5 Snapchat tricks every Nigerian should know

Nigerians have proven that Snapchat is indeed addictive! The moment you find anyone with their nose in their phone these days, he or she is most probably checking their feeds and uploading snaps. A user can send any of the “snaps” or images created on the app to friends, including their own personal touch, which delete themselves after a couple of hours.

While the app can create a lot fun, it however has a complex user interface which makes it very hard to use, and as such, so many users are unaware of more than half of the things they could do with it.

For users looking to graduate from the basic level of just sending photos & videos to friends, Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking site has made a list of 5 cool tricks that will ensure users make the most out of the app and even impress their friends.

Add music to your snaps

Unknown to a lot of users, the Snapchat app allows the inclusion of music to videos taken with the app and it is a very easy process. You do not need to play the music in the background while making the video as you may not get the sound quality you desire. All you need to do is play the song you want in your video through a music player app on your smartphone, and while the song is playing, record a video on Snapchat. Magical!

Resize Emoji characters

Sometimes, you want to enlarge an Emoji on your screen or make it smaller. To achieve that, all you need to do is select the one you want to use; next, hit the "T" symbol in the upper right corner; then, using two fingers preferably your index finger and your thumb, zoom in and out of the Emojis. The process of zooming in or out determined how much bigger or smaller you make it eventually.

Switch between cameras while filming

This is a trick that you certainly cannot achieve on other social media apps. Rather than capture your film all from one point of view, you can actually create videos of your face and your POV by swapping between front-facing and rear cameras during your snaps. This does not only make the filming process super fun, it makes the snap very engaging for viewers

See the views your story

The whole point of recording snaps is so people can view it and maybe make their comment, so, naturally, every user will want to know how many views they have per snap, as well discover the identity of the people who made the views. While it seems like there is no option to achieve the latter, it pretty simple. All you need to do is go to the “Stories” tab, available one swipe away from the home page.  A tap on “My Story” reveals an eyeball with a number next to it. Tap on that eyeball and you'll get a drop-down list with the names of all your followers who have viewed it.

Combine two filters in one snap

Every single person on the social media will attest to the fact that filters are the best! Filters can literally transform a look or view and make it much more appealing. Generally, filters make the Snapchat experience  much more exciting, so imagine how much more fun you can have using two filters at once? It is possible!  You can actually use an image filter along with one of the data label filters that are available. All you need to is apply the first filter on a snap, then hold one finger on the display while using another finger to choose between the other filters. It is not tedious at all.

4 signs you are a true Lagosian

Lagos is, without a doubt, the most popular city in Nigeria and possibly Africa. Not only is it cosmopolitan and all-encompassing, it offers countless opportunities to its inhabitants as well as visitors. The city literally adopts thousands of new residents each year and so it has become a daunting task identifying who the real Lagosians are.

Let’s face it, while you may need to have spent a reasonable time living in Lagos, you do not have to be an indigene of the state to be considered a proper Lagosian. There are certain signs that generally suggests that you have shed your “newbie” status and you are officially a true “son of the soil”. Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking portal lists five of these signs.



You do not refer to the state as “Lagos”

Real Lagosians do not refer to the city as ‘Lagos’, a majority use the term “Eko” while the young and trendy use the term “Lasgidi”. If you hear any real Lagosian make reference to “Lagos”, they are most likely talking about the Victoria Island part of the State.

You are always vigilant and in a hurry

Real Lagosians understand the need to always stay sharp and move fast, and it has become second nature to them. You will never catch a true Lagosian keeping his or her things carelessly in public places or walking sluggishly on the streets, especially crowded streets.



The term “owambe” brings you joy

Lagosians love to party and so they find opportunities to make merry. Weekends are basically set aside for owambes…even if Friday nights are spent in one of the many nightclubs and lounges around the city.

You can walk, eat, talk on the phone and hop on a bus, all at the same time

This happens all the time in Lagos. Every true Lagosian operates with the mantra ‘time waits for no man’, so they have learnt tricks and ways to juggle different activities at the same time.

