SADCtrader.com Offers Businesses Free Online Advertising

Trade in developing countries is usually undermined by lack of information and the Southern Africa economic region is no exception. In Africa the lack the problem is compounded by the relatively low internet penetration. According to internet users data released by Internet World Stats (www.internetworldstats.com) on 31^st December 2009, Africa has 14.6% of the world’s population yet only 4.8% of the world’s internet users are from Africa. The recent surge in internet penetration offers great hope as information is key in facilitating trade and keeping abreast of emerging trends. SADC Trader, a free online advertising platform which also offer free online directory listing, believes there is great need for information availability especially in developing economies.

Internet penetration as a percentage of population remains relatively low in Africa at 8.7% compared to the rest of the world average of 29.7%. However, at 1 809% internet use growth rate in Africa over the last 10 years has been phenomenon compared to the rest of the world’s usage growth rate of 381%.

SADC Trader is a private initiative offering a very comprehensive free classifieds and online directory covering the whole SADC economic region, that is, 15 countries in Southern Africa. The main aim of the project is to promote private and commercial trade with the SADC region by offering free advertising and directory listing. SADC Trader provides a platform for traders and service providers to showcase their products and services for free.

Talking to Newzimbabwe.com earlier today, the SADC Trader Marketing Manager, Douglas Tobaiwa said ’…The project was inspired by the frustration caused by lack of information if one wants to do business in developing economies. Information on products and services and/or producers and service providers is not readily available which is a stifling bottleneck to trade...’

Developing economies like those in Southern Africa’s are characterized by a reputable number of informal traders and SMEs and this sector contribute significantly to the region’s GDP. Whilst, most of these small producers and service providers offer world class products and services to local economies they never get to realise full potential or expand their customer base due to prohibitive advertising and marketing costs. To producers and service providers the competitive edge created by information availability and visibility to end users is immeasurable. SADC Trader gives an equal opportunity to informal traders, SMEs and big companies to market their products and services for free.

On SADC Trader users can advertise anything for FREE from commercial and residential properties, industrial equipment, cars and car parts, building and hardware, computing and IT services, cellphones, livestock and pets, stamps and coins collection, public notices, events and shows etc. Users can also find anything from a job, a date or a holiday. SADC Trader offers the biggest choice and the widest possible selection of goods and services. You can search adverts in all sections using keywords, location, category or price using a powerful quick search tool. User looking for products or services can also use the map to quickly search by location.

On the SADC Trader online directory companies and all other producers or service providers can list for free providing their contact details including websites. The can also give a brief description of their products and services which makes it a very effective means of advertising to the entire region and the world at large.

Uploading adverts for free on SADC Trader or listing your company for free on SADC Trader online directory is very simple, just visit www.sadctrader.com and follow the respective links.

Free advert uploading: http://www.sadctrader.com/selLoc/selectLoc.html

Free online directory listing: http://www.sadctrader.com/submitdirlink/0/0.html