Software creation and marketing

Through my days assisting companies in their effort to market their software I’ve came to realise that they are a couple of millions of software out there and normally most of them are identical to one another. I must admit for companies to create the software itself is already a challenge yet alone to create a niche market segment for the software to stand out in the ongoing and fast moving market for software.

I’ve seen software complimenting hardware and even software that is latest in technology but yet face a huge problem of tapping the market. Why? It happens for a few reasons such as:

Market awareness; consumers aren’t aware of the advantage of using the software and yet alone justifying the cost for the software to match its business needs. So the first step to get into the market is to get the consumer to be aware of the advantage and disadvantage of the software. Send out free trials and give them cost justification if they were to implement the software in their office.

Do thorough research on the software and make sure that it offers an up to date offerings. Consumer doesn’t want a software that offers them something that they can get for free on the internet or even something out of date. If you were to offer a software on financial forecasting, let it be up to date with all the modules integrated into it.

Bottom line is that software are hard to sell, they only to go around it is to get a customer first then only customize or develop a software.

RAFA e-nergy pendant

While coming up to my office one day, like some of the days, there’ll be company which are mainly insurance company promoting their products in our lobby but for today it was a bit unusual. Stepping through the front door, there was someone handing over a brochure, not one but 3, one of it had an unusual pendant on the front image, the next one was something asking if you wanted to be a millionaire and the third one was something to do with a health drink.

For the pendant, eventually it was an energy pendant, something to do with magnetic and ion. The brand is RAFA e-nergy pendant. The usual retail price was RM499 and for promotion it was priced at RM400. A good price to sell a product that could improve your health and was the size of a coaster. Maybe for women but definitely not guys.

For the millionaire brochure, they are attracting new agents to sell the pendant and said that nowadays it takes about 2 to 5 years to be a millionaire unlike before where it took at about 20 years or more and being in a very complicated industry.

Business Networking

We could see that most of the dinners or events that relates to business would highlight that it’ll be a great platform for business networking. There are a number of different crowds where some favours this and some doesn’t. I myself have been to numerous, social gathering, dinner, luncheon and even breakfast networking and business delegations networking and I still find it useful and certain extent and not to some.

I personally feel that some business networking could be useful if you are at the right event and with the right crowd. It would beat the purpose if you are a restaurateur or in food services but in an ICT event with IT professionals. Either or, it is still a great platform to build and develop your social skills, just make sure to not make your fake laughs at the dinner table too obvious.

If you were a company, exhibitions would be a good start to build new and existing network. Many government and private agencies does fund for effort like this, do approach SME Bank, MARA and other agencies and organisation. You can ask anyone that after the exhibit their products in exhibition, there'll definitely be a lot of follow up...only if you're at the right exhibition that is!

Franchise Walk Hunt 2008

The Malaysia Franchise Association (MFA) will be holding their annual/occasional MFA Walk Hunt on the 28th of June 2008 starting from the Berjaya Times Square. I wasn’t paid to promote this event but I see this event as a good platform for entrepreneurs, business seekers and owners to meet each other and do networking. MFA receive a lot of coverage in the business world, not only for franchising but also for businesses.

The MFA website became a big hit for their MFA forum where a lot of business seekers would post enquiries to gain information on a specific business topic and we’ve seen a lot of franchisor or business owners responding to it and eventually hooked up to establish a business together.

I would assume that the same crowd will turn up for this Walk Hunt and just like last year, I’m convinced that they will also hold a carnival where everyone would gather and this is would be a good start to establish some new networks. I would post another entre on my opinions on business networking.

Worm Business (Business Cacing)

In this post, I’d like to share a very interesting business that is becoming bigger and bigger in Malaysia. Before we’ve heard of goat and corn farming, cows and kettle, bees and many more but now the latest one I just came across is worm farming. They are making it an opportunity and having seminars to promote the business. One of the key players in Malaysia is currently on organisation called AZR Agro.

The seminar that they are conducting is to introduce entrepreneurs on worm farming and to be in the worm business. The seminar will be conducted at Hotel Grand Blue Wave, Shah Alam and the fees are RM 450 per person.

Eventually the capital to start this business is very small. 1 kilogram of worms is priced at RM450. With one kilogram of worm you can get about 2,000 to 3,000 worms. They can breed up to 10 times the amount of worms in 6 months and each worm can breed about 18 times. To handle the worms and keep it breeding is not exactly really hard, all we have to do is to keep them cool and out of the sun. Make sure they get enough water and to build a small breeding area for them.

