Field Partners Take Note: Kiva Lenders Will Tell You What "Sells."

[Guest]

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[Jill]

Look for,  Post, and then, Critique and Celebrate loans, or parts of loans, that you run across which elicit an almost reflexive response in you of
"Now, THAT’S  what I’m talking about!".


I think there might be value in our showcasing loans or particular aspects of loans that engage us—that is, to inform any Kiva staff member, Kiva Fellow, or interested Field Partner who may care to profit from Lender input as to what compels us to choose one loan over another.  If we can give them some specific, real-life examples of what hooks us, of what we want, for instance, this kind of picture, or those kinds of introductory lines, or that kind of loan description, or that part of a loan description, maybe there’s a slightly better chance that they will try to replicate or learn from them.  Never say die and all that, you know. 

If, as part of your posts, here, you would try to add a line or two explaining why this or that aspect of a particular loan presentation snagged you, I think that that could be very helpful.


Criteria On Which to Focus Might Include:

1)   The Picture—composition, attractiveness, clarity,  interesting information or the potential learning that might be garnered, merely from viewing the picture

2)   The Introductory Lines of the Loan Description – Often, the make-or-break determinant as to whether we click on “More” to go to the Entrepreneur’s Profile Page and even take the time to read the rest of his or her story.  Was some of the most engaging or interesting information, assuming there was any, placed at the beginning of the loan description?

3)   The Content of the Loan Description, itself.  Does it provide you with distinguishing, perhaps sympathetic or particularly interesting or individualized information about this Entrepreneur and/or their family, so that s/he stands out from the “mob?"  Does it give you any specific details that might facilitate your feeling or someone's feeling a connection with this individual?  Did you learn anything about the Entrepreneur’s culture or life-style that you wouldn’t have learned from reading numerous other similar loans on the website?

4)   Classification of Loan- Was it accurate?  The best one of all the choices for apprising potential lenders, at first glance, what kind of endeavor the loan was actually being sought to pay for?

5)   If a Home Improvement or Other Kind of Non-Business, Non-Money-Generating Loan, does it tell you from what source the Borrower intends to get the money to be able to pay back the loan?

6)    Etc.

[Cloudia]

In reading Jill's post, one of my loans instantly jumped to mind... and while it was fully raised several weeks ago, to find it was the most amazing pull at the heartstrings... and I'd love the chance to share it.

Patrick Ochieng, Kenya
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=42653

The description for this loan was just amazing.  After reading it, I felt like I knew the type of person Patrick was, his qualifications, who he helps, and exactly what the loan will be used for.  It was just a treasure to find this in time!

Cloudia

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Patrick Ochieng is a 36-year-old husband and father of three school-aged children. He lives in one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya, and runs the longest-standing community pharmacy in his area. He received his certificate for the pharmacy training after finishing secondary school in 1993 and has since been working from this location. Considering his 14 years of good work, the community knows him personally. Patrick has also trained as a community health worker and has been providing home-based care services for people living with HIV/AIDS for the past four years. He sells his drugs at affordable prices due to financial status of the community he serves. His highest selling products are painkillers, antimalarials, family planning drugs, allergy medications, those treating ulcers, worms, and skin infections, and various syrups for children treating malaria and upper respiratory infections. His vast knowledge and experience, positive attitude, and kindness have earned him a good reputation within his community. His well-established business has been quite successful due to his loyal and wide client base. Patrick requires an additional US $700 to further expand his community pharmacy, purchase drug stocks in bulk and also pay for rent.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.

[reb-mar]

Cloudia,
WELCOME TO KIVA FRIENDS!!!!!

 


Thank you for sharing Patrick's listing with us.

                            Rebecca 

[Patricia SF]

I too have the good fortune to be one of the loaners to Mr. Obhieng, and wanted to share a hyperlink to a previous loan made by him.

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=4148

Mr. Obhieng's incredible goodness and humanness shines through loud and clear in this listiing also.