Ndem NkemTravel/Tech Writer
Jovago Nigeria

How to add Geotags to your Instagram pictures

We all love Instagram, especially since the messages – pictures and videos - are uniquely instant. There are however moments where we are unable to remember the location of some pictures or videos but would like share that information on our walls anyways.


For instance, you may have returned to Nigeria from a trip to Ghana and want to post a picture you took of Kwame Nkrume’s statue at the park but find you are unable to indicate that it was taken while you were in Ghana. In such situations you realize that you may succeed in posting these throwback pictures but you may not be able to use the geotag feature as Instagram cannot find locations after you have left the spot.


Geotagging adds a level of originality to posts and for picture taking purpose, it is important to make sure that Location Service is turned on for every Camera App you use, including Instagram. However if you took the photo somewhere else, not the place where you are uploading the photo from, and the image file does not contain that specific info, and you determined to geotag it on Instagram, Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking has some steps that could be of immense help.

Step 1:

Login to your Instagram app and using the file picker, select the photo or Video to which you want to add location.

Step 2:

Once you are on the photo page, at the bottom-right corner, next to the ‘Like’ and ‘Comment’ buttons, you will find an icon with three-dots. Tap on this icon and select the ‘Edit’ option from the list of menu presented.

Step 3:

The option takes you to the edit page, where you can edit the picture, including the photo caption and the location. If per chance the photo does not include location info, look for an ‘Add Location’ link at the top left corner, just under your username and next to your avatar. Tap on the link to edit the location.


Step 4:

From the suggested list the pops up, pick a suitable location. If you do not see the location you want, search for it, and when you find the location, tap on it. This step is the key to adding the location to your photo.


Step 5:

On completing Step 4, you should see your newly added location shown on the photo. To ensure it the amendment is saved, confirm the change by tapping on the “Done” button.


Ndem Nkem
Travel/Tech Writer
Jovago Nigeria

Ikeja, the heartbeat of Eko

Lagos’ fascinating capital, and the administrative capital of Lagos state, Ikeja is historic yet modish, bureaucratic yet malleable, and multicultural to its roots. It has all the advantages of a big city: rich culture, lively nightlife, international restaurants and good transport- although quite rowdy with a lot of road traffic. Wherever else you go in Lagos, allow at least a little time for Ikeja, undoubtedly a thriving, cosmopolitan metropolis, with top-flight architecture, and is eternally a trendy spot for weekend getaways and holidays. It is a center of Lagosian culture that you cannot afford to neglect.



TOP 3 SITES

Kalakuta Republic Museum

This fascinating museum is the former house and revolutionary headquarters of music Legend, Fela Kuti. It still features most of his property in its original form, from Fela’s bedroom to his underwear.

Computer village

Also popularly known as Otigba, Computer village which was created in 1997 is a large market for computer sales and repair services, as well as various types of office equipment and electronic devices.

Ikeja City Mall

One of the largest malls in Lagos State and certainly the Largest in Ikeja, Ikeja City Mall attracts a lot of visitors, both locals and tourists. Aside from shops, hair salons and eateries, it also has a cinema.

LODGING

Lodging in Ikeja is cheap compared to Victoria Island and Ikoyi, with a touch of charm and elegance. Hotel accommodation includes luxury hotels, star-rated hotels, boutique hotels, motels/inns and apartments for rent. Hotels can be booked online before you arrive at very reasonable prices via Jovago.com.



DINNING

Ikeja can hold its own with any intercontinental city when it comes to eating out, and whatever your taste, price range or preferred type of cuisine there is almost always for you.  As for where to eat, the distinction between the city’s bukkas, fast food joints/eateries, café-bars and restaurants is quite clear, and there are number of great places around the city. For visitors who enjoy drinking, many of the more distinctive bars are handily located in the G.R.A area. Some of the favourites include Red lounge and Pool terrace Bar.



