Name of your website?www.bizsetup.wordpress.com
Your name?
Max Soutter
Your Location (city, etc)
Harare
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Official site for Business Setup Group founded by Max Soutter. Max has setup or grown more than 200 businesses in over 40 industries. The site includes articles, free resources for anyone starting a business in Zimbabwe or beyond. Here's you'll be introduced to Pre-setup businesses - by far the easiest way to startup any kind of business. Save money, time, eneregy etc.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
As a business growth strategist, it was a natural progression to become more and more involved in online strategy. Cant do that without your own site now can you!
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
First ever website was a blog about 2 years ago. It didnt last though, i just didnt have time to actually maintain it - it died a horible death in google eventually.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
It's a shorterned version of the name of our comapny "business setup group"
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
1) no one else in Zim is really agressively attempting to educate, equip and empower entrepreneurs in the way we are, especailly online. 2) Our product offerings are unique as becomes obvious as soon as you checkout the Business Setup Kit. 3) We're one of few blogs comminted to telling the other side of the Zimbabwe story. The side with opportunity and a bright future for smart entrepreneurs. 4) Max Soutter, has very unique and vast experience in the Zimbabwean business world. You'll enjoy the benefits of this in his articles and free ebooks
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
Goal is to develop a widely read and respected voice online. It's a part of our overall business strategy to offer high value info, insights and products online.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
With reference to the blog, it maybe too early to tell, although, already we've had hundreds of people log on (especially to download 'Cash Baron Secrets'. Challenge in ZIm is to get everyone used to the concept of posting questions and comments on the blog, instead of emailing all the time!
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Probably spend more towards the promotion and automation of crtain processors. Would probably do more offline marketing for the blog as well.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Cant wait!
What has been your biggest challenge?
Biggest challenge about developing a website targeted primarily for Zimbabweans is that they dont do as much online as in other parts of the world.That means, your site could be alot more popular than is shown by your backlinks, or online media mentions and so on - bad for SEO. There just arent as many opportunities to market your site. Other challenge for me has been, even if you can easily afford most products/ services online, Paypal and others dont want to do business with Zimbabwe!
So you really see a future for Zimbabwe?
Most definately. the corruption, greed and ineptitute by those who have almost destroyed is incredible - but their days are numbered. Ultimately, Zimbable is one of the richest nations in the world (per sqaure meter). It's no wonder the whole world has eyes on us. Every nation, including those who criticize us have been through challenges that may have seemed almost impossible to beat at one time.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
It's not always easy to access high speed connections in Zim, that means doing anything online isnt as easy as overseas.
What skills, experience or strategy sets you apart from your competitors
I've help setup or build more than 200 businesses in over 40 industries, personally conducted more than 3000 hours of research. I spend 2 reading every night and during the day, we implement agressively. Ultimately though, my greatest adantage is my Faith in God.
Who is your main competition and how to you compete?
In our niche, we have very little competition locally, online or off. We've innovated alot and we're agressive about strategy. Also, we're not limited by short term thinking which is a big challenge for Zim businesses.
What is your website address?
www.bizsetup.wordpress.com
