The Nigerian Internet Estate – The Myths, Facts and the Reality I (online FOREX Trading)

As a follow up to my previous posts on this blog, I’ll continue to assert the fact that Nigeria is a force to be reckoned with as regards every known endeavor on the face of this planet called Earth, and the internet is no exception, it is left for the rest of the world most especially the United States to fathom this cold hard fact out. Well I would have titled this piece ‘the online conspiracies of the west against Nigeria’ well that would sound cynic and inane. It will look as we are beggars at the rich man’s table waiting for crumbs that falls off his table; when we are kings in the making. However, it has become imperative that we will take on destiny instead of waiting lazily for it to come beckoning at us. But do you know one thing my friend? Your destiny cannot come to you except you shrug off the ashes of defeat, rise to your feet, and then take what rightly belongs to you. Sorry if I have digressed from the main topic of the day, well I was trying to crave your indulgence as is always the case with me. Like I said earlier on, Nigeria remains the biggest internet estate and can compete favorably with India on the third world country category and in the real sense can give the west a run for their money; and as a member of cyber world is not immune to the fistful of online fallacies that pervades the internet daily. But I’ll only deal with this ill wind the as it concerns we Nigerian.

One thing that has remained obvious to we Nigerians especially those who wants to make a decent living doing decent business online is that we are greatly disadvantaged because of some pre-conceived notion of the developed economies against Africa and Nigeria in particular, but I wont dwell much on the bad side as an optimist but will deal on the possible and well established side as a realist. What do I mean by this? The internet has become a real estate and as such many people world wide are reaping the benefits of this innovation and smiling to the bank every other day, so my main concern is to get you acquainted with the common myth that pervades the internet daily and the obvious.

Recently, online FOREX TRADING has become a niche that every person with little or no experience on money matters wants to get involved in within a short period of time (most attend one to two days seminar) and want to start reaping from it, stop! I’ll love to ask, why is it that we still have few people that are rich from trading FOREX with all the hype associated with it? Well have you stooped to think this over? But my friend like I titled this article I’ll love to list the myths, facts and the reality of online FOREX trading. Personally I don’t trade FOREX but I know of an array of people who do; and from the fillers I get daily, it is not as rosy as it sounds. You loose money and you gain money, however the tendency of losing far out weighs that of gaining if you don’t know the fundamentals of the trade. Knowing the fundamentals is not some thing you gain the knowledge in 1, 2, 3 or even 7 days as those who advertise it in dailies will tell you. What the organizers of various FOREX seminars are after is to gain back what they have loosed trading through levying outrageous seminar fees on the participants. At the seminar they don’t take the time to explain the technical and fundamentals of the market, terms like pips, bull traps, Fibonacci analysis etc are not well explained: leaving the participant more confused than ever. But like I said earlier on, trading with no fore knowledge of the aforementioned points makes trading an experience not worth the venture.

Still on online FOREX trading, it will be unfair if I don’t mention the benefits of this online money making venture even if I’m not trading this very lucrative market (yet). Basically FOREX trading exceeds about 1.3 trillion dollars daily, so it will be mediocre of a person to jump into a market as large as this with no formal knowledge of the happenings. However ,it becomes expedient of the person to get fully into the know of this liquid market before getting his hands burnt in the process of wanting to make 100 pips a day as most of the self acclaimed FOREX experts promise you when you trade on their systems. Like I always do when posting any article, I try to make detailed research (even if I know little or not) before coming to press, and when I do it is in the form of a personal experience. While this FOREX rave reached fever pitch, every person wanted to tap into this market to reap bountifully; I decided to make my own in road. Daily, I hit every search engine on the net for a detailed report, I subscribed to every ezine, news letter, and every available publication that deals with the subject. From my findings I observed that the requirements of this market is quite tasking, however if all these requirements are met, the market is worth the venture, what are the requirements I’m talking of: they include a laptop computer connected to the internet; as you need this to enhance the mobility of the market, a domiciliary account, and a form of identity which could come in form of an international passport or national identity card and a plat form to trade on.

One day I saw an advert on a daily on a FOREX seminar that’ll last for about two days, and within these two days you will be taught all the basics required to start making between 30 to 40 pips daily (note: a pip is worth about 10 dollars). I did not attend the seminar as the seminar fee was too much, not that I can’t afford it but because the money was too much for a seminar that will last a couple of days. So I took the address of the FOREX firm and decided to pay them a visit and perhaps make more inquiries. On getting there I met a lady who looked more like a cleaner than a FOREX expert, as I was expecting to see a person who looked like those who work in wall street or if I want to sound modest like some one who works for one of the banks, then how can such a person teach me the basics of the trade for me to start making 50 pips every day!. I thought may be if she really is an expert as she claims, I figure she should be making good money as a FOREX expert and at least look good for her troubles. Is not like I’m saying that there aren’t people here in Nigeria who are doing good trading FOREX, but what I’m saying is that they are very few, this is the fact and the sooner it downs on you the better. I don’t want to sound cynical but in this business is very good for you to be very truthful to your audience, telling them the reality of every situation, instead of leading them falsely by reporting fallacies and stuff.

