10 Sep 2015

Youth entrepreneurs have been urged to desist from using outdated business marketing strategies.

A lecturer at the Francistown College of Training and Vocational Training (FCTVE) Mr Gift Lungu, said during a workshop for Youth Development Fund (YDF) recipients in Bobonong recently that traditional forms of marketing were no longer effective.

He said such strategies were to some extent leading to the collapse of businesses. 

He said social media such as facebook could enhance business growth. The five-day business management training was organised by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to equip youth businesses with skills such as marketing strategies, filing, record keeping and budgeting.

Mr Lungu said business owners must market their products and services such that they reach bigger markets and ensure that they build trust with their customers. He warned that some businesses had collapsed due to lack of accountability on the part of owners. 

He said many failed to meet deadlines, making customers lose confidence in their businesses. 

“Set yourself standards that are realistic to meet. 

Often times, people cry about not being given government and council tenders while they fail to deliver when given such,” he said. He said tender entrepreneurship required businesses that could deliver on time. He advised youths to form partnerships to challenge for major projects.

 “No one wants to feel sorry for you in business.  Make them believe in your products,” he said.

Mr Lungu expressed concern that those that failed to repay their loans were crippling the fund. He advised them to desist from drastically changing their lifestyles and living beyond their means after acquiring the YDF loans. Ends