Deez Graphics Daily

Being an authority in your niche

Dear brand owner, it’s Sarah here again! 😁
It’s been a minute…

.. Let’s quickly talk about what being an authority in your niche is all about.

Your niche is your specific field or expertise you belong to, it is where you can stand out and thrive by offering unique products or services tailored to a target audience.

Becoming an “Authority” in your area of specialization does not just come easy, especially if you want to be among the percentage that make decisions in that field.

But…before you can effectively be an authority in your niche, you have to know the basics that there is to know about your niche, build and increase those basics, explore different options and understand them very well.

P.S: Is your niche actually your niche?…hahaha funny yeah!

Yes!..In business or branding, people talk about “Niche” but do not understand what it means and not talk about being an authority.

Most brands or business owners are not aware that the “Niche” they are already into or positioned in, Is not where they are supposed to be. It’s time like this I recommend the guidance of an expert before picking a “Niche”.

Dear brand owner, if you position yourself in a “niche” because it favours others around you, and you want it to work for you, you will remain there and always be mediocre…why? Because you have no idea what that “niche” is about and you are constantly looking up to competitors to get ideas.

Understanding your niche, sets you steps higher and gives you the full control you need over the business narrative.

When you are in your right niche and well grounded in it, making decisions and evolving comes easy and natural to you and the positive effects will always be evident.

Finally brand owner, understanding your niche sets you apart from your competitors and you become an Authority in that niche.

Business collaboration

“coming together to birth new and innovative ideas”

Dear brand owner, it’s Doris here!!

Do you know that business collaboration is not a bad idea at all, want to know why?! Follow me…

Business collaboration is when two or more businesses come together to share ideas, make collective efforts, open communication to achieve a common business goal and of course share profits.

And also business collaboration can take many forms including partnerships, joint ventures, consortium and many more.

According to recent research, 80% or higher number of businesses are involved in business collaboration and trust me business collaboration is growing rapidly and with the use of technological tools like zoom, Microsoft teams, Trello, google drives, slack and many more,these tools have made business collaboration very easy and also helps converge businesses together regardless of the locations of each business.

“My dear brand owner, competition happens at the bottom, the people at the top are collaborating “

Business collaboration offers your business access to new markets, increased innovation, improved efficiency through shared resources, better knowledge and risk mitigation.

Business collaboration gives birth to new “ideas” that are innovative and problems solving paving the way for each business involved in the collaboration to attain great heights.

As a business owner or startup, collaboration is an excellent way to grow in today’s challenging business world, it is important to look out for other businesses that you collaborate with to create a working solution.

“I can do things you cannot do and you can do things I cannot do, together we make magic“

So! Dear brand owner, give your business a chance to a meaningful collaboration, trust me it will be worth it.

The Middlemen Conundrum in Africa

The statement “too many cooks spoil the broth” can be interpreted as meaning, “when too many people are involved in a task or activity, it will not be done well”.
To prove this point, some philosophers have claimed that putting too many highly intelligent people on the same task or project can lead to confusion, inefficiency, and a stunted outcome. Whether that statement hold all the time or sometimes? I definitely cannot say😊

However, there are some practical situations I have experienced that help me understand the true meaning of that statement. One is over-concentration/overcrowding. When there are too many people in a confined physical place at the same time, things become a little bit challenging, economics shows us they struggle for scarce resources and survival becomes a little bit heightened.

Another observable scenario is the over-appearance of middlemen.
You see middlemen play a pivotal role in facilitating any endeavor they delve into. They appear as links, bridges, errand boys, credit facilitators, and also as regulators. Irrespective of the numerous positive benefits they offer, they have one significant downside to them that poses a herculean challenge. It has long been postulated that middlemen are agents/drivers of inflation. Every stop at the gate of a middleman yields are marginal increase in fee.

One peculiar middleman in Africa is the regulators
Two visible notations that align with our lead statement and relate to our immediate societies in Africa are the over-appearance of middlemen and the practice of excessive bureaucratic practices. For today we leave the latter and focus on the former.

Middlemen increase the length of a value chain and add to the margin fee along the chain. For example in agriculture, before food produce will finally dock at the doorstep of consumers it has to go through so many middlemen and the marginal cost which keeps increasing along the chain finally gets to rest in the pockets of the final consumers.
Starting from the touts in the village farmlands to the local govt duty collectors, state govt duty collectors, transport body regulators, trade and market regulators as well as law enforcement agencies. They all keep adding a marginal fee to the markup price of the food items anytime it crosses their terrain. And I ask, are all these guys really necessary in overseeing farm produce transportation to the final consumers?