SHOPPING

Ikeja is a city of contrasts with enormous diversity when it comes to places of interest and where to shop. The city has a supreme selection of small, independent shops, a marvelous range of open-air markets as well as covered shopping “streets” and a number of charming galleries. Alade market located on Allen avenue Ikeja is known to be one of the most expensive markets in the city. Shops and stores are open from as early as 8am to 6pm or 7pm Monday through Saturday. Some tourist-oriented shops open on Sundays as well.

FUN FACTS

“IKEJA” is an abbreviation meaning Ikorodu and Epe Joint Administration. It was coined by colonial administrators for ease of administration. It is also said to be fromIkehdia a Benin word meaning Watch Station (military).

Ndem Nkem
Travel/Tech Writer
Jovago Nigeria

4 Reasons why Nigerians Prefer Online Dating

With the proven statistics that there are more women than men in Nigeria, it is ironic that some men visit online dating site in search of love despite the sheer number of beautiful women on the streets of Lagos and other states. Today, there are hundreds of Nigerian dating sites. You just need to Google Nigerian dating sites and the rest is left to you. The question is why do some Nigerians visit these sites? Jovago.com, Africa's No 1 hotel booking portal shares 4 reasons.  

Easily intimidated by women

Some men freak out when it comes to interacting with women, let alone a woman they are interested in. For them to woo her is wahala. She is expecting and anxious to hear what you have to say because she is willing to give you a chance but you shy away with your tails in between your legs. For this type of men, dating sites is an easy way out of this anomaly. You will find men and women on these sites to select from.

Indulge  

Some Nigerians do not believe in online dating but they are tempted to join the bandwagon because they can give a false impression of themselves. They source pictures of others and use it as their display picture, cut their ages, and say they are single while dating. Even if they meet someone charming online, they are never serious because they are just there for fun!  



You are single

A dating site is a hub for meeting supposed singles. If you are single, you can check these sites out and if you are lucky, you will meet another single. Before you know it, you are already dating!

To heal Heartbreak

If you just broke up with your long-term partner and want to get over the heartbreak as quickly as possible, some people venture into the world of online dating. Often times than not, they are not interested in any online interactions or relationship because they want to purge themselves of the heartbreak.



Ogunfowoke Adeniyi
Travel/Technology Writer

How to get Complaints Resolved via Social Media

Social media can be used to do a lot of things today including to complain and get the complaint resolved. Twitter is one of the best interactive networks to use to get a quick response especially as many organizations now have a strong Social Media presence.


With the versatility of social media, some users still have problems with making complaints and having them resolved. Sequel to this, Jovago.com, Africa's No 1 hotel booking portal gathers tips on how to get complaints resolved via Social Media.

Contact official channels

All serious organization own a website. On these websites, you can get the contact information of the company. Using the contact info, you can either call or send a mail. If you do not get a response or get an unsatisfactory response, you can take it to social media.

Check their reply speed on twitter

Despite the fact that some businesses have Twitter or Facebook accounts, they may not be active and may take them forever to reply to your complaints. Hence, before you send a tweet, you should check how quick they respond to complaints and if they actually resolved it.



Send them a direct message

If you are not happy with their response offline, it is time to take it online. You can send them a direct message whether their handle is active or not. If you do not get a favourable response, you should take it public.  



Tweet publicly and politely

Responsible businesses prevent crisis rather than fanning it. The direct message may be futile but the public tweet will not. So, you send a series of tweets featuring your complaints. Do not forget to tag some the service companies and influencers that can help you retweet the message to their followers. At this juncture, do not be surprised at how swift they will pacify you. Social media further cement the saying that that the customer is always right. Remember, do not use abusive words while tweeting.

Thank them when complaint is resolved

Most customers do not do this. When you are eventually satisfied with their reply, it will be nice to send a tweet appreciating their response and if their offer you an incentive to pacify you, you should also mention it in the tweet.  




