Interview with Lateef Olajide, Internet Business Strategist
Hello people!
Happy New Year ‘009. I had this interview with Lateef Olajide, an Internet Business Strategist. Lateef is a brain behind www.internetmarketingnigeria.com
Happy reading…..
SN: Please tell us about yourself, your background and interests?
Lateef: My name is Lateef Olajide. I am from Ogun State precisely, Abeokuta. I had my primary and secondary school education in Abeokuta. I found myself in Lagos sometime 1997 and since then Lagos has been my base.
I had a very VERY VERY humble background. I learnt how to feed myself and sibling while I was still in junior secondary school. After my secondary education I wanted to go to the university to study medicine just like my friend but couldn’t make it for some reasons. I stayed at home for couple of months after secondary school examinations. Eventually I found myself in a freight forwarding company in Lagos as an apprentice without my wish.
The company was full of greedy people so I couldn’t make it to the sea-port where the real action is to learn much. So I decided to take part time course in shipping to study import and export management. It is advance diploma course.
I made up my mind very early in my life that I am going to be an entrepreneur and create job for others here in Nigeria and will never leave this country until I become a millionaire. That exactly is what I am doing now. Making more money here in Nigeria than most of my friends that abscond to USA and UK years back.
SN: What is the name of your blog/start-up/company?
Lateef: The name of the company is NetProfits Limited.
SN: Please tell us about your blog/start-up/company?
Lateef: NetProfits Limited is an Internet Marketing company with only one goal. Which is helping individuals and business owners maximize usage of internet technology in growing their business or developing a new one.
SN: What is unique about your blog/startup/company?
Netprofits Ltd provides quality, hard-to-find, under-the-radar internet marketing, strategies, tools, resources and information with which business people and individuals can increase their net profits using new technology and media through one of our online products - http://www.internetmarketingnigeria.com
Also, we offer in a unique way, complete suite of eServices, tailored especially for small businesses and entrepreneurs. If you are looking for one partner for all you need to get your internet business going, or to enhance your existing internet presence, Net profits has what you need.
We also offer 120 minutes free internet marketing seminars every month, 1 day free client consulting session every Thursday, and several other free enlightening program in-house and in partnership with some companies in Nigeria, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.
SN: How many people are currently using your website services (e.g. feed readers, visitors)?
Presently, our main website InternetMarketingNigeria.com has a very loyal readership with over 6,000+ unique visitors per month (and over 14,000 page views) that are very focused in making money online, internet business opportunities, and internet marketing.
SN: What kind of marketing and/or advertising strategy do you use for your website?
Lateef: This is the amazing part of our business. Up-till- now we only use free marketing and advertising strategy. Word of mouth through free public events has been our major marketing tool. If people like us they will promote us. So we believe much in free publicity strategy.
SN: What are the main web technologies/tools you use to monitor the performance of your website?
Lateef: Simply Google Analytics. It’s free and it’s great.
SN: What is the monetizing/revenue model for your website?
Email Marketing/Advertising - we sell advertising spots on websites and through email to companies that have products/services that targets our audience.
Information Marketing - we also offer our visitors training materials in form of audio, video and print manuals.
Continuity Marketing - we have few continuous membership based training program where users pay every month for quality information.
Public Speaking - we also speak at marketing and business event/seminars.
Consulting - we also offer several consulting services to private clients on search engine marketing, social media marketing, viral marketing, product creation and promotion etc
SN: Which websites are the main competitors in your market segment/sector?
Lateef: Non that is visible. Many are not really doing exactly what we are doing so we may not call them major competitors. At least for now.
SN: What challenges do you currently face as a web entrepreneur?
Lateef: Image - many companies outside this country don’t see the average Nigerian web user as a credible person. Though this doesn’t affect us much because of long relationship with key internet guys around the world. We always leverage our relationship when there is a problem.
Payment processor - Online and offline this is a big problem.
Internet connection - honestly on scale of 1 to 10 I can’t still give the service that we get in this country 4. It is still in infant stage. A lot of things need to be improved upon.
SN: What do you think of new startups and innovation coming out of Nigeria today?
Lateef: Honestly, it is a good thing. There are a lot of opportunities in this country. Only if government agencies promoting empowerment programs know. Whenever I see individuals or group starting a new project using this technology I am always happy. We are growing.
SN: What new Nigerian startups, in your opinion, should be watched?
Lateef: Naijamotivation.com, the guys are up to something.
SN: Do you have any thoughts on our Universities and their Curriculum in terms of promoting and encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation amongst students?
Lateef: I think it’s time key people in our education system review the school curriculum. In my opinion it should reflect what graduates will actually be able to make use of and not unnecessary outdated information. Also, if possible they should make entrepreneurship part of every course somehow. Because this country can’t depend on government anymore.
SN: What do you think the Government (both Federal and State) should do to improve the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria?