Another case study observed recently is with the logistics industry especially as it concerns last-mile delivery operators. For a last mile courier company in Lagos, they have to battle with regulatory bodies such as NIPOST, FRSC, VIO, local govt officials, state govt officials, and also touts(agberos) that claim to sell tickets and control specific routes. When the delivery bikes finally get to maneuver all these hurdles, for them to break even, they pass the inflated charges to the final consumer(sighs).
Kindly take note, that these are just a few notations. The practice still exists in so many other sectors.

In summary, we can say that regulators are there to ensure the sound, efficient, and proper running operations of different sectors. They are middlemen, the standards they set and the benefits they offer are very vital to the smooth running of operations. However, on the flip side, just as too many cooks spoil the broth, the over-appearance of middlemen(regulators) is catastrophic and poses a significant blockade to seamless operations and stalls progressive developmental efforts in our region.

Attracting The Right Audience…

Proper brand positioning naturally attracts the right audience

Dear brand owner, it’s Sarah here 😊!

I am here to help you understand what “attraction” and “right audience “ means to your brand, but first let’s understand what they actually imply and how they apply in this context…

“Attraction” is the quality you possess that evokes feelings of interest or likeness for someone or something.

But in this context “attraction” is the quality, standard, uniqueness and value your brand has that naturally attracts the interest of people or consumers.

“Right Audience” this means to specifically tailor your brand message and tone to resonate with a particular set of people, and then positioning your brand accordingly.

Now, as a start up business or brand owner, attraction will always be your biggest marketing currency, know your target audience, understand what your target audience needs,it is important that you position and develop qualities that will naturally attract the attention of your desired audience.

Dear brand owner! Of cause we know that a brand needs a brand developer or a development firm to help tailor her sales, marketing and brand, Now..this is where Deez Graphics and Studioz, a brand development firm with a team of experts dedicated to assisting businesses in creating, and optimizing value by automating business process that not only save cost but foster expansion. Come in…

This brand organization will help you define the goal, theme and help position you in the manner that appeals to your audience and to also keep them.

Finally! Dear brand owner, in all of these, do not forget to be authentic. Authenticity drives you faster to your audience.

The Metrics, The Hope, and The Expectations

(The things they tell us about Africa)

Do they ever come to pass? Would they ever come to pass?

Statisticians, data scientists, and big data evaluators love to play numbers games. These guys put out predictions or forecasts and back them up by saying numbers don’t lie. Truth be told data doesn’t lie and I agree.

On the flip side, the information the paperwork merchants sell to us in this part of the world makes me ask myself one daunting question. Are these projections actually achievable or just a false hope campaign to massage our ego?

I also begin to ponder what is the basis or key points upon which those numbers are derived. Is it just bare predictions from hypothetical mathematical models? Even if they were, do these models make predictions with constraints, or do they align with the notion that presumes, all things are equal?

Then I ask again, even in life how can all things be equal? We were told it couldn’t be because friction exists. So when those valuations and predictions are thrown up, do those models actually capture the inconsistencies that could occur during the time estimate of the projections? If they don’t, why then do we believe those predictions when in a practical scenario there stands to be some sort of unexplained abrasions that could pop up.

Well, just for context, all this hullabaloo in my head emanated from the paperwork I stumbled across that reads “Nigeria is predicated to be the 5th largest economy in the world by 2075 and France would be 15th“. (The almighty French would be 15th?😮).

Well, not like I don’t believe in the green white green, but as a mere mortal that I am, I ask how is this supposed to happen? Then they show more paperwork to back up this bold claim by stating that the “Nigerian economy is expected to grow by $13.1 trillion by same 2075“. (If only you know the miracle that needs to occur for this to be feasible, you would smile😂)

Not to lie those stats are impressive but I ask again, were those predictions made taking into consideration the challenges in the Nigerian system? If it wasn’t, why are we building our hope against it? I think I would have to refer to historical data to check if any prediction made for Nigeria has ever come true. To understand the future you must first understand the past.

Another school of thought is, if those projections tend to hold true in other climates, why do they tend to falter when it reaches Nigeria’s turn? Is Nigeria a different breed that no mathematical model seems to be able to understand and predict correctly?

Well, I think there’s one way for me to find out. By the presumed 2075, I will be 77 years and I pray God grants me a good health to be active till then. By that time, it’s either Nigeria becomes the 5th largest economy in the world or I would be in a better position to address the paperwork merchants on how to make predictions when it comes to matters concerning the green white green😀.

For now, the best I can do is to painstakingly contribute my quota towards achieving those beautiful projections and that’s what I hope you do also. So at least by 2075 God willing, you and I would not be the reason why the projections don’t become reality.

