We connect your website to Google Analytics and Google Search Console to keep track of all your site traffic and key metrics in real-time.
Multilingual SEO is definitely the way forward in East Africa to get an edge not just in Africa but globally. Beat your competitors and drive traffic and revenue by translating your website content into other languages.
Learn how to optimise your website for SEO with our top 8 tips straight from our experts here at Simply IT Tanzania
As we celebrate 20 years of Word Press we see that Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized many industries, and WordPress web development is no exception.
In Zanzibar, Tanzania we are beginning to see how AI is affecting all that we do.
So, in a series of articles we will look at the way AI is changing our lives.
Choosing the right website design agency in Zanzibar for your business can be confusing or difficult. The island is filling up with web developers, then there is Tanzania and East Africa! Help is on hand…
Should I do SEO or SEM within the online Digital Marketing strategy of my business? What are the differences between them? Can they be combined?
In order to effectively use your online presence for the growth of your organisation, search terminology is a crucial component. In this knowledgebase article, we explain what schema markup is.
Any size business needs an online presence, so creating a website is a great way to build your brand, connect with clients both old and new, and expand your organization’s potential.
There is plenty that may be done to succeed, whether you need a promotional website or an eCommerce platform; yet, having a website alone won’t guarantee success.
What Not to Do…
A nation’s Digital Infrastructure has become the lifeblood of all sectors of that nation’s society. In every country there are national infrastructure sectors which may include: Communications, Defence, Emergency Services, Education, Business, Energy, Finance (Commerce), Food, Government, Health, Transport and Water. Several nations have defined ‘sub-sectors’ like; Emergency Services for example can be split into Police, Ambulance, Fire Services and Coast Guard.
One core part of good IT Infrastructure is Internet Connectivity. We are constantly being asked “What is Zanzibar’s internet connectivity like?” or “Is there affordable, good, stable, fast internet in Zanzibar”?
With these questions in mind the increase in Digital Nomads choosing to live anywhere in the world, and the increase in the need to be connected and work online, we address the whole subject of Digital Connectivity and Digital Infrastructure on the island of Zanzibar.
Why is Digital Internet Connectivity so important? Well, Digital connectivity has become a necessity for the national health and welfare of Zanzibar with broadband and mobile services linking homes and businesses across the island of Zanzibar with the rest of the World.
With recent growth and expansion comes a growing demand for data, and therefore the speed, reliability, and capacity of broadband connections, is growing rapidly. Demand will continue to increase as businesses, homes and all types of economic infrastructure become smarter. The Covid 19 pandemic accelerated these trends and reinforced the fact that the provision of fast and reliable digital connectivity is now almost as central to society and the economy as the supply of electricity or water. Internet connectivity is integral to everything from education, to business, to healthcare.
For example; Hospitals and clinics in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar are introducing ‘tele-health’ and online remote consultations. These consultations are done via online digital video connections. ‘Tele-health’ is a term given to the service given when a piece of healthcare equipment (eg blood-pressure monitor, mobile ECG etc.) is used by the patient (sat at home) that gives a readout that a doctor remotely located in a Zanzibar clinic can read digitally. In addition a doctor remotely located in Europe can join the consultation and is able to give immediate advice to the doctor in Zanzibar. A three-way remote online consultation.
Digital infrastructure consists of various interconnected networks which are owned and operated by different companies. Broadly, these networks are split into three different levels:
The core network is the backbone of the digital communications networks and is the “intelligent” part of the network, which identifies where the network’s subscribers are and ensures that data is sent to the correct user. It connects an operators’ network directly to the backbone of the internet.
The backhaul is the middle of the network and consists mostly of high capacity transmission lines that connect the core network to the local exchanges for fixed broadband or wireless base stations for mobile connections.
Access networks for broadband include copper and fibre connections to premises, and for mobile connections, consists of networks of base stations.
Digital infrastructure is a complex and interdependent system of systems, but we will focus on those services that are accessed by consumers and businesses and broadly splits into two categories: fixed broadband and mobile connections.
Note: Within the next two years SATELITE CONNECTIONS will be introduced to East Africa by the Starlink Project (Elon Musk). This will undoubtable radically change the Digital Infrastructure in Zanzibar.h
Fixed broadband provides a continuous connection to the internet for homes and businesses, replacing previous ‘dial up’ connections. To use home broadband, customers usually connect devices wirelessly to a WiFi router. The router is connected through the wall to broadband cabling technology, which is normally supplied to the premises via a local ‘exchange’ box. The ‘exchange’ in turn connects via more cables to the exchange, which is part of the internet service provider’s network. There are a range of different service levels that fixed broadband can provide depending on which access technology is used:
Copper (ADSL) consists of a copper cable connecting the exchange to the cabinet and the cabinet to the premises. Copper networks are only capable of providing a basic level of connection and can be unreliable. Actual speeds delivered by copper connections diminish with distance.
