements upon Entry: Just Your Nigerian Passport Duration of stay allowed: Visa free for 30 days

6. Burkina Faso

Description: Burkina Faso is located in west Africa, and they boast of several interesting tourist attractions. The country is host to The International Arts and Crafts Fair, Ouagadougou which is regarded as one of the most important African handicraft fair. Their wildlife parks are home to animals like buffalo, antelope, lions, hippopotamuses, elephants, crocodiles, and monkeys.
Travel Time from Nigeria: 1 hour 40 minutes (By air)
Requirements upon Entry: Just Your Nigerian Passport
Duration of stay allowed: As long as you like

7. Chad

Description: Located in North central Africa and Its neighbors are Niger, Libya, the Sudan, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Nigeria. It is famous for being the second largest wetland and its great Lake which is a massive tourist attraction.
Travel Time from Nigeria: 2 hours 55 minutes (By air)
Requirements upon Entry: Just Your Nigerian Passport
Duration of stay allowed: Visa free for 90 days

8. Senegal

Description: Senegal is located in west Africa, Dakar which is a lively and attractive metropolis, located on Cape Verde Peninsula along the Atlantic shore, is a popular tourist destination. The Senegalese are the originators of Jollof rice, which is famous all over the world.
Travel Time from Nigeria: 3 hours 33 minutes (By air)
Requirements upon Entry: Just Your Nigerian Passport
Duration of stay allowed: Visa free for 90 days

Now you can pack your bags and travel to these beautiful places without inhibitions. What country are you checking out?

Jemimah Iwok published in Events May 14, 2020

The Bellafricana Official Launch Party | New Membership Platform Unveiled

Hi There! Did you hear about the Bellafricana Official Launch Party? The one where we unveiled the membership platform? Yes, on May 11, we hosted a virtual party. And like the previous one (the creatives’virtual meetup), it was so much fun.

It was basically a reunion of people who have supported the Bellafricana vision to impact creatives across Africa! We had a turnout of over Hundred participants altogether at the Party. Mentors and friends of the brand (even past the shores of Africa) were in attendance as well.

The evening was a fun one, with our DJ giving us some cool music to vibe to. Beatrice Miangogo, the compere for the evening did an amazing job as the program glided so smoothly till the end.

What was the highlight of the evening? The official Launch of the membership platform! Let me quickly walk you through:

1. We started with a countdown video

We had everyone unmute their Mics and countdown in Unison from 10 down to 1, after which we unveiled the platform. It was such Watch it here:

2. After unveiling the video, we also shared an explainer video that broke down what the platform was about.

Watch video here:

The membership platform is tout to bring a solution to the lack of resources that creative business owners have today

In this platform, you’ll find expert-led masterclasses, a wide variety of tools, Directories (of Creative brands, Suppliers, Retailers, Wholesalers, and Associations). See what I’m talking about below:

Webinar with Chioma Ogbudimkpa — ***Masterclass Recordings: Watch Expert-led sessions***

***Bellafricana Directories: Access Suppliers, Associations, Wholesalers, etc***

Can you see how rich this platform is? The best part is that this learning is self-paced, and you can learn at your convenience. Another interesting feature of this platform? Let me show you:

So you don’t get too overwhelmed with information, once you log on to the dashboard, you can find information based on your business stage.

Are you in:

The starter stage: You are in this category if you haven’t generated up-to 6-figures in profit yet or not gotten up to 50 customers.

The Scaler stage: You are in this category if you have generated over 6-figures in profit but not up to 7-figures. Your customer base is not up to 100 customers yet.

The Player stage: You are in this category if you have generated over 7-figures in profit and have gotten over 100 customers.

Now, once you’ve identified your business stage, you will then be guided to the list of information that you will be needing to scale your business.

We have already received mind-blowing feedback from users about how wonderful the user-experience is. You can also enjoy these benefits and more a member of the Bellafricana community.

Why not click on the link below:

www.bellafricana.com/member-signup

You can also check out the affordable pricing for subscription on this platform:

www.bellafricana.com/membership-package

If you have further enquiries, don’t hestate to reach out to me on 08086363970 or reply this post.

