Bizcommunity.com is the brainchild of Andre Rademan and Ken van Ginkel. Around 2000, they created a business model for a company that would have the role of providing up-to-date news and information to a specific sector, or sectors, of commerce and industry. The business plan was a sure-fire winner and within five years its launch, and amazing growth, Bizcommunity.com was positioned in the top 12 of all South African online publishers measured by the Online Publishers Association (OPA).
Rademan and Van Ginkel considered a wide range of options… everything from aerospace to utilities… and eventually decided that advertising and marketing, with their common-law relation, media, would be the route to go if treated as a single ‘family'.
The rationale was straightforward: people have to feed, clothe and entertain themselves, and no matter what the business, in whatever sector, it has to advertise its products and services and its brand. Moreover, these have to be marketed through the media in order to survive and grow.
The result some eight years later is Bizcommunity.com, the leading B2B site in South Africa.
"In my experience of several years of operation in a mix of African and European markets in the Internet industry, Bizcommunity.com stands out as one of the best business models for rapid growth. It has proven that the marketing-orientated community in South Africa is large and influential and has also proven that the concept of vertical communities can work in the SA market given the correct approach," says Robin Parker, MD.
Adds Rademan, “One of the key success factors of Bizcommunity.com is the fact that the team enjoys making a difference in the industry. We work hard to add value to our clients and readers. We aim all our services such as the business directory, the jobs offered sections, events, workshops and daily newsletters, at promoting the companies listed on our site. If we can add value to our advertisers, then they will continue using us to promote their brands and services.”
Initially the company comprised one portal: marketing, covering 22 main sections, each perfect for targeted advertising. Thus, the mix amply catered for the advertising, marketing and media sectors. This was online, of course, but what was required was a means to make it as easy for the busy movers and shakers in these sectors to get their news alerts delivered on a daily and weekly basis. Hence, the company dispatches daily and weekly newsletters, which have shown a very substantial and consistent growth in subscribers throughout.
Apart from breaking news and its newsletters, a key component of the company's offering is its Press Offices, which offer companies an unparalleled opportunity to promote their company, its news and achievements.
‘Bizcommunity is an indelible brand. It imprints itself in your mind, a constant reminder to visit in case you miss out on something crucial.' - Robin Parker
Another key offering (among many) is Jobs. Currently the offering is restricted to publicizing career opportunities in the advertising, marketing and media sectors, but this could change as the demand grows for the company to expand its offering into other sectors.
From last year, following the appointment of Robin Parker in 2006 as managing director, Bizcommunity.com initiated a project of expansion, first with
Africa.Bizcommunity.com, followed by
Medical.Bizcommunity.com and latterly,
Retail.Bizcommunity.com. These three portals have all shown very encouraging growth and will be covered in more detail later in this profile.
Apart from a well-developed editorial content set-up, the Sales, Production and IT teams ensure that the service Bizcommunity.com offers is the best.