Patricia from San Francisco 

[Canadian Here]

Claudia:
I agree that loan description is wonderful...
The quality of the GROUP LOAN DESCRIPTIONS seems to be losing ground, once again.  
I'm not really temped to loan when the description ONLY talks about the use ONE person has for the funds leaving us to guess about the intentions of the remainder of the group
Also, I am not inclined to fund when the term of the loan exceeds 12 months. Some of them run for 16, 18,  20 and even 22 months! Think how many short term loans that $25.00 COULD have funded, being recycled, over that same period and how many more families my $25.00 could assist. The reason for the loan would have to be pretty compelling to compete with those numbers, and frankly, I just haven't seen many loans on the boards that are so compelling that it would justify doing it.  
In summary, I'd really like to see better loan descriptions, especially for GROUP LOANS, and more loans with shorter terms.
Lorna

[wind5001]

This loan does not fulfill all criteria Jill mentionned, nonetheless I want to point it out and commend Tujijenge Tanzania for it:

Subgroup C of Group Sungura

It was a four month group loan. The write up does focus on the group leader, but it also names the other group member's types of businesses, which is sufficient for me.

In the 4 months, lenders received one update with a new photo:

"From the loan, Hironius was able to purchase more stock for his drinks shop. He used 500,000 Tanzanian Shillings (about $440.50) to buy 15 crates of various types of beer. His shop is currently serving around 20 customers a day. Hironius has the dream to expand his shop and make it, what he calls, “advanced.” His shop, as shown in the picture, is located just off of the main road and thus has proven to be a great location for business over the years. The downside of this good location is the higher tax he must pay (about $21.50 per month).    Also, Hironius is supportive of his wife’s chicken business. His wife, named Martha, is currently raising over 200 chicks."

At the end, which was yesterday, we received another journal update on the progress that the group leader has made with the Kiva loan. It is an exemplary final impact report in my eyes:

" Heronius paid the loan back successfully and his business is going on well. With the loan, he bought 50 crates of beers for about $150 and 40 empty crates of sodas for about $240 As a result; his profits have increased by about $134 a month! He is very excited about this increase and how it will benefit his home in the future. He and his group are thankful for the opportunity of taking this loan and for your support and encouragement."


I will for sure look for more loans by Tujijenge! 

[NevadaStars]

This group loan description is extremely detailed and it's still taking a long time to fund:
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=42014

[redstarr]

This group loan description is extremely detailed and it's still taking a long time to fund:
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=42014

Wow!  That is an EXCELLENT group loan description.  The best I've seen so far.

[Canadian Here]

Hi Margie:
I think this loan is taking a long time to fund because there are so many loans of the board at this time. Also, there are many similar loans from Samoa on the board (same  background in the photo, different group composition) which also have detailed descriptions. This isn't helping the situation, either.
I agree with Colette on this, there are just too many loans on the boards now to be practical. The number is almost unmanagable. Most loans fund to a low level on Day One, rather than a few (or more) being completely funded on the Day One, as was relatively common under the former system.
I hope this is helpful although I know it isn't what you wanted to hear...
Lorna

[NevadaStars]

Initially, I thought this one was "just another store" but the first couple of sentences caught my attention. (funded on March 19)
 

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=41328

Juana is a living example of a hard-working woman with the desire to better herself. Actually, in spite of her blindness, Juana has been able to become a great entrepreneur and currently she has one of the most well-established mini-markets in the Río Arriba community of Baní. Each day, thousands of people visit her mini market to purchase goods such as vegetables, milk, beer, rice, and the like. A brother of hers helps her to attend to the customers.

Juana is still single and lives with Mom. She explains that the business helps her support herself and her mother. “This business is my sustenance," she says.

With her loan, Juana plans to buy another freezer to keep beverages cold. She’ll also buy other supplies for her market. The entrepreneur says that she’d like to see her business grow to the point where she can buy a new locale, and "turn the mini-market into a Big Store with millions of products".