Bellafricana published in bellafricana, Events May 8, 2020

Bellafricana Launches New Platform To Help Creative Business Owners Bounce Back Faster From The Crisis

Trailing the blows from the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) on creative businesses in Nigeria, Bellafricana has created a platform that would serve as a resource tool and a growth-driver for creative business owners. It is no news that creative business owners are the lifeline of economic development, as non-oil exports must get as much support as possible.

Bellafricana is the community-based organisation that has been empowering, motivating,connecting and supporting creative African business owners for over four years. The company has created a membership portal (the first of its kind in West Africa) to give creative businesses access to tools, guides, directories, masterclasses, among others.

The platform is bid to help creative business owners reduce costs via sealed partnerships and increase revenue via access to diverse market channels such as exhibitions, retailers, and lots more.

The Bellafricana membership platform is set to be launched on the 11th of May, 2020 and would be preceded by a series of talks from industry experts, Bellafricana beneficiaries and a ‘Virtual Launch Party’.

The platform is targeted to onboard over 1000 creative business owners in 6 months and become a pan-African household name in less than 3 years.

Creatives can sign up by visiting the Bellafricana website and navigating to the membership tab to have hands-on experience by themselves. Bellafricana has so far impacted over 250 creative business owners positively even in time of challenges. The organization is well-known for organising the prestigious annual “ACE Awards”.

On the launch of the new platform, Bukky Asehinde, founder of Bellafricana says: “We are looking at building a platform where business owners can see themselves as collaborators, rather than competitors. We are working assiduously to be the beacon of hope to creativity and helping business owners in Nigeria, and Africa at large.”

Jemimah Iwok published in News May 5, 2020

Bellafricana turns Four Years | Unveiling something new

On the 30th of April, our darling Bellafricana turned Four (4) years! Whoop! Whoop!

4 years of promoting the beauty of Africa not just to Africa, but to the world. 4 years or redefining the creative entrepreneurs story to the world, a story of quality, of sustainability, and of growth.

I recently just joined the Bellafricana family, but if being a part of this family could have such tremendous impact on my life in such a short while, then I can only begin to imagine how much Bellafricana has done for Members who have been around much longer.

On April 30th, when we posted this picture, it garnered 77 comments, and going through them brought so much joy.

One of the comments read :”Congratulations Bellafricana! It feels longer than 4 years considering how much you’ve grown and the amazing impact you have made”

And I couldn’t agree more! I was having a chat with my boss (and the founder of Bellafricana) Bukky Asehinde and she said to me: “I have never had small dreams for Bellafricana”.

And the manifestation of that statement is evident. In 4 years, we have become a game changer in the creative space. We have brought creative business owners from different parts of Nigeria, and Africa together, and our dreams are ever expanding.

Which brings me to the big news: On our anniversary date, we announced that we will be unveiling something really BIG on the 11th of May.

How big? Super super Big!

This unveiling will be ground-shaking! And you do not want to miss the big announcement.

Should I give you a clue? Nah, I won’t but starting tomorrow, we will be dropping teasers and hints up until the Launch date. So, if you’re not following us on Instagram, do that right away. Infact click on this link to do so.

Also, April 30th marked the end of the 30-day Bellafricana creatives challenge.

If you participated in the challenge (as much as you could), bravo to you. The feedback we got from participants were so encouraging. Some got an upsurge of profile visits, others were able to connect with their customers, while some made lots of sales!

We are super happy to have championed a cause that changed the lives of many business owners for good.

If you participated, I would love to hear from you. Kindly leave me a shout-out.

In 6 days, we will be unveiling something exciting! Make sure to follow us on social so you can see LIVE updates! Countdown to May 11!

Incase you missed it, Bellafricana will be having a two-fold celebration on MAY 11. Two-fold? Yes! We are Launching a new platform that will be beneficial to ALL creative business owners across Africa! (more details at the unveiling).

That’s not all! We will also be celebrating the 4th Year Anniversary of our great community.

