Benefits to Become an Expert on SME Advice?
Work Anywhere, Anytime
Flexibility to mentor from the comfort of your office or home and maximise your productivity.
Mentor Around Your Schedule
Set up your calendar and mentor according to when you are available.
Manage Your Mentees
Our easy-to-use dashboard shows you a snapshot of your mentees, income and schedule.
Safety and Security
All payments are handled through our third-party payment gateway. Your data is housed securely by the POPI Act.
Mentor Entrepreneurs across South Africa
- A steady stream of Entrepreneurs to mentor
- Manage your calendar
- Interactive virtual sessions
- Convenient payment methods
- List your additional services
- Networking opportunities
How to Become an SME Advice Expert
Apply to be an Expert
Apply to be an Expert on SME Advice and submit your credentials.
Complete your Profile
Complete your profile by adding your intro video, area of expertise, skills and additional services offered.
Start Mentoring
Connect with Entrepreneurs and start your mentorship sessions.
Everything You Need to Know About SME Advice and More!
What information is required to create a complete profile?
To get the most out of our platform, be sure to complete all the required fields in your profile. This will help potential mentees find you and understand what you can offer. Here's a breakdown of what to include:
- Bio: Write a brief introduction about yourself and your expertise. Highlight your experience and what makes you unique.
- Skills: List your skills and areas of knowledge. Use relevant keywords that clients might search for.
- Username: Choose a professional username that's easy to remember and reflects your brand.
- Industry: Indicate the industry you specialize in.
- Designation: Specify your job title or designation (e.g., CEO, Director).
- LinkedIn Profile Link: Include a link to your LinkedIn profile to showcase your experience in more detail.
- Creating a Session: Describe the session you provide.
- Price: Clearly state your pricing structure (e.g., hourly rate).
- Availability: Indicate your available times for sessions. You can mention specific days and hours.
By filling out all this information, you'll create a strong profile that attracts clients and makes it easy for them to do business with you.
What happens if my session runs overtime?
While ending a session on time is important, it's also crucial to prioritize your client's needs. If an hour session runs long due to a productive conversation, consider these steps: By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth ending while respecting your client's time and maximizing the session's benefit.
How do I set my own rate/fee?
Simply log into your profile and complete all the requested fields. Go to Account Settings, from there you will see the Price tab. That is where you can set up your pricing.
Why can't I see my profile on the platform?
Once you're approved as an SME Advice expert, head to your profile to complete your information. This helps potential clients understand your expertise and offerings. Here's what to fill in:
- Bio: Write a brief introduction about yourself and your expertise. Highlight your experience and what makes you unique.
- Skills: List your skills and areas of knowledge. Use relevant keywords that clients might search for.
- Username: Choose a professional username that's easy to remember and reflects your brand.
- Industry: Indicate the industry you specialize in.
- Designation: Specify your job title or designation (e.g., CEO, Director).
- LinkedIn Profile Link: Include a link to your LinkedIn profile to showcase your experience in more detail.
- Creating a Session: Describe the session you provide.
- Price: Clearly state your pricing structure (e.g., hourly rate).
- Availability: Indicate your available times for sessions. You can mention specific days and hours.
If you require assistance, please contact support@smesouthafrica.co.za
How secure are calls and chats on the platform?
Yes, Security is a top priority for the SME Advice Platform. Here's what that means for you:
- Encrypted exchanges: All communication between you and the platform is encrypted. This means your data is scrambled during transfer, making it much harder for anyone to intercept it.
- POPI Act compliance: Your data is stored securely and handled according to the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act. This ensures your privacy is protected by law.
Is there a fee? What is the payment structure?
SME Advice takes a 20% service fee on all your appointment fees. This means we deduct that percentage from the total fees paid by the mentee before sending you the remaining amount. For example, if you charge a R1 000 session fee, you'll receive R200 after our service fee is deducted.
How can I get paid for my sessions on the platform?
Payments for your SME Advice sessions are handled securely through PayGate (Pty) Ltd, a trusted South African payment gateway. They accept major credit and debit cards (Mastercard/Visa) as well as EFTs from most South African banks. When will I receive my payment? Payments are made weekly once you've earned a minimum of R1,000 and completed all your booked sessions for that week.
