Social media workshop TUDARCo

On Friday, Dec 14, 2018, Micro entrepreneurs gathered at Tumaini University Dar es Salaam College (TUDARCo) to attend a one day workshop on social media marketing organized by IRIS project. To some Micro entrepreneurs who attended, this was typically new experience.  “It is so exiting and completely new experience to me”. One of the participants who declared that she had never tried social media for business purpose shouted. Such exactly feelings stormed the workshop room as presenters continued unearthing the wealth associated with the use of social media for marketing purposes.

Although invitation was made to over thirty Micro entrepreneurs, only 25 turned-up to this workshop. Most of those who never turned up registered their apology that they could not leave their business unattended because they had no one to supervise their behalf.  Basically, the workshop concentrated on two prominent social media networks namely Facebook and Instagram. Students facilitated the workshop perfectly. They assisted participants step by step to a point where everyone was able to open a business page and manage various operations within the page.  It was really amazing to see almost all participants busy on their smartphone clicking to make things happen. Eventually things happened.   For sure it was a hundred percent hands-on workshop.

Before embarking on practical of how Facebook and Instagram work, participants had an opportunity to hear witnesses from the invited social media marketing practitioner called John Mwakalonge. His presentation made a very strong foundation on which other presentations built on. He witnessed how has been able to sell juice all over Dar es Salaam city through social media marketing. It was really exiting story and we were like waoooh, is it?!!!

Finally, Micro entrepreneurs were encourage to immediately start using social media as marketing tool to market their products. Students under the supervision of IRIS team members will follow up and monitor their progress and advice or assist in case of any problem. Eventually, we will be able to determine the extent to social media marketing training has been able to influence business growth.