I’ve recently been appointed to the Society of Industry Leaders, part of Vista Research, of Standard & Poor (S&P 500) fame.
Here are some links to the press releases:
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S&P Vista Research Appointment
Vinny Lingham is an International Award winning Entrepreneur & Search Engine Marketer. He is currently CEO of Synthasite, a Web 2.0 Startup.
Learn more about Vinny »
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Comments On This Post
March 24, 2006 at 10:17 pm
Vinny,
I would like to say congratulations to you. It must be rather strange for you to join a group considered “high-quality industry veterans” at the age of 27… but I guess the internet is such that a vertran does not have to be in their 70’s. Well done though - you have done SA proud.
This does bring me to one question for you however, and this is by no means a dig. You seem to have focused your efforts on many markets aside from South Africa. I understand that earning dollars is far more attractive than rands however… Your mission, in your words, “is to continuously improve the infrastructure for global online marketing and technology and expand search marketing into every corner of the globe.” What about your home land? You seem to have skipped focusing on South Africa?
I know our internet penetration is low, our bandwidth expensive, and our trust of online shocking, however if we follow the US a few years in its shadow - surely now is a good time to get in?
Well done again.
Johan Bosini
March 25, 2006 at 12:13 am
Hi Johan
There are a number of issues that make South Africa a problematic market for us to participate in. I’ll try to outline them here:
1. Politics within companies, as techies tend to run the websites, not the marketers - which lead to badly build sites that don’t convert.
2. Lack of believe by merchants in the online space and the potential of it.
3. Shortage of skills in the search marketing arena.
4. Telkom
5. Low credit card usage.
6. Banks that don’t have affiliate programs.
It’s not just about earning dollars, we are giving back to the community by creating the skills required to participate in the international arena.
I applaud what your company is trying to do, and hopefully, once you have managed to educate the merchants and improve site logistics and conversion rates, it will be possible for us to risk our own money and make a margin.
We also, don’t have time to waste in circumventing corporate politics in companies for them to focus on their web metrics and businesses. Most SA companies see their websites as “ad ons” to their existing business, and a not a point of focus.
I don’t think we have skipped focusing on South Africa, we have 1 progressive thinking South African client, but unfortunately, after hearing from the marketing director of Sun International in a meeting last year that “people don’t book hotels online, they go to travel agents”, we have made the strategic decision to wait for the market to catch up and throw too much effort into educating it at this stage.
This of course does allow for local companies and competitors to attempt to get into this space, and I wish them all the best.
March 25, 2006 at 3:17 am
Vinny,
I would like to say congratulations to you. It must be rather strange for you to join a group considered “high-quality industry veterans” at the age of 27… but I guess the internet is such that a vertran does not have to be in their 70’s. Well done though - you have done SA proud.
This does bring me to one question for you however, and this is by no means a dig. You seem to have focused your efforts on many markets aside from South Africa. I understand that earning dollars is far more attractive than rands however… Your mission, in your words, “is to continuously improve the infrastructure for global online marketing and technology and expand search marketing into every corner of the globe.” What about your home land? You seem to have skipped focusing on South Africa?
I know our internet penetration is low, our bandwidth expensive, and our trust of online shocking, however if we follow the US a few years in its shadow - surely now is a good time to get in?
Well done again.
Johan Bosini
March 25, 2006 at 5:13 am
Hi Johan
There are a number of issues that make South Africa a problematic market for us to participate in. I’ll try to outline them here:
1. Politics within companies, as techies tend to run the websites, not the marketers - which lead to badly build sites that don’t convert.
2. Lack of believe by merchants in the online space and the potential of it.
3. Shortage of skills in the search marketing arena.
4. Telkom
5. Low credit card usage.
6. Banks that don’t have affiliate programs.
It’s not just about earning dollars, we are giving back to the community by creating the skills required to participate in the international arena.
I applaud what your company is trying to do, and hopefully, once you have managed to educate the merchants and improve site logistics and conversion rates, it will be possible for us to risk our own money and make a margin.
We also, don’t have time to waste in circumventing corporate politics in companies for them to focus on their web metrics and businesses. Most SA companies see their websites as “ad ons” to their existing business, and a not a point of focus.
I don’t think we have skipped focusing on South Africa, we have 1 progressive thinking South African client, but unfortunately, after hearing from the marketing director of Sun International in a meeting last year that “people don’t book hotels online, they go to travel agents”, we have made the strategic decision to wait for the market to catch up and throw too much effort into educating it at this stage.
This of course does allow for local companies and competitors to attempt to get into this space, and I wish them all the best.
March 27, 2006 at 8:54 am
Hi Vinny,
Thanks for the detailed response. Just to let you know - I was temporarily involved with the affiliate network you referred to on a project basis. I think there is great growth on the cards in SA if/when everyone buys into the model. We all know it works with the right mix of offers, product/website functionality and distribution. Each of these has its own challenges.
Good point on the attitude of business in South Africa seeing a website as a “nice to have because the competitors have one” rather than an additional revenue stream.
Johan
March 27, 2006 at 1:54 pm
Hi Vinny,
Thanks for the detailed response. Just to let you know - I was temporarily involved with the affiliate network you referred to on a project basis. I think there is great growth on the cards in SA if/when everyone buys into the model. We all know it works with the right mix of offers, product/website functionality and distribution. Each of these has its own challenges.
Good point on the attitude of business in South Africa seeing a website as a “nice to have because the competitors have one” rather than an additional revenue stream.
Johan
September 27, 2007 at 6:15 am
Hi Vinny,
Just came across this post while searching for “Vista Research” on Google.
I have recently got a similar job offer from Vista Research, and I am curious to explore the pros and cons of this offer. I am in the Semiconductor industry and work in India.
Will you be able to help me in getting some of my doubts answered? It would be really kind of you.
Thanks,
Sugandh
September 27, 2007 at 8:15 am
Hi Vinny,
Just came across this post while searching for “Vista Research” on Google.
I have recently got a similar job offer from Vista Research, and I am curious to explore the pros and cons of this offer. I am in the Semiconductor industry and work in India.
Will you be able to help me in getting some of my doubts answered? It would be really kind of you.
Thanks,
Sugandh
September 27, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Hey Sugandh
They’re pretty good - the flow of work is low though - but they pay on time! Good luck!
V
September 27, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Hey Sugandh
They’re pretty good - the flow of work is low though - but they pay on time! Good luck!
V
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