Fibre Optic Cable to the exchange cabinet consists of a fibre cable connecting the exchange to the cabinet but a copper cable connecting the cabinet to the premises. Fibre to the cabinet can provide superfast connections but, like ADSL connections, is susceptible to faults and actual speeds diminish with distance between the cabinet and the premises.
Full Fibre to the premises consists of a fibre connection from the exchange all the way to the premises, normally bypassing the cabinet. It can provide gigabit connections and can be more reliable than the other technologies. Generally, distance to the premises does not affect the speed delivered and localised congestion can more easily be avoided.
Firstly internet service is normally defined by Minimum Speed (stated in Mbits per second).
Here are some example categories of Minimum Speed and the activities that service can support:
Usually at least 10Mbps (download) and 1Mbps upload. For making video calls, downloading a one-hour episode of high definition television (HDTV) in around 15 minutes.
Usually at least 20-100Mbps (download) and 10Mbps upload. For small businesses or individuals working online ‘in the cloud’ for file transfers, small video production. Capable of supporting up to 10 devices at once at a single location, downloading a 1hourr episode of HDTV in around 5 minutes
Usually 30Mbps to 300 (download) and up to 30Mbps upload. For larger business. Capable of supporting multiple devices at once, downloading a 1-hour episode of HDTV in around four minutes
300 to 1000Mbps (download). Multiple people streaming ultrahigh definition TV at once, downloading an hour episode of HDTV in less than 30 seconds
1000 and above (download). Capable of downloading a high definition film in under one minute or a full 4K film in less than 15 minutes
INTERNET SERVICE SPEEDS IN ZANZIBAR Usually 2Mbps (download) and 1Mbps upload. Cost around $50-100 per month
Usually 10Mbps-100Mbps (download) and 4Mbps upload. Cost $100+ per month
Mobile networks provide telephony and data connectivity services to consumers by using a mobile phone as a terminal. Like fixed broadband, there are a range of different service levels that mobile connections can offer.
Mobile access network infrastructure consists of two main elements:
The network of base stations providing cellular coverage across the UK, allowing mobile devices to transmit and receive data via the radio spectrum. Base stations vary in size and cost, but each requires an appropriate site with a power supply and a fibre or microwave connection to the backhaul network.
Part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and is widely used for modern day telecommunications, broadcast TV and radio. Information can be transmitted over different frequency bands within the radio spectrum. The radio spectrum is a finite resource and so bands are allocated to users, the government has a duty in each country to ensure that the spectrum is efficiently used.
2G – The oldest available technology deployed in the UK, now mainly used for telephony services
3G – The first generation of service that enabled the use of internet services
4G – The most widely accessed technology, capable of delivering reasonable capacity broadband for video streaming
5G – The latest generation of mobile communication technologies, with the potential to provide ultra-reliable, low latency and very high capacity connectivity that can support new use cases across areas such as transport and the industrial Internet of Things
4G LTE – There is no true standard for 4G LTE, it covers the entire range between 3G to 4G, giving it a massive range of potential speeds. On average, however, download speeds range from 1-5 Mbps, with faster speeds available in good coverage areas.
Coverage can be patchy on the East Coast even though the island is flat – it does rely on the coverage provided by the relay masts. Stone Town is the more reliable area for reception – but it all does vary on Service Provider, distance from mast and device you are using. Zantel remains the most constant but it does depend on where you are located. Our advice would be try two or three mobile service providers out before deciding.
Fixed wireless access can also be provided by satellites. This is particularly important for premises where no other connection type is available. However, connections provided by geostationary satellites are have often provided poor quality due to the distance between the satellite and the premises it is connecting to.
This may change as more low earth satellite constellations are deployed, such as Starlink and One Web, which are closer to premises and therefore can provide better quality. Starlink is scheduled to come to East Africa in 2023.
Like water, Zanzibar needs Internet Connectivity to flow fast, be affordable, accessible and reliable.
Watch this space
Simply IT believes in SUSTAINABLE (long-term), AFFORDABLE (competitively-priced), LOCAL IT Solutions that meet international standards.