Guess what? We’ll be partying on Zoom! DJ confirmed as you can see on the flyer. We will also be entertaining Industry experts as well.

So here’s the thing: We are limited to a certain number of participants (100) and slots are filling up. I would very much want you to be part of that experience. So that’s why I’m bringing the Invite to your Inbox. Register here, so that we can reserve your slot:

I’ll love to attend!

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Jemimah Iwok published in Health & Beauty May 4, 2020

Looking for a natural baby skincare brand? Amal Botanicals is your go to

Amal Botanicals is the next best thing to happen in the baby skincare industry. Read on to find out why we love this brand so much.

The following are some things that should be safe to assume:

Roses are red
The sky is blue
Baby skin care products are safe for babies’ skin

Right?

Unfortunately, only two of these statements are accurate – and the last time we checked, the sky was still blue and roses remain red (at least most of them).

As far as baby skin care products are concerned, safety is uncertain and this is due to the fact that many of these products are jam packed with potentially harmful ingredients.

Recent studies have found out that a little over 60 percent of the tested children’s bath soaps, lotions, shampoos, and other skin care products contained carcinogenic substances.

In Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reports that chemicals still run rampant in many mainstream baby products. The organization notes that several baby product categories are of particular concern; these include baby soaps, shampoos and conditioners, lotions and oils.

To make matters worse, there is very little regulation of these products once they are on the market.

How babies’ skin differs from Adults’

Everyone knows babies have the softest skin, but what you may not know is that they have the most delicate skin.

The following are noteworthy differences between a Baby’s skin and an Adult’s:

Baby skin is more permeable than an adult’s because they have fewer elastic fibers.
Additionally, infants have more fat under their skin allowing some fatty substances – like steroids – to sink in more readily than they would with adults. Babies get sunburned more easily.
Melanin protects our skin against damage from ultraviolet rays. Babies make less melanin and are therefore more susceptible to sun damage
Babies can’t regulate their own temperature as well. As adults, the blood vessels in our dermis widen or narrow to help regulate our temperature. Since babies can’t do this, it is important that you help to heat and cool your baby yourself. This is especially important when your baby is suffering from a rash that may be triggered by heat.
Healing: As babies grow, their skin grows. So, it’s no surprise that a baby’s skin grows faster than adults, but it may surprise you to learn that as a result – baby skin can heal better than adult skin. This does not mean that you should let a wound go untreated. Babies do not have a fully developed immune system.

How to avoid Toxins in baby skin care products

Read labels Closely
Utilize an app or a guide
Reduce the number of skin care products that you use
Use natural skin care products
When you do purchase baby products, shop from brands you can trust

The baby care Brand you can Trust

Not sure where to look for safer baby skin care? Check out AMAL BOTANICALS natural and organic baby care collection which is explicitly designed with babies’ sensitive skin in mind.

You will never find any harmful, impossible-to-pronounce ingredients in our products. Instead you will find a commitment to safe, gentle, and natural ingredients that keep your baby’s skin healthy without risking their overall health. These products are perfect for newborns, and kids of all ages.

They also have a product range for Expectant and Nursing mothers to ease the motherhood journey.

Let’s Explore some of their products below: (click on the pictures to shop for them directly)

Amal Botanicals New born essentials

This comprises of;

1 Miracle Moisturising Cream, day time Moisturiser

1 Baby Bottom Cream for diaper rash

1 Nourishing & Moisturizing Shea Bar Soap

1 Talc-Free Powder

1 Soothing Shea Oil for skin, hair & massage, a night time nourishing oil which also helps promotes restful sleep. Also great for hair growth.

Amal Botanicals Balms for Expectant and Nursing Mothers

Nipple Balm :

Helps to Soothe & Nourish Tender and Sore nipples.

