How to Create a Digital Strategy That Works for Your Kenyan Business

In today’s fast-paced and digitally connected world, having a robust online presence is crucial for the success of any business. Whether you run a small startup or an established enterprise in Kenya, a well-crafted digital strategy can be the key to reaching a wider audience and achieving your business goals. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to create a digital strategy that works for your Kenyan business, leveraging essential keywords such as web design company Kenya, website design companies in Kenya, website developer near me, digital marketing in Kenya, website marketing services, web developer near me, and digital marketing agency Nairobi.

Understanding the Digital Landscape in Kenya

Kenya is a rapidly growing market in terms of internet penetration and digital adoption. With millions of Kenyan consumers online, it’s essential to tailor your digital strategy to this dynamic environment. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create a digital strategy that works:

Define Your Business Goals

Before you dive into the world of web design, development, and digital marketing, it’s essential to outline your business objectives. Ask yourself what you want to achieve through your online presence. Are you looking to increase sales, build brand awareness, or engage with your audience more effectively? Understanding your goals will shape your entire strategy.

Keyword Research

Now, let’s delve into those essential keywords. Start with thorough keyword research to identify what your potential customers are searching for. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you discover popular keywords related to your business, such as “web design company Kenya” and “website design companies in Kenya.” Incorporate these keywords naturally into your website content.

Web Design and Development

Your website is often the first point of contact between your business and potential customers. Partner with a reputable web design company in Kenya to ensure your site is visually appealing, user-friendly, and mobile-responsive. This will help you rank higher in search engine results and improve the user experience. Make sure your website also includes relevant information, services, and a clear call to action.

Digital Marketing Strategy

Now, it’s time to focus on digital marketing in Kenya. Collaborate with a digital marketing agency in Nairobi to develop a tailored strategy for your business. This strategy should encompass various aspects, including search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media marketing, and content marketing. Your goal is to attract, engage, and convert visitors into loyal customers.

Local SEO

To ensure your website is easily discoverable by those searching for “website developer near me” or “web developer near me,” invest in local SEO. Optimize your site for local search by creating a Google My Business profile, generating customer reviews, and including your location information on your website.

Website Marketing Services

Consider investing in website marketing services to enhance your online visibility. These services often include email marketing, online advertising, and social media management. A well-rounded approach will help you reach a broader audience and engage with your existing customers effectively.

Analyze and Adapt

Creating a digital strategy is an ongoing process. Regularly monitor your website’s performance using tools like Google Analytics. Analyze data on website traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. If certain strategies are not producing the desired results, be prepared to adapt and evolve your digital strategy.

In conclusion, a well-crafted digital strategy is essential for the success of your Kenyan business. To stand out in a competitive online landscape, partner with experts who can assist with web design, digital marketing, and website marketing services. By focusing on your business goals and continually analyzing your results, you can create a digital strategy that not only works but thrives in the Kenyan market. Embrace the digital age and watch your business grow.

How to do Meta Description Optimization in 2023

How to do Meta Description Optimization in 2023

Introduction: The Power of Meta Description Optimization in 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of SEO, staying ahead of the game is crucial. In 2023, one key aspect of on-page SEO that deserves your attention, especially if you’re involved in SEO in Kenya, is the often-underestimated meta description optimization.

Google has bestowed upon us the opportunity to enhance our website’s click-through rates and, in turn, its ranking through well-crafted meta descriptions. Contrary to common misconceptions, Google doesn’t penalize or directly influence your page’s ranking based on the text within the meta description.

However, its importance lies in its ability to entice users to click on your link when it appears in search results. This click-through rate (CTR) can indirectly impact your ranking. Whether you’re engaged in search engine marketing in Kenya or offering SEO services in Kenya, mastering meta description optimization is vital.

Best Practices in 2023 for Meta Description Optimization

1. Include a Meta Description

The first step is straightforward—always include a meta description for each page on your website. It’s your chance to provide a concise preview of what users can expect from your content.