So till then, my fellow enterprising Nigerian let us continue to do our best to build the bright future that our forefathers, optimistic mathematical models, and God have assured us of. We can only hope for nothing but the best.

God bless the Green White Green.

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Let’s Talk About Relationships.

I know when people hear the word “relationships” the first thing to come to your mind is “Romance”, haha.

Well! In this context it is not about “romantic relationships”, it’s about how you relate with your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, business partners, customers, your local security guard etc. basically everything about and around you.

Just imagine those people around you.

THE BIG QUESTION ⁉️

What kind of relationships do you have with those people mentioned above? What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about them and vice versa. Is it toxic, friendly or non-existent?.

Just so you know, how you relate with People plays a role in your life and business. Are you the kind of person that when people come across anything about you, and the first thing that comes to mind is “ohh! What a wonderful person, I like this person’s energy, that person is trustworthy” OR is it “ohh! That person is too awkward, the person’s energy is too draining, that person is a cheat and cannot be trusted” e.t.c

Well, if the formal is people’s reaction when it comes to you, then you are on the right path, but if the latter is the reaction, then I am sorry that it is a disaster that is going to affect your business…want to know why?

“It is noted that having strong social relationships increases the likelihood of survival by 50% regardless of age, sex or health status.”

So as a business and brand owner, take caution in relating with people.

As a brand owner, people see you before they get the knowledge of what you do, when you put out a product, those people will be the first reach, and will then help you out with words of mouth, trust me words of mouth is very Powerful, so imagine you have a very negative relationship with those people, what do you think will happen? There is every chance of them warding off potential clients even if it’s not the intent, but because it cannot just be helped, you a ambassador for your business like it or not, if you as person cannot be trusted why then should your business or product be trusted?

20-50% of purchasing decisions comes from words-of- mouth recommendations, referrals account for 60% of all new business opportunities. For businesses 93% B2B (business to business) buyers trust words-of- mouth over any form of advertising and as at may,2024 80% of Gen Z’s and 91% of millennials consumers rely on friends and family for advice on purchasing decisions, and greater than 75% of B2B buyers consult three or more sources before they make decisions.

The above statistics therefore intensify and highlight the importance of establishing a strong network of satisfied customers, who can advocate for your brand.

just imagine this boost in your business and how far you will go just by having the right social relationships.

So! Dear brand owner, those people around you that are your first point of contact, build a very cordial relationship with them, those are your biggest marketers regardless of having a social media presence.

Your Brand Attitude.

Dear Brand owner,

I hope you are aware that attitude plays a huge role in the growth of your brand and also determines the success of your brand, regardless of having a brand developer…. Well!..if you don’t know I will explain those attitudes and how they affect your brand.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, when we talk about “attitude” we mean, your manner, disposition, feeling and position in regards to a person or thing (in this context your Brand).

A “negative attitude” to brand or business is a mindset where a brand owner approaches a business venture or idea with pessimism, doubt and a high tendency of focusing on problems or setback more than finding and creating solutions.

If you have a negative attitude about business, I am sure you know yourself now?… Or you are still doubting haha, let me give you some examples:

Resisting change.

Impatience

Pessimism and cynicism

Excuses

Procastinaton

I know it all

As a brand owner if any or more of the listed above is associated with you as a person or brand owner, it is an error and recipe for disaster, yes!!!.. you will stress your brand developer and in turn affect your brand negatively.

Being a brand owner, you are to focus on how to grow and develop your brand, having a right attitude towards your brand or business means embracing change, finding and creating solutions.

Trust me when you have a right attitude towards your brand or business, it becomes easy for your brand developer to achieve success with your brand.

Allowing A Brand Development Firm to Influence Your brand!

Are you a brand owner?!

Get in here!!

Dear brand owners, whether you are a startup or an Enterprise it doesn’t matter, this is for you.

FIRSTLY, what is a brand and what is branding?

” a brand is a product or business with a distinct identity among consumers, a brand is created through solutions, unique value proposition, design,packaging and advertising unique elements that distinguish the product from its competitors.”

“Branding is creating value, developing and growing that solution in a way that is easy to get ROI for that value”

Simply put branding is value clearly defined and communicated. It is a long term process of defining (giving meaning) to a product or business and shaping a brand in consumers minds.”

The Brand development firm gathers requirements and proposed brand Value from the brand owner, tests it through data to clearly identify the target audience and then take feedback that will be useful in the brand long term journey. It is important to note that if your brand goal is longevity then this is a continuous journey and not a one time operation.