On the contrary, FOREX trading is a niche and can not be ignored as it has enriched many Nigerians (the few who know the rudiments of the business) as I know of a guy who takes home close to 30 to 40 pips any time he trades, do you know his secret? He sells when others are buying, and sells when others are buying. He knows where to make his stop loss and quit when it really mattered, he understands the basic trends mostly the fundamental, since with it you have a clue as to how the currencies are performing in the market relative to how the various big economies are faring. One other fact in relation to a myth pervading the scenario is that FOREX is not a vocation as the ‘experts’ will tell you. It is not some thing you do on a part time basis; rather I will say it is more of a career, since most traders do it full time. Why this is so is that you can dwell on a chart a whole day waiting for a favorable signal to begin trading, while you are in your office waiting for the required signal, your boss will be telling the secretary to prepare your sack letter and pay-off. But if you learn the ropes you work smart as a FOREX trader, knowing the best times to trade; then you can jolly well make it a vocation, rather than a career as earlier speculated. The secret is that most FOREX traders don’t trade every day. This is another fact, you only trade when there are auspicious signs. Another secret is contentment (avoid being unnecessarily greedy), when you make a good move that gives you 20 to 30 pips, is usually advisable to quit at that juncture even if you see another favorable trend. Usually such trends end with you losing the money you already made. So be careful, as it could be very enticing as well as deceitful

The fact about this market is that you make money if you avoid bull traps and interpret the market trends both fundamental and technical, looking at the charts, knowing when to buy and when to sell, knowing the best currency pair (e.g. euro/dollar), knowing when to enter and when to quit and Fibonacci analysis. If you get your self acquainted with all these, then your venture into this market will be worth the while, on the contrary the myth is that you don’t, make 30-40 pips daily by just taking part in a 2 day seminar or workshop as most will call it, most self acclaimed experts introduce you to robots that trade on your behalf, well the truth about robots is that they only function according to how they are programmed. Most robots are programmed using technical analysis, but this market is very volatile and economic trends in most leading economies especially the US can affect the market negatively or positively, for example the recent recession so experienced in the US resulted into a weak dollar and like a virus it spread to other economy especially the Euro zone and Japan: so if your robot was programmed following the reverse you can figure out what happens. The reality here is that you can only make it in FOREX when you master the ropes of the market as it has been noted that about 90 percent of those who go into FOREX exit after a short period of venturing. The fact then is that FOREX trading can be lucrative as well unprofitable. Which ever side of the divide you belong the choice is yours. But I assure you that you can make a difference if you believe in your self, since many plat forms reject registration from Nigeria (another western conspiracy), for example FXSOL no longer accepts registration from Nigeria. So it is left to you to decide how to take this market by storm as I promise to give frequent updates as regards my online experiences since I’ve decided to join the trend of Nigerians making dollars form FOREX trading.

Feel free to post your comments and views on this topic, you can also get a free FOREX manual by one of the world’s best FOREX experts, contact me by email if you are in need of this manual, it is free of charge and will come as an email attachment sent free of charge to your box. You can also get e-books on how to build your internet empire for a token fee, more so many freebies are also included like the e-book ‘as a man thinketh’ by James Allen and another free e-book by Wallace D Wattles titled ‘the science of getting rich’. Just contact me via email for these rich books that will enrich your online money making experience.

Exposing the Top 5 Myths About VoIP Service Providers

It’s stunning to think about the changes we’ve experienced with communication methods in such a short time. What used to take months with a stamped letter now takes seconds with the click of a mouse or tap of a finger. Unfortunately, as with most things people come into contact with, there are bound to be some critics.

Despite VoIP having proven time and time again that it offers clear benefits in regards to business communications, VoIP service providers have garnered a bad reputation that has kept businesses from experiencing its vast benefits. Some would say this is due to fear of the unknown or a simple misunderstanding of the technology itself.

It’s time to turn this fear of the unknown into growth! That’s why we’re here to dispel the 5 common myths about VoIP.

  • Small Businesses Can’t Benefit

This is an unfortunate myth because its stopping so many small business owners from pursuing a resource that can ultimately save them time and money. We’re not talking a few pennies every month, either; some businesses see 30%-60% savings in annual cost! Although large enterprises have successfully managed to rely on VoIP service providers, small businesses would actually benefit the most! When you’re running with a tight budget and scarce resources, consider VoIP service providers who can offer valuable business communication tools such as auto attendant, call logging, customized caller menus, and more.