2. Write at Least a 20-Word Summary

Keep your meta description informative and concise. Aim for at least 20 words to provide users with a clear understanding of your page’s content.

3. Use Short Sentences

Opt for short, punchy sentences that quickly convey the essence of your content. Long-winded descriptions can deter users.

4. Be Succinct

Be concise in your language. Every word counts. Avoid unnecessary fluff and filler content.

5. Avoid Keyword Stuffing

While incorporating relevant keywords is important, avoid overloading your meta description with keywords. Focus on natural language that compels users.

6. Summarize the Page

Your meta description should be a snapshot of your page’s main theme or purpose. Summarize what users will find when they click through.

7. Make Meta Tags Unique

Ensure that each page’s meta description is unique to its content. Avoid duplicating meta descriptions across your site.

8. Avoid Repetition

Just as you should avoid duplicating meta descriptions, steer clear of using the same content repeatedly across your website. Google prefers diversity.

9. Review and Optimize Your SERP Snippet

Periodically review and refine your meta descriptions based on performance and evolving content. Your snippet on the search engine results page (SERP) is your chance to entice users.

10. Programmatically Generate Meta Descriptions

For larger websites, consider using automated methods to generate meta descriptions. However, ensure that the generated content remains relevant and coherent.

11. Align Meta Description Text on the Page

If you want to maximize the SEO benefits, make sure that the text used in the meta description is also found somewhere on the page’s content. This reinforces the relevance and consistency of your content.

Conclusion: The Impact of Meta Description Optimization

Optimizing meta descriptions might seem like a minor aspect of SEO, but it can have a significant impact on your website’s performance in search results. In 2023, following these best practices will help you craft meta descriptions that not only improve your click-through rates but also indirectly enhance your ranking in Google.

Stay up to date with the latest SEO trends, adapt your strategies, and continue to refine your meta descriptions for a successful online presence. Mastering the art of meta description optimization can set you apart in the competitive world of SEO, especially in regions like Kenya where SEO and search engine marketing are booming.

In summary, meta descriptions are your virtual storefront, enticing users to explore the valuable content within your website. Embrace the power of well-crafted meta descriptions, and watch your online visibility soar in 2023.

Cracking the Code: Web Design Trends Dominating Kenya’s Digital Landscape

In today’s fast-paced digital world, web design trends are evolving at a lightning speed, and Kenya is no exception. As businesses strive to make a strong online presence, understanding the latest web design trends is essential. In this post, we delve into the top web design trends that are dominating Kenya’s digital landscape.

Unveiling the Web Design Trends Shaping Kenya’s Online Sphere

1. Mobile-First Approach

With the majority of Kenyan users accessing the internet through their mobile devices, a mobile-first approach is no longer just an option—it’s a necessity. Web designers are prioritizing responsive and mobile-friendly designs to ensure seamless user experiences across all screen sizes.

2. Vibrant Color Schemes

Kenya’s rich culture and diversity are being reflected in web designs through vibrant color palettes. Bold and eye-catching colors are being used to create visually appealing websites that capture users’ attention and convey a sense of energy.

3. Authentic African Elements

To establish a unique and relatable online identity, Kenyan businesses are incorporating authentic African elements into their web designs. This includes using indigenous patterns, motifs, and cultural symbols, giving their websites a distinctive and memorable look.

4. Minimalistic Layouts

Simplicity is key in modern web design. Clean and minimalistic layouts are gaining traction in Kenya, providing a clutter-free and intuitive user experience. Minimalistic designs load faster and allow the content to shine, enhancing engagement.

5. Interactive Storytelling

Kenyan websites are embracing interactive storytelling techniques to create a more immersive user journey. Engaging animations, scrolling effects, and interactive elements are being integrated to convey narratives and messages effectively.

FAQs

Q1: Why is a mobile-first approach crucial in web design?