So! as a brand owner you cannot do it alone, you will definitely need help especially when you want to build professionalism and influence, to skyrock your marketing and influence, partnering with a brand development firm is a must ! We are the team that helps you through the critical process, we are the team that see you before your audience, we then assist you through data driven analysis to create the best image and strategy to present you to your audience and this will bring positive results essential that is for your brand.

As for the already existing brands, like I said this is for you too. Did you notice that your business started spontaneously and just died down a little bit too much, like from 100-10?… Well! That’s because you didn’t consult or involve a brand developing firm that’s the reason for what seems like a structural struggle , well cheer up, there are brands developing firms to assist you in laying a foundation and bring your astray business on the right track.

WORTHY TO NOTE; Having a Brand Development firm, will not only streamline your business process but also boost your marketing and sales, because your brand developer has created the influence and clearly defined your value in a clear messaging that will captivate your audience.

At Deez Graphics and Studioz, we help startups build quality foundations for their brands, giving authenticity.

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SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND BUSINESS VISIBILITY

We all know what social media platforms are all about yeah! But if you don’t know, I am going to say a few things about it to get you on track (haha).

Social media platforms are those apps on our phones like Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, YouTube, Twitter (X) , LinkedIn, Reddit, Whatsapp, Telegram, Twitch..and a whole lot more built primarily to network and connect with people.

What the social media platforms do is to connect all in one world, at different places at the same time, that means you can leverage these platforms to give your business the right audience, letting people know what you do and what your business is all about from the comfort of your home, an example of leveraging the social media platforms is the Banking apps, people no longer queue up everyday outside the banks, cause every transactions and complaints can be processed online from the comfort of your home.

Most people shop their household items online, they look for a vendor of a particular product or products to purchase from and the vendor in turn delivers to them by booking a rider from a logistics company who either developed their apps or just signed up.

With the highlights above, what it means is that social media platforms are not just apps for pictures and memes but a place where you can bring your business to the light and to the right audience.

Horizontal Collaboration

Activating a crucial lever to catalyze pan-African Development

The word horizontal connotes a state of uniformity or involving the same hierarchy level. It’s a movement on a plane that is practically similar at all levels. The word can be easily adapted to any field and would illustrate its meaning of uniformity. In a formal work environment, horizontal communication refers to exchanging information between people or teams at the same organizational level. If we head over to enterprise management, the word horizontal collaboration highlights a practice where companies operating at the same level of the supply chain work together to achieve a common goal. These companies whether competitors or non-competitors share responsibilities, resources, and information toward achieving a common objective

“A prerequisite for effective horizontal collaboration is a common purpose or a collective outlook”

Turning the table towards the target rather than the process sees us focus on pan-African development.
On a continent where development has yet to gain a broad penetration and where people are generally perceived to be voracious consumers rather than producers, I can’t help but say there’s a need for horizontal collaboration amongst the ingenious producers. In Africa, there’s a need for critical problem-solving, and kudos to all those innovative thinkers trying to solve problems irrespective of incomprehensive government laws, inconsistent local regulatory policies, and diverse socio-economic challenges, you’re the real MVP. I’m glad to say that, we have seen an eruption of problem-solving solutions but we must understand that some strongholds can only be broken by intentional horizontal collaborations. There’s a need for more purpose-driven B2B collaborations to tackle stubborn challenges, and there’s a need for intra-African alliance to solve pig-headed problems and improve the quality of human lives on the continent. Builders need to collaborate, startups need to share tools, and resources to tackle issues hedge-on. It’s greed and a lack of forward-thinking mentality to think only you or one body can solve the problems faced by Africans. Issues on the continent are unique and need unconventional methods to solve. Most problems on this blessed land take the form of an onion, you keep interfacing with a new layer as you try to solve the present one. When building a solution, you don’t just solve the particular problem, you assist or create a pathway to solving another. A good example of horizontal collaboration is the Alibaba group, one of the biggest companies in the world today which came as a result of a collaboration between 18 co-founders, who brought their respective solutions to the table to revolutionize their economy.
With Africa’s massive population and diverse ethical landscape, one solution fits all is hard to arrive by. There’s a need for less competition, less striving to achieve the best status, and more efforts to ensure optimum solutions are created to solve inherent problems. With horizontal collaboration a lot can be achieved, a broader target audience can be reached, more nefarious regulations and policies can be squashed, and indigenous development can be championed.

In summary, we can all agree that for a continent in dire need of solutions to solve persistent problems, a united approach saddled with an understanding of resource sharing and co-working rather than competing is essential in catalyzing a rapid array of indigenous solutions to solve problems and improve the living standards of its inhabitants.

UBUNTU 🤗🤗

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