The African Construction and Totally Concrete Expo, held from 9 to 11 May at Gallagher Convention Centre, attracted a number of big players in the industry, and even the City of Johannesburg held a gala dinner in honour of the attendees.
Small business owners also attended the expo to learn from their counterparts and hopefully acquire special trade secrets that could lead to the growth of their businesses.
One such businessman is Floyd Matlala who owns a construction business which is still in its developmental stages. He attended a workshop presentation that focused on getting the most out of your social media presence. The workshop titled, Get the most out of your online media, was presented by Doug Arnold, business development consultant for Engineered Media.
“The effective use of a website can contribute to the growth of a business – if you filter out the hype,” said Arnold. He explained that business persons should not be deterred by the excitement of having a website and rather keep their goals in mind. “What is the purpose of your website?” asked Arnold.
He cited four reasons for having a website which included, marketing the business, dissemination of information about the business and investors and operator manuals for business products.
“One needs to research the market, measure traffic on the website and ensure it is professional and conveys the correct message,” he said.
Matlala is one of the attendees of the workshop who heeded Arnold’s advice. “He confirmed a lot of thoughts that I already had,” said Matlala. “I do not currently have a website and I need a cost-effective way of having one.” He said he would contact the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller, which aids small businesses with their growth plan. This includes setting up a website for them.
“I am not sure if they will get my vision, however, I will try them first because they are cost effective.”
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