Many IT companies in East Africa talk about Digital Solutions. But we specialise in sustainable website design. We don’t just talk, we practice it. A sustainable IT solution is best designed and maintained by a professionally trained LOCAL support team. That’s why we are HERE in Zanzibar for you!
Simply IT is based in Zanzibar, is run by a Zanzibari and seeks to train locally.
If you want advice on IT in Zanzibar; be that Digital Marketing, Website Design, Search Engine Optimisation or anything else please contact us for a chat.
This is a common mantra we hear a lot in Zanzibar and Tanzania; “A website is not important anymore…Social Media is more important now right?” Wrong!!
Social Media is important but it has not replaced the need for a well-designed website. An outdated, confusing or broken website will hurt your brand and your business. We are not saying it might hurt your brand, we’re saying it will hurt it.
So how can you get a website that succeeds? You can create an awesome website by absolutely nailing your web design from the beginning. But what is web design, actually? Read on if you want to learn what web design is all about, why it matters and how to get it right.
Web design is what creates the overall look and feel when you’re using a website. It’s the process of planning, building the elements of your website and putting it all together, from functionality, structure and layout to images, colours, fonts and graphics.
Web design has numerous components that work together to create the finished ‘experience’ of a website, including graphic design, user experience design, interface design, search engine optimization (SEO) and content creation.
In Tanzania and East Africa we have noted that the Tourism sector is still extremely blasé about Search Engine Optimisation. Many businesses, tour companies and hotels believe that just having a website is all that is needed. We often ask CEO’s and business owners, to type into Google the phrase they think a potential customer will use to find their website on the internet. “Best Hotel in Zanzibar”, “Recommended Safaris Tanzania”, or “Top Tours in East Africa”. How close to the top of the search results do their businesses appear? If it is not on the front page, then it matters not how beautiful their website is… it will not be seen! SEO is an important element to website design and development.
Web design is different from web development, which is the actual coding that makes a website work. When you’re building a website, you need both web design and web development. Although you can find web designers who are also web and UX (User Experience) developers, these are distinct skill sets. We have a team of seven in Simply IT to cover all the elements of website design and website development.
Here’s what your website will look like in its earliest stages:
Web design is different from web development, which is the actual coding that makes a website work. When you’re building a website, you need both web design and web development. Although you can find web designers who are also web and UX (User Experience) developers, these are distinct skill sets. We have a team of seven in Simply IT to cover all the elements of website design and website development.
Web designers take your ideas and turn them into a mock-up that shows what your future website will look like. Web designers handle the creative part of designing a website.
Web developers—also sometimes called technicians, engineers or coders — take the mock-up made by your web designer and then translate it into a coding language so it can be displayed on the web. They make websites functional, which often means custom-coding widgets, scripts and other tools.
A user experience developer, also known as a UX developer, is the one who makes your website user-friendly. They have technical skills as well as design skills and put them to work creating websites that attract and keep visitors.
So don’t just rely on what you think looks good, or what you think works best. Ask others. Market Research is an important part of good website design.
Good website designers not only design for their clients, they also ask others what they think about a certain design. So if you are having your website designed or redesigned, make sure you ask a good percentage of your present customers to assess the new design and make suggestions. Design is not just about what a website looks like, it has to work well and give a good experience for your customers. So ask them what they think! The cardinal sin of many a CEO is to think they know what customers will think or do when they visit the website. Don’t fall into the same trap… ask them!
Web design that works is web design that converts. In marketing terms; “convert” means getting the user to take a specific action.
When a user does go to your website and follows through with an action that your website set them up to take, your website made a conversion. Conversions can be anything, like signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase, booking a room, hiring a bike, opening an account or accessing more content on the website.
• Compelling use of negative space
• Choices, presented simply for the user (the fewer choices the user has, the less likely they are to become overwhelmed and confused)
• Calls to Action – clear and obvious calls to action
• Limited distractions and a well thought out user journey (ie. using only images and text that are 100% relevant to the subject on the page, featuring only buttons that lead to desired actions and using font variations for emphasis and calls to action, not just for the sake of featuring different fonts)
• Responsive design (a design that resizes and reorients itself to the user’s screen, making the website easy to use on any device: phone, tablet, laptop or desktop browser.
• Appropriately sized readable fonts that follow a hierarchy (see “Limited distractions”) on all devices
• Relevant, high-quality content and images that hook your readers’ attention
• A balance between the amount of text and images on each page (too much text can overwhelm a visitor, too little text can be equally disengaging)
Every design choice you make will affect your website’s usability and conversion rate in some way. All of them.