A1: A mobile-first approach ensures that your website is optimized for mobile users, who make up a significant portion of online traffic. It enhances user experience and helps with search engine rankings.

Q2: How can I incorporate authentic African elements without overwhelming the design?

A2: Start with subtle elements like incorporating traditional patterns in backgrounds or using cultural symbols as icons. It’s about finding a balance that resonates with your brand.

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving landscape of web design, staying up-to-date with trends is paramount for success. Kenya’s digital sphere is witnessing a fusion of cultural authenticity and modern design elements. By embracing mobile-first approaches, vibrant color schemes, and interactive storytelling, businesses can crack the code to a captivating and engaging web presence in Kenya.

Are you ready to make your mark in Kenya’s digital landscape? The time to revolutionize your web design is now. Stay ahead of the curve, captivate your audience, and watch your online presence thrive.

LinkedIn provides insights on small business resurgent activity (Infographic)

LinkedIn shared insights on the current small business landscape which will be beneficial to those looking to market to this sector which looks set for even more growth over the next couple of years.

With the current global pandemic, small businesses have been hit hard with many being forced to close. But with the rollout of the vaccine, there is a level of recovery in 2021 with many small businesses emerging in niche interest areas where they are offering solutions to the current market challenges.
According to LinkedIn, the top priorities of small businesses are developing products, hiring and retaining employees as well as establishing category ownership.
“In the next 12 months, roughly one in five SMB leaders plan to purchase email marketing software, customer service software, project or task collaboration tools, or e-commerce software.
But what’s important to them when evaluating vendors? Salesforce’s report confirms its “ease-of-use, price, and trustworthiness.” They’re looking for technology that is agile, flexible, seamlessly integrates, delivers high value for its price and is reliable. And they’re turning to LinkedIn to inform those purchasing decisions.” LinkedIn noted.
According to data from LinkedIn,

• Small business owners have 2x more connections and share content 2.5x as often on the platform and are more likely to join and actively participate in industry groups.
• Since April 2020, Monthly small business engagement on the platform (defined by comments, clicks and shares) has grown by 24%.
• The Media & communications industry grew the most in the number of solopreneurs (Companies on LinkedIn that are owned and operated by 1 person).

There are more detailed insights in LinkedIn’s full report, which is summarized in the infographic below.

Six Reasons Why People Unsubscribe from your Email List

Email marketing is no doubt one of the most budget-friendly forms of marketing and the best way to reach consumers in Kenya and around the globe.

91% of consumers check their emails daily compared to 61% of users who access social media daily.

An opt-in email list is a great asset to growing your business which results in more sales, improved customer relationships and growth through recommendations.

In your email reports, you can tell the number of unsubscribes but not why they unsubscribed. Today we are going to look at why people unsubscribe from your email list and how to stop the exodus.

Too many emails

According to research, this is the top reason why people unsubscribe from mailing lists. If you’re sending emails every day and you are seeing high unsubscribers rate you might want to rethink your email marketing frequency.

If you have a newsletter you might consider sharing it once a month or at least twice a month but have a time gap between the two.

Your email subscribers don’t want to hear from you as frequently as you might think.

Irrelevant emails

If you signed up to learn about cars and instead receive emails on beauty you will most likely unsubscribe from that emailing list, right?

Relevant emails are personalized, useful and timely to your customer. Sending the right content to the right person and at the right time is the goal of your email marketing otherwise if you send irrelevant content people will just unsubscribe with the thought ‘This email isn’t for me’.

Take time and segment your email list subscribers according to behaviour, demographics and engagement because a generic one-size-fits-all messaging might not work out.

Emails not mobile optimized

Most people open their emails on their mobile phones and if your emails are not optimized for mobile it means that they won’t look great when opened.

Links may not work correctly, images might not display and the text could be small and unreadable. If your subscribers can’t read your emails they might not want to stick around.

