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Right, rather than p*ss and moan about the whole situation, I’m going to do what I can to help. I believe entrepreneurship and innovation is probably the only way we are going to get out of this rut we find ourselves in as South Africans. So I have taken a few hours to write a couple of articles on getting a few skills together that can help you get going. While it might seem daunting at first, once you get the hang of it you will be sorted.
First of all, I presume you are starting on the cheap. Don’t worry, the things here are often free / really cheap / make you money. What is presumed though, is that you know how to use a computer reasonably well (You are on New24, so hopefully we are off to a good start).
The second thing is that these are skills that will last you your entire life (I got a job at Gorilla Marketing as an SEO consultant, and I am self-taught). Be patient when going over them, but also try not to pigeon hole yourself too much.
Learn to Code: Codecademy. What a website, and completely free. Learn the different coding languages in an interactive and easy to learn way. It is really a lot easier than people make it out to be, and you will be shocked at how quick you pick it up. Google the different languages + ‘jobs’, and you will see there is a high demand for the skill + good pay. Use what you have learnt to build a portfolio / build the systems for another business you have in mind.
Build a Website: If you just want something to display your services quickly while you are still growing, then I think WIX is probably your best solution. Really easy to use, drag and drop and looks good. If you are thinking of possibly offering this out as a skill, I recommend getting into WordPress. Here is a great video on how to build a site with WordPress.
Business Phones: It can look really unprofessional having a cell number on your site. Unfortunately, we cannot rely on Hellkom all the time. Look into getting a VoIP number. This is a ‘landline’ number that you can have forwarded to your cell phone.
Business Addresses: If you don’t want to give away your home address, look into a virtual office. You will also be able to register your business here on Google Maps, giving your company a more professional outlook. With the VoIP and address, I would recommend you look around for the solution that best suits you.
SEO. This one is a bit tricky, but a good way for you to get customers is by ranking high on Google. If you can’t afford an SEO Company, or are looking to perhaps offer that service; then here are a few great resources to teach you about how it works and what it is.
MozSE LandThis Guy. I know this guy is a bit of a moron, and an Aussie (Tautology?!); but probably speaks the most sense out of everyone on the internet when it comes to doing SEO for yourself / small time clients. His unprofessionalism aside, a good resource. Okay, so from the information above, if you spend about 3-6 months using your spare time to learn; you should be able to:
- Code at a basic / intermediate level. - Build a website.- Have that website rank for key terms- Have a professional appearance while on a budget.- Be able to offer one of these services to someone / get a job- Be able to promote / work on your own business idea without too many expenses. Get your idea to the public and be able to make positive changes.
In part two, I’ll go over a few more ways you can get yourself established as a business / build a portfolio for a job and get paid for it.
First of all, I presume you are starting on the cheap. Don’t worry, the things here are often free / really cheap / make you money. What is presumed though, is that you know how to use a computer reasonably well (You are on New24, so hopefully we are off to a good start).
The second thing is that these are skills that will last you your entire life (I got a job at Gorilla Marketing as an SEO consultant, and I am self-taught). Be patient when going over them, but also try not to pigeon hole yourself too much.
Learn to Code: Codecademy. What a website, and completely free. Learn the different coding languages in an interactive and easy to learn way. It is really a lot easier than people make it out to be, and you will be shocked at how quick you pick it up. Google the different languages + ‘jobs’, and you will see there is a high demand for the skill + good pay. Use what you have learnt to build a portfolio / build the systems for another business you have in mind.
Build a Website: If you just want something to display your services quickly while you are still growing, then I think WIX is probably your best solution. Really easy to use, drag and drop and looks good. If you are thinking of possibly offering this out as a skill, I recommend getting into WordPress. Here is a great video on how to build a site with WordPress.
Business Phones: It can look really unprofessional having a cell number on your site. Unfortunately, we cannot rely on Hellkom all the time. Look into getting a VoIP number. This is a ‘landline’ number that you can have forwarded to your cell phone.
Business Addresses: If you don’t want to give away your home address, look into a virtual office. You will also be able to register your business here on Google Maps, giving your company a more professional outlook. With the VoIP and address, I would recommend you look around for the solution that best suits you.
SEO. This one is a bit tricky, but a good way for you to get customers is by ranking high on Google. If you can’t afford an SEO Company, or are looking to perhaps offer that service; then here are a few great resources to teach you about how it works and what it is.
MozSE LandThis Guy. I know this guy is a bit of a moron, and an Aussie (Tautology?!); but probably speaks the most sense out of everyone on the internet when it comes to doing SEO for yourself / small time clients. His unprofessionalism aside, a good resource. Okay, so from the information above, if you spend about 3-6 months using your spare time to learn; you should be able to:
- Code at a basic / intermediate level. - Build a website.- Have that website rank for key terms- Have a professional appearance while on a budget.- Be able to offer one of these services to someone / get a job- Be able to promote / work on your own business idea without too many expenses. Get your idea to the public and be able to make positive changes.
In part two, I’ll go over a few more ways you can get yourself established as a business / build a portfolio for a job and get paid for it.