Ogunfowoke Adeniyi

Travel/Technology Writer

Four Places Where you Should not Keep your Phone

Your phone is a valuable asset and losing it or getting it damaged can cost you a lot of money and emotional stress. If you do not want to experience any of this, Jovago.com, Africa's no 1 hotel booking portal points out places you should never leave your phone.

In the sun

Many people know that they should not just drop their phones in the sun but some others have inadvertently left it in the sun while washing or working outside their home. Extreme heat or cold are not good for electronical appliances. So keep it away from harmful weather to extend its lifespan.  

Your back pocket

Carrying your phone in your back pocket is not a good idea. Many people have damaged their phones, especially the screen, just by forgetting their phones in their pockets. Besides the physical damage, the phone may overheat and is susceptible to theft there.



Bottom of a bag

As a regular traveler, you may have had to live through the experience of having your phone go missing and as a result adopted the precautionary measure of hiding it at the bottom of a bag. While doing this has its perks, it can begin to malfunction due to the heat or pressure from moving the bag from place to place. Your best bet would be to use an inner side-pocket in the bag or under the first few layers of items within it.



In proximity to a cooker

In an attempt not to miss a call, it usual practice to keep your phone close to you even when cooking. This can be very risky as it could result in a fire outbreak. Make it a habit to place your phone far from the fire and increase the volume of your ringtone so that you can hear the call wherever you are.



Ogunfowoke Adeniyi

Travel/Technology Writer

4 Reasons to Drink Palm Wine From Igboland

Palm wine is a local beverage which is dear to many Nigerians. Some people even believe that it is better than factory brewed drinks due to its many health benefits and those who have gulped several gourds with plates of hot pepper soup or peppered goat meat, can testify to its delightful taste. However, if you are yet to savour the sap from southeast Nigeria which doubles as the birthplace of the local drink, you need to put ordering several kegs of the sweet liquid on your bucket list.

If you are in doubt about Igbo palm wine, Jovago.com, Africa’s No. 1 hotel booking portal points out several reasons that will bolster or embolden you to drink this beer a beverage.



It is undiluted

You cannot compare the palm wine sold or tapped in Anambra State to the one sold in Lagos or other parts of Nigeria. Many of these palm wine drinks are already fermented, diluted and adulterated, and this has serious side effects. To a large extent, you can trust that palm wine from this Igboland because it is undiluted and from a credible source.  



Tapped from the source  

The natural taste of palm wine can only be enjoyed if you get it directly from the source. Palm wine is produced by splicing horizontal strips at the top of a palm tree and drilling a hole into the trunk. Afterwards, you attach a container held by a raffia so that the palm wine can drop into the container. It has to be collected daily. Very few people are willing to go through the stress of climbing a tree as tall as 20 metres in a city. But visit the rural areas in the South-East, you will find cheap and quality palm wine direct from the trees.  

A gourd can intoxicate you   

For persons who boasts that they are experts in bingeing, a cup of undiluted palmy, as it is popularly called, will definitely overrule this belief. You can consume liters of alcoholic drinks but you should not attempt this with palm wine as a gourd can get you tipsy while several gourds will get you completely drunk. You have to be disciplined to consume such a natural intoxicant.



It is healthy  

It is quite risky to drink diluted palm wine because many are unaware of the condiments which have been added to pep up the taste. But for the ones directly tapped from the tree, it is very healthy. Some of the health benefits include control of  cardiovascular diseases, slows aging, good eyesight, increased in sperm count and aid milk production in lactating mothers.



Ogunfowoke AdeniyiTravel/Technology Writer

6 things to know before touring West Africa by road

The idea of going on a road trip out of Nigeria to other West African countries can be exciting for adventurous people but, while people travel every day to other west African cities such as Cotonou, Togo, Accra and Douala, either by public buses or private cars, very few of them are prepared for the experience they eventually face on the road. They leave excited and return discouraged, determined never to go on another road trip.