Will clients be able to rate my sessions?
Yes. After each session, a message will be sent out to the client where they can review the session.
How do I find clients and schedule sessions?
The SME Advice Platform makes connecting with clients easy! Here's how it works:
How long does it take for my profile to become active?
Once you register, you'll be asked to submit some additional information to complete your profile. This includes things like your LinkedIn profile URL, any relevant accreditations you hold, and your work experience. Don't worry, this information is confidential and will only be used by our team to verify your expertise.
The verification process is usually quite quick. Once you've submitted everything, it typically takes less than 48 hours for our team to review your application and for you to finalize your profile on the SME Advice platform.
Is there a minimum requirement to be an Expert?
To qualify as a SME Advice Expert, it is mandatory to possess a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in the specific area or field of expertise. We value the expertise and knowledge that come with years of practical experience, as it enables experts to provide valuable guidance and support to aspiring entrepreneurs. When registering as an expert on SME Advice, you will be required to submit specific documents that validate your qualifications. These documents serve as a means to ensure the credibility and expertise of our experts. Please note that the submitted documents are strictly confidential and are not made public. We prioritize the privacy and security of our experts' personal and professional information. By maintaining these rigorous qualification standards, we aim to uphold the quality of mentorship provided on the SME Advice platform, enabling mentees to connect with experienced professionals who can offer valuable insights, guidance, and support on their entrepreneurial journey.
What information is required to complete my Expert profile?
We're always looking for talented individuals to join our network of SME Experts. Sharing your knowledge and experience can empower the next generation of entrepreneurs! Applying is easy! Just complete your profile and provide the following information to qualify: Don't worry, your privacy is important! We'll never share your personal information, such as your CV, publicly. Once complete, your profile will be automatically submitted for review by our team.
How does the vetting process work?
Our team reviews your career history to ensure it aligns with the category you'll be listed under. Once your credentials are verified, your profile will be approved. However, to become visible to users and start offering advice, you'll need to complete all your profile details. Make sure to finish your profile before your first session!
How do I become an Expert on SME Advice?
The SMEAdvice Platform offers a streamlined process to become a mentor and share your expertise with entrepreneurs. Here's a step-by-step guide: Onboarding Assistance The SME Advice Platform understands the importance of getting you comfortable with the platform. We offer an onboarding call to familiarize you with all the functionalities and features you'll need to conduct successful mentoring sessions.
Why should I join SME Advice?
Become an SME Expert and share your expertise with entrepreneurs and SME business owners. You'll gain the flexibility to work when it suits you, and you'll solidify your position as an industry thought leader by sharing your knowledge on our platform.
How can I find clients or attract my first client?
While SME Advice helps attract clients to the platform through marketing efforts, you can also take steps to boost your own visibility. Share your profile link on your social media accounts so that potential clients who follow you or see your posts can easily find you on SME Advice.
I am unavailble for a while, what can i do?
Instead of removing all your availability, you can set specific times when you're free. Here's how to adjust your availability:
- Go to your profile settings.
- Look for the calendar availability section.
- Block out specific times or days.
- Set your general availability hours.
Tip: If you completely remove your availability, people might not be able to schedule with you at all.
What happens if a mentee pays for a session but doesn't book it with me as their mentor?
If a mentee pays for a session but does not book it with you, unfortunately, you will not receive compensation for that unbooked session.
How are payments handled for sessions?
We value our Experts' time and expertise! Our compensation structure recognizes this by rewarding Experts for the paid sessions they conduct. This ensures that Experts are supported for their active engagement in guiding entrepreneurs.
Requirements to become an Expert
We are currently welcoming all professionals who can meet the criteria below:
- Location: South Africa
- Industry experience: 10+ years
- Seniority level: Mid-level specialists and above
- Approach: Inclusive and welcoming to those of all backgrounds and cultures
- Mentorship experience: No previous mentorship experience is required. But we do ask that you genuinely want to help another person grow professionally.
Can't find an answer?
Our friendly support team is ready to answer your questions and help you find solutions.