A rose by any other name...

Dear SKerians,
A man without heritage is like a child. Let me assure you, in changing to Wazua, we all feel what a woman feels when she has to take up her husband's name.


Why rebrand:
1. stockskenya name has become limiting
2. we're no longer only about stocks
3. we need to grow


The answer:
To name the forum SK was our first preference. Reason heritage, loyalty, affection

At any rate, anything else needed to be African, short and catchy, easy to remember, professional. Identity also needed to embody meaning of forum: sharing, connection, discovery, learning


Issues:
-sk.com site was required for proper branding and growth outside Kenya
-stockskenya.com did not have very positive image in professional market; often accused of being pedestrian
-so many appropriate names taken in the international domain space


Conclusion:
Wazua:- 'Serious talk about wealth'
-name pronounced the same in both English and Swahili
-deeper meaning in Swahili
-professional, memorable, wise

Motif:- a circle of Africans sitting around the fireplace, searching for knowledge in the sunset, to exchange ideas about wisdom and wealth. Traditional green of SK was incorporated into the identity.

Portal:- Availed on wazua.com and wazua.co.ke
Distinct sections created to allow unadulterated conversation about investments, groups, sme, market etc. which had turned off many of our earlier users. Club SK defined to allow us all to 'let our hair down' and express ourselves freely


Soft launch:
Early Christmas present for former SK users from Nov 30. Collect all input, incorporate and introduce second release before marketing launch to wider public.


Things you may not know about SK:
1. Position as at last week was 355 in Kenya from a high of 25 [high of 3rd local site in Kenya]
2. Other Discussions were contributing 65% of posts
3. Investments posts were read most frequently compared to average readership of Other Discussions
4. Average number of new topics weekly down from 148(2008) to 134(2009) and average number of users contribution weekly down from 1,487(2008 ytd) to 1,300(2009 ytd)
4. Corporates reluctant to advertise for larger part of the year due to outdated look and restrictive name

Still not convinced!!!
What position are you aiming with Wazua????

Stockskenya, you should not compare home.co.ke as that is probably the default homepage for accesskenya's web connections.

Stockskenya, I support you, but you need to make change gradual.

anyway hope skerians will reason out with you.. for me i am already a member but i don't want any EXITS!

@ members

pls lets give them a chance..

@ Sk/Wazua Team,

Mume toka mbali, carry on with the good work.

few of those sites, IF ANY, have the potential of wazua.co.ke

@Kamaa noted and adjusted accordingly.

Yes indeed StocksKenya does belong to the members - it's foolhardy to think otherwise. Our actions may have been clumsy but intentions good.

In those 10 months though, you've given us feedback for so long and certain members left in frustration. We were focussed on trying to redeem ourselves - maybe we tried too hard.

Nobody's perfect.

@stockskenya...aka waza..still not convinced.
when barclays was doing poorly because it was perceived to be elitist,they didnt change their name,they just made adjustments and were able to get back on track.
what you should have done is to make the site less elitist in whatever way.This is a serious site for serious people so dont compare with nation(no offence for free newspaper readers).
For any upcoming person financially, i have always directed them to read and visit stockskenya(am sure other wazans have done the same.
you shouldnt have felt compelled to compete with jokers on other sites,its the values here that are worth preserving.
A lot of people have benefitted here than in those pata uza and again,some live in karen,others kilimani,others kahawa sukari...etc.thats life...i cant move house because my friends think this or that about where i stay and who i associate with.
i rest my case in green.

@sk/wazua i feel you. I underwent the same problems awhile back in my business...i have learnt that recruiting a new client is waaay harder than maintaining the current one BUT when an old one quits you loose even more. Change is good bu keeping the green color for a start will definately cool many nerves

Put the livescroller on everypage too

@ Admin - I thought of posting "If it walks like a duck..." in response to your subject but then given that you have taken time to respond to members' concerns, I have thought twice.

Give us time to transition but please get rid of the pink and bring back the green!