  • Unreliability

You wouldn’t run a business without internet connection, would you? Of course not. How would you receive emails, research competitors, and keep in touch with colleagues across the pond? Many VoIP deniers oppose the technology because it is seen as an unreliable resource when in reality, it’s just as reliable as your internet connection. In fact, if you already have an internet connection established in your business right now, then you’re just about ready to start using VoIP. As for dropped calls, call continuity is there to ensure you never miss an opportunity.

  • Call Quality Suffers

This may have been true in the earlier PBX days, but just as businesses themselves evolve and improve over time, VoIP has seen significant improvements since its inception. With a wider range of frequencies for voice data to travel through, congestion is less frequent and adding high-speed internet connection will only make the call quality better.

  • Higher Cost

Gone are the days when you needed to spend a fortune just to add another line of service or expand across locations. These days, VoIP service providers have made it easy to expand your team and business locations without compromising your budget. Most VoIP service providers offer different tiers for the type of services your business currently needs, which saves you money by providing you with the absolute necessary and none of the excess. VoIP is truly a more cost effective telephony method; maybe that’s why millions of businesses are already relying on VoIP service providers for their communication strategy.

  • Installation and Maintenance are a Headache

When you think about a business phone system, you may be picturing a server that needs to be stored in a closet and maintained by a highly-trained (and pricey) IT staff. Thankfully, clunky equipment is no longer needed when implementing a VoIP phone service. Most VoIP service providers offer remote provisioning with their hardware for fast and easy set up. If you decide to purchase phones along with service, all you have to do is connect the phones to the correct ports and watch your phone initialize. In under 10 minutes, you can be up and running with your new office phone; no cabling or heavy equipment needed. As for maintenance, most VoIP service providers have their own IT staff who are responsible for handling software updates.

Renewing Your Trust in VoIP Providers

It can be scary to take the first step towards something you previously thought was bad for business; but if you know someone who is currently using VoIP, ask them about their experiences. What did they like? How did it help their business? If possible, start on a trial period and see for yourself if VoIP is really living up to its hype. Once you’re familiar with the many ways VoIP providers can make a positive impact on your business, you’ll be wondering why didn’t make the switch sooner.

So what should you do when you decide that VoIP is right for your business?

Choosing Between Business VoIP Providers

We’ve established that business VoIP providers bring benefits to businesses of all sizes. If you’re a small business looking to save on costs and time, there is a practical communication technology waiting to be discovered.

Top 5 Myths about Small Businesses and Blogging

Myth #1) “Blogs are only for individual.”

Technorati.com currently tracks about 50 million blogs, 10% of which are commercial or business blogs. The majority of blogging is still being done by love sick teenagers or others writing about their own viewpoints of what’s happening in the world. However, with over 5 million businesses already blogging, it is too big to be ignored.

Myth#2) “Commercial blogging is only for big businesses.”

While smart business powerhouses like Microsoft, IBM, and NBC have been blogging for a while, big business in general still does not “get it.” In a recent survey, only 5% of the Fortune 500 companies blog. Blogging today is compared to where the internet was 10 years ago. First movers always have advantages. A smart small business could join the blogosphere today, while it still may take a year for their larger competitor to analyze the blogging scene.

Myth #3) “I can’t blog, I’m not a good writer.”

One of the major advantages small businesses have is customers perceive them as having personalities, hearts, and souls. All one needs to do is write a few paragraphs every week. Write like you were writing a fun letter to a friend, don’t be formal and use lots of business jargon. Hopefully, customers already know the business has a personality, so let them see more of it.

Myth #4)”Business blogs are boring.”

The Blog for The Terra Cotta Inn Clothing Optional Resort and Spa is http://terracottainn.blogspot.com You will see entries about the resort, the resort’s dog, celebrities, what it’s like to stay at a clothing optional resort for the first time, etc.

For another example, a restaurant could blog about special dishes, parties, anniversaries, customers pets, “secret” recipes, etc.

Myth #5) “I’m to busy to blog.”

If a business needs a presence on the internet, then it needs a company blog. It is very easy to set one up. Go to blogger.com or wordpress.com (two of many blogging sites). In as little as 15 minutes, you can create a blog. Add at least 1 article every week. Tell your customers about your blog. They will be glad that you did and so will your bottom line!

Attention, bloggers, journalists, newsletter publishers, etc., feel free to reprint this release.

Incorporate Your Online Business – Correcting Myths About Incorporating Your Website

Below are five common myths about incorporating a website.  I base this list on feedback I have received from feedback from hundreds of thousands of  visitor to my website about forming limited liability companies. 