Non-personalized emails

Studies show that personalized emails yield an increase in revenues and transaction rates. Why? When they receive content that is relevant to them they feel valued and are most likely to respond.

How to personalize your emails?

• Greet them by name
• Deliver exclusive offers and discounts for them
• Celebrate their birthdays
• Tailor the email to their gender
• Track their website usage and personalize emails according to their preferences and habits.

Your customer’s circumstances have changed.

This is where we say it’s really not you but them.

Their life progress and interest might change which will affect their mailing subscriptions too.

Why so? They might have changed jobs, moved abroad, gotten married, had kids or simply changed their minds.

On the other hand, it can be a very helpful move because your emailing list will no longer have subscribers who will ignore your emails or who you can no longer do business with.

Subscribed unknowingly

A person might open a legitimate email newsletter and then realizes he/she didn’t sign up for it and unsubscribe immediately. Ask readers to subscribe/opt-in to receive emails from you. You might consider having a double opt-in which will get you people who really want what you are sending. This means that your list will have engaged customers who will read your emails and make a purchase. Don’t be afraid of the double-opt-in, sometimes quality is better than quantity.

Most companies in Kenya are adopting email marketing in their marketing strategy because after all, businesses are looking for avenues to sell their products or services. Other forms of marketing can be a bit expensive but email marketing is not. Don’t be afraid to test all your email marketing strategies until you get ones that work.

These tips come in handy for both businesses that are starting or those that have already started email marketing in Kenya.

We offer FREE consultation on email marketing and on other areas of digital marketing. Feel free to give us a call.

Also Read:How to Attract, Nurture, Convert & Retain Customers- Email Marketing Funnel

5 Do it Yourself SEO Tips to Increase your Website Rankings

Search Engine Optimization services in Kenya can be very expensive, but what can you do to at least improve your rankings on search engines when you don’t have a budget for hiring SEO services in Kenya?

First things first. What is Search Engine Optimization?  SEO simply means the process or steps of improving your website so that it ranks on Google/search engines for relevant searches. Most companies and businesses in Kenya are now competing for the first spot on Google and other search engines. Why? Most people don’t go past the first page of Google, therefore, your business needs to be on the first page otherwise your competitors who are ranking on the first page will get the bigger share of the pie.

Among the things in a website’s content that are considered by search engines when evaluating the relevance of websites for keyword searches include the headers, page titles, formatted texts, links, URLs, and page content in websites.
As a starting point for your SEO strategy, use these five fundamental tips to improve your brand’s organic search ranking:

1. Identify your target keywords

Identifying your target keywords—that is, the primary words and phrases that embody your brand and its content—is one of the first steps in developing an SEO strategy that aligns with your business goals. You can determine which keywords are most relevant to your target audience by conducting keyword research with tools like Google Ads Keyword Planner, WordStream, or Wordtracker—insight that will help you expand the visibility and reach of your site’s content in search results. Finally, by guiding you to create valuable content that is specifically targeted to your audience, you are laying the groundwork for your content strategy.

In general, a good rule of thumb for your SEO strategy is to concentrate on optimizing the content of your site with 1-3 keywords. Though this may appear to be a small number, incorporating too many keywords can actually harm your SEO because search engines consider this keyword stuffing, which is the practice of stuffing a webpage with the same target terms in an attempt to gain a higher ranking.

2. Broaden your keyword targets and conduct related searches.

If you know where to look, Google will provide you with enough information. When you perform a search, it will display related searches at the bottom. See which ones you can incorporate into your content. You can also get a lot of ideas by using Google’s Suggest functionality (the list of ideas Google shows when you start typing in the search bar). These terms appear because Google has noticed them being used frequently.

Then there are tools like Ubersuggest, which allow you to enter your seed keyword and see the various variants based on real-world searches.

3. Perfect Your On-Page SEO

When it comes to improving your website’s SEO ranking, on-page optimization plays a crucial role. On-page SEO involves optimizing your website’s individual pages to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). One of the key elements of on-page SEO is using the latest keywords in your content.