The truth is, travelling to other West African countries from Nigeria by road can actually be rewarding as long as you keep these things listed below in mind and prepare yourself for them. To help you prepare appropriately, Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 onlinehotel booking portal suggests 6 things every traveler must know before setting out on this journey.

Your Nigerian Passport and Yellow fever Card are essential

Most people assume that they can just freely travel from Nigeria to neighboring West African countries without their International passport as they are all members of ECOWAS nations and have their visa waived, but that is not the case.

Every traveler is expected to provide their passports for stamping, as well as the Yellow card for proof of health before they are allowed to pass the border. Travelling without these documents can ruin your trip with border delays and denied entry.

Adult diapers will not work

Most cross-country trips can take from as long as 5 to 24 hours, depending on where you are going to and where you take off from.

A lot of travellers are skeptical about using the toilet on the bus, stopping by the roadside to ease themselves or using public toilets along the way, so they resort to wearing adult diapers. Unfortunately, adult diapers are of no help when travelling outside the country to West African countries. Not only will it be utterly uncomfortable, thanks to the long distance and bumps on the way, it could arouse undue suspicion from the officers at the border or even the NDLEA staff.

It is cheaper to change currencies before setting out

The Naira is only relevant for buying and selling within the country, and so, you will need to use the currency of whatever country you are visiting to be able to make purchases there. As a result, you have to ensure you visit any bank of choice or ‘bureau de change’ to trade the money you need for the trip before you set out. Some would advise that you wait till you get to the border before you change your money, but the truth is that the exchange rate at the border is always higher and less beneficial. You best bet is the bank. Alternatively, you can decide to use your ATM card if your bank allows that, but the charges for such transaction are also usually very high.

There is are different time zones

We may all be West African countries, but different countries operate in different time zones. For instance, Nigeria is 1hour ahead of Ghana and Benin Republic. Ensure you research to note the time difference between Nigeria and the country you are visiting, that way it is easy for you to keep track of time.

Also, some people are affected when they migrate into different time zones. If you are one of those, you may want to prepare yourself and pack whatever remedy you need to keep your body in check.

You will cross most borders by foot

Before setting out on your trip, ensure you wear comfortable clothes and shoes as aside from several stops that the bus will have to make for you to stretch your legs and buy food, you will have to cross most borders by foot.  

For most of these borders, especially the Ghana border, it is a long trek which will be very difficult if you are not prepared for it. It is advisable to carry a small handbag where you can keep your valuables, so that when you are crossing the border, you only need to hold it and leave the other entire luggage in the vehicle.

Prepare to stay offline for most of the trip

The beauty of a road trip is taking random pictures and posting them online on making instant videos for Snapchat and Instagram.

If you are travelling out of Nigeria to West African countries, you may not be able to do these as the roaming rates are very high. Sending a text from Togo alone is as high as N300 per text message and the data rates are outrageous.  Also, unless you are an MTN subscriber you may not even have access to any of the mobile networks. The only way out may be to buy a new SIM card that works in the country you are visiting at the border and insert it on your phone.

Ndem Nkem

Travel/Tech Writer
Jovago Nigeria

4 reasons to buy ‘previously-used’ gadgets in Nigeria

With the dawn of the 21st century, consumer technology has moved at the speed of lightning with new inventions constantly flooding the market, leaving a lot of people with old devices and hardware to sell. Although tech companies advertise these new products in such a way that the previous models are made to look obsolete, the ‘previously-used’ market for gadgets is still booming.

A large number of Nigerian markets are filled with fairly-used goods such as electronics, home appliances, computer gadgets, and the locals patronize them well. Apparently, these local buyers have not been scared away from a used gadget purchase, as they know the value of  these seemingly  imperfect machines.

Looking to buy a fairly used gadget but need some convincing? Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking website reveals 4 reasons to this trend is big in Nigeria.