100% Natural, Safe for Baby and no need to wipe breast before breastfeeding

Belly Balm:

Suitable for expectant and nursing moms as preventive treatment against stretchmarks. It also serves as a good massage

Check out Amal Botanicals Soaps below:

Check out their other products on their Website

Connect with Amal Botanicals on :

Instagram

Facebook

Jemimah Iwok published in Fashion April 28, 2020

4 Bag Care sins you need to repent from🤣

bags by Ethnik Africa Utu on Bellafricana marketplace

Detail Africa Briefcase

Hi! Do you know that a lot of us have been doing some things wrong when it comes to caring for our handbags? I was guilty of some of these “Bag care Sins” but now I know better. I will be sharing them with you soon, but while I am doing that, feel free to browse through some beautiful handbags by Bellafricana Members. Are you ready? Let’s get started:

View More by Oba Couture here

Sin #1. Keeping your Bag in the Box:

I know you love staring at your bags in their little boxes, sitting pretty. But leather cracks when there is no air. Imagine sitting in a choked up place without ventilation. That’s exactly how your bag feels. What you can do instead is to put them in drawstring bags to avoid dust settling on them, as well as preserve the fabric.

View More bags by MiraOma here

Sin #2. Using your blow-dryer to air out a wet bag:

If you notice a water spill, using a blow-dryer, or any other form of heat that isn’t natural, can cause serious damage to your bag. So, why not allow it air out naturally? Remember not to also put it out in direct sunlight. Instead, store them in a cool, dry place.

View More bags by Morin-O here

Sin #3. Not Stuffing the bag when not in use:

Bags tend to lose their form or shape when empty. This period when most of your bags will not be in much use, you can stuff them with a mass of clean clothes, or throwpillows to help retain the shape.

View More bags by Oeclat here

Sin #4. Hanging your bags:

How many of us are guilty of this? Putting a bag up by the handles can cause the handles to lose shape, or even crack. If your bags have been out-living their handles, this may be a reason why.

Ethnik Utu bag Bellafricana member — Ethnik Utu bag

View More bags from Ethnik here

So, there you have it! I hope you have learnt a thing or two from this, and trust you will repent from your “Bag Care sins” (if guilty)🤣

Jemimah Iwok published in Articles April 21, 2020

Chioma Ogbudimkpa knocks our socks off at this amazing webinar session

Whoop! Whoop!! Last week Thursday, we held a mind-blowing power session with the PITCH QUEEN herself. Chioma Ogbudimkpa.

Can you sense the excitement in my tone? That’s because that session knocked my socks off. Literally!

Before I get into the nitty-gritty, let me give you a little back story, and why I was excited.

This covid-19 period, Bellafricana is not slacking at all. We’re organizing webinar sessions with Industry experts, as well as intra-community webinars as well. These webinar arose as a result of a need to gain some insight into areas that would be of immense benefit to our members post covid-19.

One of such areas is funding. There are lots of events, funding opportunities, and so on to take advantage of. But one hindrance is usually when it’s time to PITCH your product, or idea. We realized that this is a big issue for a lot of business owners, and that was why we invited Chioma Ogbudimkpa.

Why was Chioma Ogbudimkpa just totally perfect?

For a start, Chioma owns the famous ‘REDBUTTON’ fashion label with a strong focus on sustainability. She has won notable grants from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, She Leads Africa Accelerator and the recent ‘Friends of the Vice President’ award.

Chioma has been featured on CNN Africa, The United Nations Sustainability & Innovation Expo, Spice TV Africa and the Young African Leaders’ Initiative.

It is also noteworthy to mention that she is a winner of the African Prize of the Global Creative Business Cup and Nigeria Creative Enterprise (NICE) program 2019 -powered by the British Council.

She has showcased her fashion pieces at many international and continental fashion engagements.

Can you see why she was the right person to shower us with this knowledge?

Anyway, the D-day came, and so many participants signed up and the session kicked off. I learnt so much, but I will share just a little of these with you:

Research

One word that resonated throughout that webinar was Research like never before. Research your Industry. Whilst you’re doing that, ensure that your research isn’t restricted. You want your brand to be seen on a global scale, then you broaden your research. Find out what is been done (or not ) and see how you can use that do develop a strong USP (Unique Selling Proposition). Research the organisation you want to pitch to. Research, Research, Research!

