Mr. Kaosiso Anaekwe (right) delivering a lecture at the 2013 Connect Nigeria e-Business Fair Seminar
During the 2013 e-Business Fair held at the Orchid Hall, Eko Hotel & Suites, Connect Nigeria caught up with Kaosiso Anaekwe, a representative of Google Business Group in Nigeria. He shares insights on how businesses can benefit from using Google tools.
CN: If you were to explain to a layman that has no understanding of Google, how would you describe it?KA: You use Google to find information. You see, Google’s mission is to make businesses around the world organised. So for an ordinary person that wants to find information where he can buy things, where he can learn things such information can be found using Google.
CN: As a business person, how can one benefit from using Google?KA: As a business, you’ll find out that you are always interested in getting customers. On Google platforms, people are looking for what you are selling everyday; there are billions of search going on every minute. So, you as a business person need to consider how to take advantage of this moment where people are looking for what you are doing in order to promote your business to your next prospective customer. And it is important to understand also that people are actively looking for what you are selling.
CN: What kinds of platforms exist on Google?KA: Google is a bunch of tools for business people…
CN: Which ones are business-specific?KA: Business specific tools include Google Apps, which is a suite of applications such as emails, documents, calendar, groups, chats, presentations and facilities for businesses to use. So it’s a set of collaborative tools for business people. Apart from Google Apps, Google also provides advertising for business people who want to advertise to their prospective customers. So, that’s one of the things available for businesses. Apart from the fact that you can advertise, you also need to understand how to position the content of your business on the internet so that people can actually see it. That’s part of what we do. It’s a community; we bring business people together and educate them on how these tools can help them to be more successful in business. From time to time, we hold events and tell people what to do by enlightening them on how they can profit their business. To make it more understandable for a layman, I liken Google to NTA (Nigerian Television Authority); every business man would be happy to have his business featured on the NTA network news because you believe that millions of Nigerians are watching the network news. Likewise, thousands of Nigerians are using Google everyday; so Google gives you that opportunity to showcase your products to a wider audience. Even with a fraction of your normal budget for traditional advertising, the result is incomparable to that of someone trying to advertise on a national daily or on national television. So that is some advantage.
CN: In the United States, Google launched Google Fiber – a project aimed at providing quality internet access. Do you think Google might consider experimenting with such project here in Nigeria in the near future?KA: Well, one thing that Google is doing in Africa is that it is advocating for more internet connectivity for end users. Early this month, there was the Commonwealth Telecommunication Conference held in Abuja and Google was there to make a presentation on how they can make internet more available and affordable – solutions that wowed the telecoms. They were happy and looking forward to adopting such technologies. So Google is more interested in doing things that will help make internet connectivity available for people.
The Christmas season is here, and Connect Nigeria is spreading the festive cheer with an irresistible Christmas deal designed to boost your business visibility and make it shine brighter than ever. Whether you’re looking to boost your brand’s visibility or take your business to the next level, this Buy One Get One Free offer is … Continue reading Boost Your Business Visibility with Connect Nigeria’s Christmas Deal
Email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools for businesses to connect with their audience, drive conversions, and build long-term relationships. However, achieving consistent results requires more than just sending out emails, it requires a strategic approach that delivers value to recipients while aligning with your business goals. Read more about Business This … Continue reading How to Build an Effective Email Marketing Strategy
An email subscriber list is one of the most valuable assets for any business. It allows you to build direct relationships with your audience, share tailored content, and drive sales. However, growing your list requires more than simply asking visitors to sign up. By using effective strategies, you can attract high-quality subscribers who are … Continue reading Top 7 Strategies to Grow Your Email Subscriber List
Email marketing remains one of the most effective tools for building relationships with customers and driving business growth. Despite the rise of social media and other digital marketing channels, successful business owners continue to prioritise email marketing because of its unparalleled ability to deliver personalized, measurable, and cost-effective results. Read more about Business This … Continue reading Why Successful Business Owners Prioritise Email Marketing
KA: Google is a bunch of tools for business people…
CN: Which ones are business-specific?
KA: Business specific tools include Google Apps, which is a suite of applications such as emails, documents, calendar, groups, chats, presentations and facilities for businesses to use. So it’s a set of collaborative tools for business people. Apart from Google Apps, Google also provides advertising for business people who want to advertise to their prospective customers. So, that’s one of the things available for businesses. Apart from the fact that you can advertise, you also need to understand how to position the content of your business on the internet so that people can actually see it. That’s part of what we do. It’s a community; we bring business people together and educate them on how these tools can help them to be more successful in business. From time to time, we hold events and tell people what to do by enlightening them on how they can profit their business. To make it more understandable for a layman, I liken Google to NTA (Nigerian Television Authority); every business man would be happy to have his business featured on the NTA network news because you believe that millions of Nigerians are watching the network news. Likewise, thousands of Nigerians are using Google everyday; so Google gives you that opportunity to showcase your products to a wider audience. Even with a fraction of your normal budget for traditional advertising, the result is incomparable to that of someone trying to advertise on a national daily or on national television. So that is some advantage.
CN: In the United States, Google launched Google Fiber – a project aimed at providing quality internet access. Do you think Google might consider experimenting with such project here in Nigeria in the near future?
KA: Well, one thing that Google is doing in Africa is that it is advocating for more internet connectivity for end users. Early this month, there was the Commonwealth Telecommunication Conference held in Abuja and Google was there to make a presentation on how they can make internet more available and affordable – solutions that wowed the telecoms. They were happy and looking forward to adopting such technologies. So Google is more interested in doing things that will help make internet connectivity available for people.