You get an amazing deal

Fairly used gadgets, which most times include old stock in large stores, returned gadgets, and pawned gadgets are always cheaper than originals and give same value, if not more. You can often buy a two or three-year-old device for one-half to one-quarter of its original price. You probably may have to do some extra cleaning or deal with fixing a minor factory defect. The secret is to always test the product before you make the purchase, that way you know what you are getting yourself into. Some markets offer gadgets at ridiculously low prices without prior testing, for those gadgets, there is a chance that you will end up getting screwed, as they may be outrightly destroyed.

They have better quality

It is hard to believe but most of the fairly used gadgets actually have better quality that the sparkling new ones you find in Nigerian stores. The thing about these products is that some of them are strong brands from companies in countries such as Germany, England, Korea e.t.c and they have better quality than the new ones you find built either locally or imported from china.

Fairly used gadgets are much more durable

The gadgets no doubt are usually older versions and may not have certain perks of the new versions, but these older products are much more durable than the new ones…even though they are old and have already been used. Prior to this time, things were made with more natural materials – steel, glass, ceramics, and wood. The items may not have been as convenient or as stylish, but they were functional and made to last. In current times, however, people are more interested in flashy and so they get flashy products made with cheap materials.

Opportunities for resell

It is actually easier to resell these fairly used gadgets than the new ones. For instance, most buyers would rather buy a 2nd hand Kenwood blender that has been used for 6 years than a brand new Saisho blender. Buying fairly used gadgets ensure that you are able to make your money back or even make some profit while reselling.

Ndem Nkem

Travel/Tech Writer Jovago Nigeria

5 Ways to Deal with Online Trolls

The internet has its limitations despite all its advantages, one of which are the presence of online trolls whose responsibility is to target others by posting abusive, threatening, rude and hateful messages. They are simply out to ridicule others  and they can be very frustrating.

It's therefore, becomes ever more important to deal with because they will not go away. Jovago.com, Africa's No 1 hotel booking portal shares several tips on how to deal with them.

Ignore them  

This is perhaps the smartest way to deal with online troll; ignore them. If you ignore them, they will not have the opportunity of achieving their desires which is to make you feel bad. So, do not give them that satisfaction.

Expose or block them

Online trolls thrive on bullying others. You will think they have got nothing else doing but to close-mark other people like a defender does to a striker. You tweet or post pictures on Instagram, they respond with rude remarks. At this point, you do not need to ignore them, you can expose them to your followers. If you like, you can block them!

Fight back with facts

Online trolls are good at one thing, they rarely make mistakes. They can go to any length to embarrass you especially when you do not get your facts right. But if you do, they can only do as much.  

You may stop  show-off online

The trend online is for Nigerian celebrities to show off their latest cars, house, shoe closet, money and designer bag. You have a right to show off these things but there are people online that question why you are displaying your wealth online.  If you do not want pesky trolls on your  case, maybe you should stop the online extravagance.  For example, online trolls took popular blogger, Linda Ikeji to the cleaners for posting a look-alike Hermes bag. The online troll went as far to proof that the bag is counterfeit. Ikeji had to pull the picture on Instagram.

Employ humor

There have been circumstances whereby some people deleted their social media account because to excessive taunting by online trolls. The trolls will be happy kicking you off social media. However, if you take it lightly and respond with humor, the troll will may move on to others. But if you respond the same, you have opened the floodgate to trolling!

Ogunfowoke Adeniyi

Travel/Technology Writer

BENIN UNVEILED! Here’s 5 great markets to explore in this city

The vibrant and exotic atmosphere of the markets in Benin City can make shopping lots of fun. From the roadside stores to the shopping streets and popular market centers, the city has numerous perfect markets that can satisfy all shoppers’ desires, including modern pieces and cultural memorabilia. In fact, Benin City located in Edo State, Nigeria has the best markets in the south-south region, with a treasure trove of goods waiting to be discovered.

We at Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking portal, have summarized 5 markets which are the top 5 to explore while visiting Benin. Check them out on your next tour of the city!