Once you’ve determined your brand’s target keywords, the next step is to optimize your web pages by incorporating the keywords into each of the following key areas:

• Title tag –A title tag, which is the primary heading that appears in search results and in the title bar at the top of your web browser, is a straightforward but crucial component of on-page SEO.
• Meta description – Meta descriptions, which appear in search results, provide a brief summary of a webpage. As a result, if your meta description contains your target keywords, your website will be more likely to attract visitors.
• Body text – The body content of your webpage is the main text and the most important place to include keywords because it contains the majority of the information your visitors are looking for.
• URL structure – Though URLs play a minor role in SEO ranking, a well-optimized URL allows visitors and search engines to easily identify and understand the link destination.
• H1 tag – The H1 tag is the primary heading that users will see when they visit your website. Its purpose is to describe what the webpage is about, so it should include keywords related to the page’s content.
• Image ALT attribute – Another way to increase your SEO ranking is to add keywords to your image ALT attributes, which provide alternative text to describe your images in the event a user is unable to view them. These attributes are also shown as a tooltip when you hover over an image.

4. Develop a Killer Content Strategy for Your Business

In today’s digital age, content is king, and developing a killer content strategy is critical to the success of your Kenyan business. A content strategy outlines the approach you’ll take to create, publish and manage content for your website, social media channels, and other digital platforms.

After you’ve identified your content goals and core topics, you’ll need to develop your content strategy. However, keep in mind that different parts of the sales funnel necessitate different types of content, as your audiences’ needs will vary as they progress through the buyer’s journey.

A blog is an excellent way to populate your website with high-quality content that is relevant, valuable, and/or interesting to your visitors, allowing your brand to gain page authority and rank higher in search results. In fact, businesses with blogs generate 67% more leads per month than those without. This content can then be promoted through additional channels, such as social media, email, and digital advertising, to drive even more traffic back to your website.

5. Republish Your Previous Content

Republishing your existing content is an effective strategy to boost your website’s SEO ranking and drive more traffic to your site. Here are some tips on how to republish your existing content:

1. Identify High-Performing Content: The first step is to identify the content that has performed well in the past. Look for articles or blog posts that have generated a lot of traffic, engagement, or conversions. This will help you determine which pieces of content are worth republishing.
2. Update Your Content: Before republishing your content, make sure to update it with the latest information, statistics, and trends. You can also add new images, videos, or infographics to make your content more visually appealing and engaging.
3. Optimize for Keywords: Republishing your content also gives you an opportunity to optimize it for new keywords. Use keyword research tools to identify relevant and high-traffic keywords and incorporate them into your updated content.
4. Change the Publish Date: When republishing your content, change the publish date to make it look fresh and relevant. This will also signal to search engines that your content has been updated and should be re-crawled.
5. Share Your Content: Once you have republished your content, share it on your social media channels, email newsletter, and other marketing channels to drive more traffic to your site. You can also reach out to other websites or bloggers in your industry to see if they are interested in featuring your content.

Republishing your existing content is a cost-effective and efficient way to improve your website’s SEO ranking and attract more organic traffic to your site. By updating and optimizing your content and sharing it with your audience, you can extend the life of your content and maximize its impact.

How to Attract, Nurture, Convert & Retain Customers- Email Marketing Funnel

You can use email marketing to attract, convert new customers and retain your existing customers. Email marketing in Kenya is one of the most effective ways you can share your message, sell your services, and build a relationship with your customers.

Email marketing can prove to be a tool that can help you bring in more business. Most people usually access their emails several times during the day and them opening your email and giving you business takes a bit of time and strategy.

People receive hundreds of emails from different companies offering them the same products or services as you are and standing out from other companies can take you a step closer to converting them.

This is where an email marketing funnel comes in handy. An email marketing funnel can help you win customers at all stages of their buying journey from lead generation to customer retention.

Here are some tips that can help you improve your email marketing process.

