How social media can change entrepreneurs’ business?

Businesspersons pictured above may have the tools (phones) that have camera and can access internet as well as social media at large but they don't see the importance of joining their businesses in social media

By Sauli Giliard

When compared with traditional media’s way of communication, one can say, social media are the new and advanced media that allow interactions between the users. Social media can be define as a "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media "group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content”.

Currently the known and user friendly social media are Facebook, Twitter, blogs and website. Millions of the people have their accounts of the abovementioned kinds of social media for either social or business purpose.

Companies have not left behind; they have embraced into social media to describe their services and products. And to the popular blogs and website, some companies, especially communications firms, have decided to buy space to do so. A vivid example is Jamii Forums, where Airtel and Tigo bought spaces, and Michuzi, sponsored by Vodacom Tanzania.

Furthermore, normal communication within companies is not done manually; it’s through social media where a manager can send instructions or even discuss to his/her subordinate and let the job done. Profile, pix and other important information are being found in respected companies’ site. No need to incur unnecessary costs for social media are there for us!

The basic thing, in this new form of communications, is that it is in the form of interaction between the users. Users can’t wait until tomorrow. It can be further described as ‘conversations through electronic system”.

Tanzania, among developing countries, is not an island in the ongoing changes of the world’s communication system.

As I mentioned earlier, private companies, individuals and governments are striving to make sure they use this opportunity (social media) in reaching their customers, friends, stakeholders.

On other side of the coin, social media has not yet deliver good news specifically in transforming individual’s economy in Tanzania. It has reminded a place where youths can express them feeling about social, political issues and left along economy, which I believe most of youth suffer of it.

Youths who are mostly in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) don’t consider Facebook, personal blogs and twitter as one of the key tool in implementing their communication strategies. To worsen the situation, they don’t consider their fellow bloggers, Facebook friends and twitter users as their customers. 

Since the socially media are even available in to hand sets, which these SMEs use to communicate, why shouldn’t Manzese, Big Brother  entrepreneurs in Dar es Salaam use the facebook to inform their friends that he/she has brought a new model trousers? Why he/she has no blog to post pictures of the products/ services or even the famous one blogs at low cost to advertise them?

If youth, especially entrepreneurs use these sites not only for dating but for “selling themselves” in terms their professionals and business they are in, social media can bring positive changes in their economic status.

Most of youths can access these social media. The issue is how the use them to improve their skills and their economic status. Policy makers should debate and finally come out with ideas that will help youth entrepreneurs in broadening their minds on how best ways to use these new media technologies to improving their business skills.

Youths do not just need fund to do business instead a best way of how to do businesses using social media to communicate with their customers, manufacturers and other stakeholders pertaining to the businesses they are in.