Lateef: It still boils down to the same thing. The environment is not friendly enough. Let government focus on provision of basic infrastructures. We have brilliant minds that won’t even care about government if they can have access to important basic infrastructures.
SN: Do you have any advice for people who want to launch new startups?
Lateef: Yes! They shouldn’t wait for when everything is in place to start. As NIKE says’ just do it. It’s just like a journey; things will unfold as you continue. Nigeria is still a virgin country full of opportunities.
SN: Do you have any business advisor/mentor?
Lateef: Yes. Many. Did you want me to name some of them?
1. Dr Sunny Obazu Ojeagbase (My Rich Dad) - publisher of success digest extra magazine.
2. Jim F. Straw - a US based multimillionaire mail order marketer.
And many more…..
[...] last year I came across a website - http://www.startupsnigeria.com through one of internetmarketingnigeria.com subscriber. I love the concept of the website. As the [...]
Great interview.
“I learnt how to feed myself and sibling while I was still in junior secondary school.”
“I made up my mind very early in my life that I am going to be an entrepreneur and create job for others here in Nigeria and will never leave this country until I become a millionaire.”
The above two lines are great meditation point for any serious and up coming entrepreneur.
Fantastic interview. and down to earth.I sincerely hope that our government should re-examine
our educational curricular to include entrepreneurship as 3 credits course.
Keep up the good job Lateef.
I can’t be tired reading everything about u. it inspires me
That was great. I really respect you intelligence and level of knowledge, no wonder the Bible says as a man thinketh in his hearth so he is. A very good decision at that tender age really puts your mindset in the order you pursued and maintained.
More power to your elbow as few of us know that you are a rear gem unto this generation.
God will increase you in all areas physically and spiritually in Jesus name .AMEN
This is truly wonderful performance from dearest Lateef Olajide,one of the pioneer of online enterpreneurship in Nigeria. More feather to your cap.
http://www.AccountabilityNigeria.com
This is insightful. I strongly agree with you that one of the chief problems facing Nigerian netpreneurs is payment processing.
Brilliant interview by the rick kid,which is very commendable and inspiring,also to the startup folks nice and brillant concept on the site aim and purpose you can only grow larger due to the market innate and untapped ability,also your post/thread on paulgarham the on despited father of startups and his Y-cmbinator series only goes to show that your venture into startup is no fluke.Hoping our paths would cross someday mean while keep the startup flag flying…..
it is said that “as a man thinket, so is he” lateef is a very inspired enterprenuer, and has all it takes to lead a world class business because in service we reach reach hieghts hirtherto undreamed of
IMN subscriber
Hmmm, am disappointed that your interviewee talks about offering advertising on his website yet the homepage doesn’t have even a single banner advert on it? It would also help to get the blog content more visible on the homepage, almost clicked away as i didn’t see much copy on homepage.
Homepage is the first point of contact and it should be used to its full potential, hiding away things only limits its offering.
You are great! Keep it up.
Brilliant mind. Please keep up the good work. The sky is your limit.
[...] mais aussi en Indonésie, à Singapour et en Malaisie, explique-t-il dans une interview au site web Startups Nigeria. Ce dernier site, d’ailleurs, illustre l’état d’esprit qui souffle dans [...]
[...] Often it happens that entrepreneurs are busy trying to convince everyone about their vision Interview with Lateef Olajide, Internet Business Strategist - startupsnigeria.com 01/08/2009 Hello people! Happy New Year ‘009. I had this interview with [...]
[...] Often it happens that entrepreneurs are busy trying to convince everyone about their vision Interview with Lateef Olajide, Internet Business Strategist - startupsnigeria.com 01/08/2009 Hello people! Happy New Year ‘009. I had this interview with [...]
This is really a great interview.
Lateef’ s interview is really inspiring. We need more people like lateef to help take Nigeria to the promise land
two things…
first i noticed, SN uses standard form questions for all your interviews first thing your learn about interview as a form of information gathering is that you should learn to be felxible…u’ll get better responses, breaking the ice is also important.
then why is it that most of the entrepreneurs feel that they have no competitors…what happened to indirect competitors even if they are not direct….read about the failures of IBM and raise of bill gates
signing out now but this thing needs life abeg…watch out!!! I could give a couple of suggestion but since all you think you have no competitors i’ll do solution to start up naija myself…lol
@Qed - Thanks for your observation. Yes, we started with a format, but have become flexible overtime. I’m very sure you haven’t read all the interviews - you can read them then come back to leave a comment. See you around;-)
Great Interview, Loy. I am kicking myself for not knowing this blog on time. Now that I am here, will definitely spend some time here.
Thanks Lateef for the mentioning http://www.NaijaMotivation.com. What we have done so far is a tip of the iceberg, with God on our side we will achieve more. You are indeed a rolemodel.
Adebola Oni (Mr. Motivator)
The interview is great and a big motivation to those that have not know you but for some of us that knew you ,you have lot more than all you have said that will make better for nigerians, sir keep it up the sky is the begining of good things to come.