Oba Market (Ekioba)

The Oba market is found in the heart of Benin City. Very popular and lively, Oba market has something for everyone and is frequently visited by travelers from neighboring states buying and selling all kinds of goods. The market is broken down into distinct sections: meat and frozen goods are mainly sold on the left-hand side of the road, while household goods, books, magazines, linen, and ironmongery occupy the right. You will find goods from almost everywhere in this market, and It is a great place to shop for things to take back home if you are visiting the city. You will, however, need all your bargaining skills to get a really decent price.

Ekeosa Market (Queen’s Market)

Predominantly a food market, Ekeosa Market is located along Sapkonba road, stretching all the way to the heart if the city. Featuring hundreds of stalls selling a mind-boggling variety of items, the market also offers other kinds of products as local soap, toiletries, cosmetics, and has a section devoted to traditional medicines.  The market can be fascinating and disorienting at the same time. Visitors are advised not to touch or damage stalls as they pass, and keep their bags and possessions close at hand. The place remains one of the most popular markets among expats and locals.

Uselu Market

Stretching almost three miles, Uselu market is located along Uselu Lagos Road , Benin City and is a well-known shopping area that offers a dizzying array of items. There are more than 600 shops offering anything a shopper could want. Mostly patronized by students at the University of Benin Ugbowo Campus, the area is particularly bright and fun in the evenings, making it a fun area to visit. It is also an ideal place for looking around and sampling the delicious local snacks.

Oliha market

Oliha market , located in the Siloku road area of Benin City gives a unique experienceas it  provides an interesting glimpse into the Benin culture. It is one of the oldest markets in Benin and is abuzz with shoppers, most swarming around in search of farm produce cultivated in the interior villages. Aside from the farm produce, Oliha Market also has sections for clothes, food items, drinks, locally made beads and fabrics; and just like Ekeosa Market, one of this market’s main attractions is the sale of objects for Benin traditional worship and rituals such as native chalks, red, white and black fabrics, alligator pepper, tortoise, Ostrich, feathers, animal skulls and bones. E.t.c

New Benin Market

New Benin Market is one of the largest, busiest and most popular markets in the city, and it is certainly a shopping enthusiast’s paradise. Located in the New Benin – Mission road and New Lagos road area, the commodities offered are various and comprehensively stocked. They are sold at really good prices such as food items, electronics, clothes and fabrics, traditional beads as well as a large bush meat section. The market may always be crowded, disorganized and ridden with traffic, but pay a visit to witness even the creme de la creme crowd of Benin in terms of fashion and fancy. It is important to remember that not all of the items are genuine and you have to haggle hard if you want to purchase something.

Ndem Nkem

Travel/Tech Writer Jovago Nigeria

Top 3 ways Nigerian bloggers can make money without Adsense

The first go-to for any Nigerian blogger when it comes to monetizing their blog is AdSense.  It is no surprise as AdSense is one of the best contextual online advertising networks for any blog as well as one of the safest blog monetization networks available to today, thanks to the quality of ads and recurring income it generates.

 

Adsense is however not for newbies. Basically, before you can earn tangible income through Adsense, your traffic must be in tens of thousands, nothing less, and new bloggers find this very frustrating, even discouraging. Luckily, there are other ways bloggers looking to make substantial income with their blogs can monetize their blogs without Adsense. And with that in mind, Jovago.com, Africa’ No.1 online hotel booking site offers top 3 ways Nigerian bloggers can make money without Adsense.

PAID ADVERTS

This is an easy and direct way to make money for your blog. You find a lot of Nigerian blogs already doing it, with LindaIkeji blog and BellaNaija blog at the forefront.  All you need to do it is sell space on your website for advertisers to display a banner. Deals are worked out so that an advertiser can display an ad for a fixed amount of time for an agreed fee with the blog manager. This can be a very lucrative method as it allows you to cut out the middleman and charge what you want for other people to advertise on your site.