2. Articulate your Brand story Properly

Story telling and Pitching are two peas in a pod. To give a successful pitch, you must be a great story teller. That means you have to be able to tell your brands story as flawlessly as possible. You may ask:”What if I don’t have a Brand Story?” Well you HAVE TO HAVE one. Whether you started because you were passionate about your craft, because you needed to make money, or because you needed to do something to pass the time, you have to reach deep and think about the “WHY”. There will definitely be a story hidden there somewhere. That story is one thing your potential investor looks forward to hearing. S, you have to work on it.

3. Pitch From a Place of Value

This point can never be overemphasized. You can’t tell your audience that you’re pitching because you need money (even though in reality, that’s what you need). But let them know what your product or idea will solve, and how you’re helping them. Sustainability is the new gold, so find a way to attach your brand to one of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). It gives your brand more credibility.

I could keep writing, but I’ll Just stop here. How were the responses we got from the webinar?

I’ll let you see for yourself :

Comments like these give us the needed encouragement to stop at nothing to bring our audience more than their money’s worth of membership. That’s exactly what we do at Bellafricana. To enjoy more these and many more benefits that come with being a member of our amazing community, click on this link

You can connect with Chioma here.

That’s a wrap on the amazing webinar series we had. Say tuned for more gist. Bye!

Jemimah Iwok published in Entrepreneurship April 9, 2020

How your Business can stay relevant during the Corona Virus Pandemic

The widespread impact of the Corona Virus on the world has been nothing short of utterly devastating. The planetary scale pandemic since its outbreak about a few weeks ago, has caused an unprecedented plummeting of business and economic activities.

Due to the alarming spread-rate, a lot of countries have been forced to shut down all non-essential business exchanges and this has left a lot of business owners reeling in uncertainty as to how to mitigate risk, protect employees and still retain the customers’ attention.

If you are a business owner in this class and you have really not planned out ways you can mitigate risks, cut down on losses and get your business to stay relevant amidst the lock-downs and curfews, here are a few things you can implement right away:

Go Remote

You should really comply with any physical business activity restrictions placed by the government and shift your work base to the safety of your houses.

If you have several employees working under you then you want to avoid organizational loopholes by ensuring that there is an optimal (digital) means of communication set up so as to enforce cooperation and also monitor progress on all fronts as you would on a normal business-on-site day.

2. Shift all Marketing Strategies Online

The goal is to ensure that your business makes it through the pandemic without suffering any long-term damage to your brand or your customer base. If you have paid little or no attention to online marketing strategies for your business before now, then now is the time you really want to leverage on digital platforms to break through the noise, keep brand to consumer engagement, increase your online customer base and even pool in profit.

https://cloudinary.hbscdn.org https://images.unsplash.com/ — *Multiscreen*

Anything from hosting online events and webinars to email marketing could prove to be the most effective way to make the most out of the situation and give your brand a popularity boost.

3. Communicate transparently with your Audience

It is really important to recognize that your clients understand that you are also affected by the Corona Virus situation. Hence, you should be open and transparent about what your business is facing at the moment.

Now is the time you want to let them know what you are doing about it, steps you are taking to mitigate risk and how you are involved with helping the community. This act alone is sure to bring a more favorable perception about your brand and distinguish you as an industry leader.

4. Drive Social Media Engagement

It is a fact that at this time, the bulk of the world populace (somewhere between 65% – 70%) turn to social media in order to have access to trending news and fresh content. It then becomes extremely important that you reach out to your audience regularly by creating content pieces around the situation. But be careful here, you want to make sure you don’t come off as “Unempathic” to your clients by being so aggressive with marketing your products, they are also as badly hit as you are. It’s a delicate balance you want to keep.

That’s why Bellafricana came up with a 30-day Challenge for Creative Business owners. This Challenge has presented the perfect solution to tactical marketing and a deeper sense of connection with the audience as a way of saying:” Take that Corona Virus! You’ve got nothing on us!” Read more about the Bellafricana Creatives challenge here

Which of these Tactics will you try? I can’t wait to hear from you.

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