1.  You have to form a separate limited liability company (LLC) or corporation for each domain name.

This is entirely untrue.  You absolutely do not have to form separate entities for each and every domain name your business operates under.

A business entity serves two purposes.  One is to limit, or contain, all liability within the entity and prevent liability from “spilling” out to affect your personal assets or the assets of other businesses you own.  The second is to create separate accounting.

2.  A corporation or LLC can’t own a domain name.

Of course a corporation or LLC can own a domain name.  In fact, it’s probably a good idea to have your corporation or LLC own your domain names, as it protects you from personal liability in case the domain name is misused.

For example, you might innocently register a domain name that infringes on a company’s trademark.  If the company is particularly nasty, it might accuse you of cyber-squatting and sue you.  By having the domain registered in the name of an LLC or corporation, the only assets this vindictive plaintiff could go after would be the LLC’s or corporation’s, and not your personal house, car, bank account, etc.

3.  I have to form my corporation/LLC in the same state in which my website is hosted.

Not at all.  Your LLC should be formed in the state in which you do business.  For a home-based internet business, that means forming your company in your home state. 

The location of your website’s server is basically irrelevant. 

4.  If I ship goods as part of my internet business, I have to form a corporation/LLC or register to do business in every state where I ship product.

No no no.  You only have to register as a foreign corporation/LLC (by “foreign”, they mean formed in another state, not corporations from outside the US) in states where you transact business.  Transaction of business is a technical, legal term, and it does not include mere advertisement or shipping of goods into the state. 

5.  I won’t be able to sell my domain name or business if it is owned by a corporation or LLC.

Many people purchase domain names and start internet businesses with the intent to sell them at a profit on website marketplaces like Sitepoint.com or Digitalpoint.

I have been asked before if it’s true that a corporation (or LLC) that owns a domain can’t sell that domain. That’s absolutely not so. 

A corporation or LLC can sell any asset, just like an individual can.  A domain name is an asset.  So is the content contained on that domain, along with customer lists, software, etc.  Any and all of those assets can be sold by an LLC or corporation.

I hope this list has been helpful.

5 Myths of IT Outsourcing

Despite the popularity of IT Outsourcing, there are several misconceptions that surround its general principle of working. Though, we cannot cover all the myths that surround IT Outsourcing, we try to focus on the most common ones here:

Myth 1: IT Outsourcing hampers productivity

There is a general belief that when a client opts for IT Outsourcing, the overall productivity of the concern may go down because of several barriers in terms of culture, distance, communication and time that exist.

Fact 1: Productivity is increased when IT Outsourcing is opted for

Excellent English skills and superior technical knowledge possessed by the employees of IT Outsourcing companies ensure that the productivity sees an upsurge despite time and cultural barriers. Also, most companies offering IT Outsourcing work as per their client’s time zone thus ensuring uninterrupted IT activities. In most cases, an on site project manager is appointed by the IT Outsourcing vendor in order to carry out coordination amongst the on site client managers and offshore team members.

Myth 2: Global clients opt for IT Outsourcing to cut costs

The costs of a company sure see a reduction when offshoring of IT activities is done. This is the only reason for clients to opt for IT Outsourcing.

Fact 2: Simplifying the way IT activities are carried out

Often, clients look for technical experts to develop a technical product or application after the requirements are frozen. Recruiting in-house employees and training them is time-consuming and needs specialized attention that the business people cannot spare.

So, the clients offshore such development activities to the experts in the area of Information Technology,who help give their ideas a credible and feasible shape in form of a software product.

Myth 3: It’s about cheap labor

More often than not, people associate the term ‘cheap labor’ to IT Outsourcing.

Fact 3: Quality, Innovation and Specialized skill force

The foremost aim of IT Outsourcing is to find a modestly priced provider, who specializes in offering high-quality output, has predefined methodologies and shows innovation in the field of IT.Affordable labor is just a side benefit, not the only deciding factor.

Myth 4: IT Outsourcing can be done with everything

This is really not possible. However, some global clients and software companies try to make it happen.

Fact 4: Study, Analyze, Decide on IT Outsourcing areas

The software company needs to understand client requirements thoroughly and perform feasibility study. If the business needs cannot be covered by offshoring the IT activities, then there is no point in considering IT Outsourcing.

Myth 5: Job cuts, job cuts, job cuts!

IT Outsourcing is seen as the main culprit behind several natives going jobless. However there are several studies and researches show that it is not so.

Fact 5: Economic growth

It’s about gaining maximum output, with minimum input for the country’s economy when IT Outsourcing is done. Consequently a steady economic growth is seen leading to more employment opportunities for the natives.

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