The waste of worms can be sold as organic fertilizer and the worm itself can be sold as cosmetic content. The market price of these worms can reach up to RM 600 per kilogram. My opinion is that this business is able to grow, for those who love farming, I would recommend it :)

Fishing My Way To Made Of Honor

I'm sorry guys for suddenly putting this entry without any description after not having any post posted for so long. I've been really tied up with a lot of work, that's a life of SAP consultant for you and I've got this email saying to put up this screenshot so I can win free tickets to watch a new movie, Made of Honour. you guys can do it too, just fish away with Hong Leong Bank:






I'll catch up on my post soon ok...hang in there!

Car Wash Business

Now everywhere we turn, whether it’s in the city, suburbs or even in the secluded villages we’ll definitely come across a car wash operator. In the city it can come up to hundreds of ringgit giving wash and polishes and other areas can be as cheap as RM 5 or RM 6 for wash and vacuum. Some are better than others, giving extra services for free such as tyre polishing, engine wash and even dashboard polish.

A few years back, local council has made it compulsory to register and get a license to open and operate a car wash; this is to make sure that car wash operator follows guidelines including providing a proper operating place, the chemical used and how to dispose the cleaning materials. Now car washes are available in condos, apartments, shopping mall parking, office parking and even drive thru ones.

My personal opinion is that, car wash business is lucrative. Given the right promotion and having the right location, it’ll definitely be a right business to be in. Not much capital is needed and you can earn hard earned cash. If you offer top notch quality services, customers will come again the next time, that is a definitely. People living in apartments and condos don’t have the right facility to wash their car so you’re the main place. Even people living in landed houses are lack of time. The main points which they key to business success still apply which are;

Having the right promotion

The right location

Good presentation

Good and quality service.

TM Business Programme

One of the popular spams or topic on business forums in Malaysia are on a business seminar invitation to a business opportunity to be a business partner of TM (Telekom Malaysia) where they would resell TM technology and solutions, such as Streamyx and talk packages. In return they would gain commissions from what they sell. How TM control their interest is to limit the geographical coverage of each business partners. This would be a rough brief on the seminar which was posted on their website:

In fulfilling our vision in producing successful entrepreneurs in Technology and Telecommunication sector in Malaysia, Techteleca is pleased to forward you an exclusive invitation to TMBP Seminar.

TMBP Seminar Objectives

1. To expose entrepreneurs to diversify business opportunities in Malaysia involving Technology and Telecommunication products and services

2. To foster entrepreneurs in understanding the Information, Communication and Technology market and help explore business and development opportunities

3. To create platforms for sharing of experience and knowledge exchange

Successful participant will be given an accreditation, product distribution rights, facilities and trainings.

Prepaid Business

Most of us may have come across email spam promoting a lot business in Malaysia. Today I’ll discuss on the often spammed and the ones that I can see on the any business forum, they are the top up business. Promoting people to be the agent and getting down line for the mobile phone prepaid business. With only around 1-5% profit margin from every prepaid top up that we sell. Thinking about it is really de-motivating but there are thousand of people in the business because they see the potential of it.

This is how I see it; the only way for you to excel in the business is through three methods, Buying, selling and most importantly is to expand your business network. To get as many agents under your so you’ll be passive income. Their commission is your commission. Just remember that in this business, initial capital is needed. You are basically buying stocks and selling it back.

What you don’t know

You are actually making the pioneer richer, if you’re really thinking of going into the business for the long run, you can definitely start your own prepaid busienss. It’s not exactly really technical, just make a partnership with the telco company, (maxis, celcom and digi), establish a SMS networking, buy SMS modems and automation devices and you’re set. Still seem too technical? Then ask me for further advice..good luck!!

Secret Recipe

Many would be asking questions why I do write a lot on the Food industry, it’s not only because I once was involved in this line and not because I’m hungry either but the food industry in Malaysia is highly expandable and I could say 50% of the franchise community are from this line. From today I would like to share about one of the most successful franchise since 1997 which is Secret Recipe.

Secret Recipe was established in 1997 during the economy crisis and the team of husband and wife managed to make it into a big success, and I must say one of the most successful franchise Malaysia have seen. They first opened a small deli café, where it grew since then up until making a name in the international scene. Now Secret Recipe has made an appearance in more than 5 countries. They have managed to keep a very high quality on their food and a very controlled cash flow for all the franchisee.

This is why Secret Recipe is a very successful franchise and very difficult franchise to obtain franchise rights from them. The screening and interview of the Secret Recipe franchise covers a very thorough and vigorous process. But I would say that such screening is necessary to filter and get the creams of the cream to pursue such opportunity.