If you don’t think aesthetic design choices affect conversions, think again. Your website must be attractive — especially to your prospective user, so try to figure out what style is going to speak to them. Remember the ‘cardinal-sin’? Ask your customers what they think of your design and the user experience.
Invest in eye-catching images that work with your brand. Stay away from obvious stock photography.
If you are selling a product, then images of your products should be on every page especially the top banner slides. Anything else can be a distraction if there is no obvious link between your products and the image. If you want an image of your location or your shop, then the best place to put this is on your ABOUT US or CONTACT US or FIND US page and not on your Home Page and definitely not on your Product Pages.
Stephen Covey, the author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, coined the phrase “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing”. This could not be more apt when it comes to design and websites.
ONLY restaurant in 3 miles you may go in. But studies show people are less likely to enter an empty establishment than a busy one! So try to make the images show your product or service is successful.
Remaining true to your brand is key to successful website design. Even the most gorgeous website is useless if it doesn’t match your brand or engage with customers.
Other building blocks of an effective web design are:
• Buttons
• Fonts
• Colour palette
• The visual balance between your images and copy on each page
Of course, good web design isn’t just utilitarian. Visitors like websites that are engaging and fit the brands’ aesthetics. No matter how you achieve it, meshing an on-brand, engaging look with design elements that convert is how you win at web design.
As a general rule, visitors shouldn’t have to do any work to use your website. The whole experience of using your website should be straightforward and intuitive.
Here are some examples: Clear calls to action are great web design; murky ones are bad web design. High contrast fonts are smart, effective web design; low contrast fonts that are hard to read are poor web design.
Here are a few other elements to avoid:
• Distracting images and backgrounds. As a general rule, stay away from tiled backgrounds. Though there are a few select instances where a tiled background could be a good choice, in most cases they’re distracting.
• Non-responsive design. Nowadays your website simply needs to be mobile responsive. All websites should look good and function well on mobile phones and tablet devices.
• Unclear links and buttons. Visitors shouldn’t have to hunt for links and buttons, they should be able to quickly see which images and pieces of text will take them to new pages or confirm their choices. Similarly, users should be able to clearly recognize fillable fields.
• Generic or irrelevant stock photos and filler text without valuable information.
Certain web design elements, like grid layouts, aren’t inherently good or bad choices. They can be used in effective and ineffective ways, so taking care to do them right is a must.
Another tricky web design element is animation. It’s not 1999 anymore, you shouldn’t have a comet tail trailing the user’s cursor or make them scroll past a row of dancing hamsters to get to your content. But an animated exit pop-up that brings visitors’ attention back to your site and gets them to convert? As long as you provide a simple choice that will not frustrate website visitors, then Yes!
There are a few different ways to get the website you need. The way that’s right for you and your company depends on how complex of a website you need, how much your budget is and how much of the work you can do yourself.
You can work directly with a web designer. Simply search the internet for good “Website Developers Near You” – always browser the website developer’s portfolios and clients and pick the designer you like best and who fits the style and look you’re going for.
Why choose a good website developer near you? Although website development can be done anywhere in the world. We have found that the best solutions are done by agencies or freelancers that know your both your local marketing and your international needs.
A website designer can customize an existing template or design a completely fresh template for your website. If you want your website built from scratch, you can work with a designer and developer who has the skills to make it happen.
If you need help coming up with ideas for your website design, how about hosting a design contest by providing a brief and having designers submit designs based on your specifications? Or just go ask three web designers to bid for the job, asking how long and how much they would charge.
Using a template-driven website builder (like Wix or Squarespace) is also an option. Although these are very limited in many ways and you’ll need to be more hands on. If you’re not a designer you will be limited to what these platforms offer, but you can always hire a designer to customize a template for you.
Be prepared to invest in high quality web design. Your web design could cost a few hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on its complexity. What you’ll spend is proportionate to what you need.
So how do you know if you need a custom-built website or if a template will do you just fine? That all depends on what you need your website to do and what you plan for it. If scaling is part of your business plan, get a custom website. If you need it to be search engine friendly, if you need to adapt it to various business needs, if you have very specific ideas about the website that demand that it be built to your specifications, you need a custom website. When these aren’t priorities for you and you don’t have a large budget, a customized template is the way to go.
See Simply IT’s example website fees below:
By taking a hands-on role in your website’s design process, you’ll guarantee that you’ll get a website that meets or exceeds your expectations.
Tell Simply IT website designers and website developers about your brand, your voice and what you plan to achieve with the website. The more information they have, the more equipped they are to deliver the perfect web design for you. Explain your vision to them and then let them work their magic!
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