1. Computers & Technology
Essential tools for success
Ben Coleman, ICT Advisor
West Africa Trade Hub

2. It’s all about
increasing
efficiency
• Faster, more accurate, cheaper
• Improves communication, e.g. email
• Increases access to markets, e.g. online promotion,
procurement

3. Greater efficiency leads to greater
productivity
• …leads to lower costs
• …leads to greater competitiveness
• …leads to greater sales

4. Use ICT or get left behind
The world is changing…
• You will be less efficient than your competitors
• Buyers demand responsiveness

5. Success stories
• Ahene Pa Nkasa using Tally for accounting
• Solution Oasis’ new website using Google Sites

6. Key solutions that can help your
business right now

7. Using your computer

8. • Buy a UPS to avoid losing work
Using your computer

9. • Defragment your hard drive to keep your
computer running fast
Automatic in Vista, but check it’s working
Using your computer

10. • Keep your programs updated to avoid viruses
Internet connection and settings
Using your computer

11. • Be careful when you plug in a USB into your
computer to avoid picking up a virus
Scan any USB that has been used elsewhere
Using your computer

12. • PAY for an antivirus to get the best protection for
your computer and work
E.g. Nod32 Antivirus (www.eset.com)
Using your computer

13. • Backup your hard drive to save your
work/time
Can use Windows Backup and Restore or e.g.
Syncback (www.2brightsparks.com/syncback)
Using your computer

14. • Use freeware to recover lost files
E.g. Mini Tool Power
(www.powerdatarecovery.com/)
Using your computer

15. • Use Picasa to organize your photos
picasa.google.com
Using your computer

16. • Use a customer relationship management tool to
improve your customer interactions
E.g. www.watradehub.com/ict or High Rise
(www.highrisehq.com)
Using your computer

17. • Do your accounting on your computer to increase
accuracy and flexibility
E.g. Tally or a custom Excel spreadsheet
Using your computer

18. Using email

19. • Create an email signature to make it easier to
contact you
Using email

20. • Use an email client to save time
E.g. Outlook or Thunderbird
(www.mozilla.org/thunderbird/)
Using email

21. • Send out mass emails to your contacts (but
not spam!) to support your marketing
E.g. Mail Chimp (www.mailchimp.com)
Using email

22. • Always answer your emails promptly to keep
your customers
Mark the emails you have to respond to or act
on
Using email

23. • Use proper email etiquette
Be careful what you say and how you say it
Using email

24. On the Internet

25. • Start using search engines to answer (almost)
anything!
On the Internet

26. • Find freeware and online tools to save you money
E.g. www.sourceforge.net
On the Internet

27. • Use Google Sites to create a professional easy-
to-update website
Sites.google.com
On the Internet

28. • Register your domain name
E.g. www.godaddy.com
On the Internet

29. • Read a blog to find out market trends
Search for e.g. shea blog
On the Internet

30. • Start a blog to increase visits to your website
Use e.g. wordpress.com
On the Internet

31. • Monitor visitors to your website
E.g. Google Analytics (analytics.google.com)
On the Internet

32. • Monitor your business using Google Alerts
Alerts.google.com
On the Internet

33. • Add your business to LinkedIn, Facebook,
Google Places, any other online directory
related to your business to increase your
company’s visibility
www.watradehub.com/resources/online-
marketing
On the Internet

34. • Join the Trade Hub supported online portal
(network.africancrafts.com) to increase the
visibility of your website
Contact sseck@watradehub.com for more
information
On the Internet

35. • Use Skype to cut your phone bills and make it
easier for people to contact you
www.skype.com
On the Internet

36. • Use “the cloud” to access your documents from
anywhere
E.g. docs.google.com
On the Internet

37. • Be careful what you download to avoid picking
up a virus
On the Internet

38. Offline

39. • Create a brand, including logo and brand
promise to direct your online marketing
Offline

40. • Live up to your brand to send a clear message
to your audience
Your staff must also send the same message
Offline

41. • Get training in how to use ICT more effectively
E.g. Learn how to use MS Office to its full
potential, and save yourself time
Offline

42. • Use professional telephone etiquette to keep/
gain more customers
Make sure your office staff are trained
properly also!
Offline

43. • Put your website/email everywhere to
increase your company’s visibility
E.g. business cards, email signature, branding
Offline

44. • Spend more of your budget on ICT, it will pay
off in the long-run
See what products we recommend for SMEs
(www.watradehub.com/resources/ebizbox)
Offline

45. Offline
• Find a reliable source of ICT advice
West Africa Trade Hub!

46. Thank you!
www.watradehub.com/ict
Ben Coleman (bcoleman@watradehub.com)
Sokhna Seck (sseck@watradehub.com)