AFFILIATE MARKETING

This method is slowly gaining recognition in the Nigerian online media market. Affiliate marketing is a huge money maker as it can earn any blogger a sizable income from their blog. It is also an easy process: You place ads or links of your chosen affiliate product/service on your blog, when a reader clicks on these links and makes a purchase, you get paid a commission from the product/service provider. It however requires researching and analyzing your niche to understand what your readers are looking to buy. You need to be smart in choosing the product or service you want to promote and you have to make sure you do not overdo the promotion and lose your readers. Jumia, Jovago, Dealdey, etc are some popular affiliate networks. You can also choose to directly join an affiliate program offered by websites like ClickBank, ShareASale, Skimlinks, AffiliateWindow, e.t.c

SELL YOUR OWN PRODUCT

Nigeria is a large society filled with enthusiastic consumers! Rather than just blog about something, why not sell the product, service or skill directly on your website? Perhaps you are a beautician and have whipped up a product that can help people track with skin issues or you are a good cook or chef who has a special spice mix that you use in your recipes,  you could sell these products on your blog for a small fee. Maybe you are a writer and you have short fiction stories or you are programmer and you design apps, you can upload your work or designs on the site and allow people to download them at a fee.  From designing the product, to pricing and marketing it, you are the boss of it all, so, the more effort you put in the more money you can make. With time, they can gain popularity and it becomes a full-time business for you, aside from your blog. The unique thing about this is that you have the world to sell your product to, compared to selling a product in an online shop with a small customer basis.

Ndem Nkem

Travel/Tech Writer
Jovago Nigeria

Afraid of heights? These are top 5 ways to handle turbulence on flights

Do you recall how you felt the last time your plane was hit by turbulence?  It is difficult not to get distressed and frightened by the sudden, erratic shaking of the aircraft.

While it is a huge concern for anyone who is nervous about flying in Nigeria, there are ways it can be managed to ensure it does not become a nerve-wrecking experience. Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking service offers top 5 ways to handle turbulence on local flights.

Breathe deeply as often as you can

Deep breaths can be very helpful while enduring an episode of turbulence. Rather than fret and worry, close your eyes, inhale and exhale deeply as frequently as you can. Also, you can carry a paper bag which you can use as an anti-hyperventilating device as well.It is very good as reducing anxiety.

Remain buckled to your seat

The most important thing to do when there is turbulence is to stay buckled to your seat. Refrain from walking around or moving from one corner to the other. No matter how afraid you are, sit still and ensure you only raise your hand if you need to signal an air hostess for anything. Sitting still rather than walking around helps you stay calm and reduced chances of injury or accidents in the case of severe turbulence.

Try the rubberband technique

This is not a common technique and might not work for everyone. The rubber band technique is such that you wear a rubberband around your wrist and snap the rubber band against your skin anytime you feel yourself becoming agitated such that the pain is a reality bite that takes your mind off any particular situation that makes your anxious or gives you a fright. Adopting this method helps with turbulence. It distracts you from it and cuts out chances of you being traumatized by the movements.

Listen to slow, calming music

The fear for turbulence has a way of kicking up fear inside of you, making it hard for you to be calm or focused on any flight. You find your mind consumed on the possibility of turbulence, how it could lead to crash and how it would mean the end of your life or worse, a maimed body. You mind wanders and perfectly normal flight noises seem like sounds that do not exist. Listening to peaceful and calming music help you manage yourself on the flight and even when an actual turbulence is going on. It occupies your mind and takes off a lot of stress that comes with turbulence.

Avoid caffeine products

Caffeine products, especially coffee may seem like the perfect drink for a long flight, but it can cause as an overly hyper state of mind will only exacerbate your anxiety when you have to deal with turbulence. Avoid taking any caffeine product before or while you are on the flight, instead, go for other liquids that will keep you hydrated. A glass of one can be very good for calming the nerves.

Ndem Nkem

Travel/Tech Writer Jovago Nigeria