Funding: The illusion most companies fall for.

Most small companies lose sight of designing products and focus on sourcing funds.

I meet quite a number of so called "entrepreneurs" or at least they call themselves that, who are waiting for finance to start their business. Shouldn't a business start first, slowly fund its projects and then source funds to expand?

Questions to ask to rid yourself of the illusion:

1. Do I have a product?
2. Have we stoppped creating and are now waiting for finance?
3. Is there something a client can get from us?

Design a product or service people can buy and slowly fund yoiurself.

Afterall I don't work at a funding institution. . . .

I intend to : Small busineses lose their marketing impact

Emerging entrepreneurs lose their impact, when sourcing new clients, in "I will" and "we do that too".

Focusing efforts improves the marketing of new businesses and makes a company be known for something. If what you do is the extension of your character and this made evident in your company, then clients don't need convincing.

There isn't much "company" in an emerging business and service defines your strategy, which is also the selling point of your pitch.

You are the selling point of your service.

Unintentional exclusion: Web 2.0 and its racial lines

There has been much talk in the blogosphere about black readers and bloggers. The statics, as I've been exposed to them, would have it that the average black South African doesn't have internet access. Blah. . . .

Most black guys I've spoken to don't know the first thing about blogging, which is why I would agree with Ismail D that a wee bit of education is important. But blogs tend to serve as the backdrop of a brand or something related. So the question of where the black bloggers are proves that guys are unaware of what's happening. The large number of blogs registered daily also makes it almost impossible for a newcomer, without a brand, to be recognized online anyway.

The web is exclusive to an extent and as a result increases the popularity of a few known individuals. It's this unintetional yet significant exclusion that makes all other bloggers, besides the black guys, become part of the background. Nic Haralambous got it right his post when he said we are online professionals neither black nor white.

It is true that some of the most popular blogs are written by white guys, but they've also been exposed to it more than anyone else. Mandy raised a very significant point about this in her post, which began this conversation and I think it should continue.

I'm sure one of many black bloggers, but the blog should speak for itself not my skin colour.