Email marketing platform

You can’t succeed in email marketing without an email marketing platform/software that can help you make the whole process seamless. There are several most common platforms that can help you with email marketing such as MailChimp, SendinBlue, ActiveCampaign and Hubspot among others.

Some of the key features that you should consider checking out from the platforms are:

Automation: Select a platform that can allow you to automate the whole email marketing process because it will make work easier for you.

Templates: Email marketing needs a well-structured email for both your content, CTAs and images. An email marketing platform should have a variety of pre-made templates with a variety of flexible, visually attractive, mobile-friendly designs.

Tracking: You need to know how your email campaign performed in terms of open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and unsubscribe rates. Most of the platforms have a dashboard for this but it is important to check before you pay for a platform.

Mobile Responsive: Your emails need to be readable on a mobile device. Where mobile responsiveness used to be an afterthought adjusted after desktop, now most people are on mobile.

Create Email sign-up forms

You need an email database for your email marketing campaign. Email sign up forms will help you collect email addresses that can help you build a subscriber list.

How go get email addresses?

• Provide some value or incentives for people to sign up
• Create a free resource or gated content. This means that the content is exclusive for people who sign up
• Create a simple form with only a few necessary steps. If your questions are many people might leave before filling out the whole thing. You can opt to have the name, email and company field in your form.
• Avoid long and complicated processes. Make it as easy as possible.

Send an introduction/Welcome Email

As soon as someone subscribes, your first email should go out to them. That’s why you need to get an email platform that automates this process so that it makes work easier and sends out timely responses.

How to go about it?

Welcome your new subscribers and thank them for signing up. This could be the first email. Then the second email could be an introduction to your products or services. Space the time between the two emails but don’t wait for more than a day between the two emails.

Nurturing your leads

It is important to nature your leads with educational emails. Send at least 2-3 emails including follow-ups so as to create an interest in your products or services. Create informative content that highlights your Unique Selling Proposition that you can send to them. Also offer an incentive and direct them to your website either by providing links to your content or CTAs.

Convert your leads

Your subscribers who have responded to your previous emails are likely interested in what you are offering. You need to encourage them to make a purchase.

How so? You can provide an offer or discount to encourage conversions, you can as well generate ‘fear of missing out by making it an exclusive, limited stock promotion (no one wants to miss out), you can as well generate a sense of urgency by making the offer a limited time offer.

Add clear CTAs to your emails and highlight your offer as well. If you are in the e-commerce business, send abandoned cart emails to those who didn’t finish making a purchase, they could be potential customers.

Retain your customers

Just because your customers have purchased, it doesn’t end there. Loyal, repeat customers are more profitable in the long run. Retarget your existing customers with an offer or an exclusive discount just for them.

You need to come up with a clear strategy for your email marketing campaign in Kenya. Set specific time intervals between different emails.

Email marketing can be a valuable asset for your business. Most businesses in Kenya are using email marketing to get clients for their business. If you are not sure about whether the email market can provide value to your business or don’t know where to start, we offer FREE Consultation and will be happy to answer your questions. Call us Today.

Also Read:3 ways to improve your email open rates

Simple Steps To Grow Your Facebook Audience

As of the second quarter of 2020, Facebook had over 2.7 billion monthly active users making it the biggest social network worldwide.

Facebook boasts of having an audience of around 9.50 million users in Kenya. Meaning that you have the potential to reach so many people on the platform and boost your sales.

This is why building a Facebook following is important for connecting with potential customers.

Here are Five simple steps to help you increase your following on Facebook.

1. Cover basics

Basic things are often overlooked simply because sometimes we focus on the bigger things forgetting the basics that can help us achieve the bigger things. Don’t start posting yet, start by first providing all your business information, call to action button ” Learn more” and link your website, WhatsApp or other social media pages.

When you have covered all these basics you can now start posting great content.

2. Invite people to like your page

The easiest way to begin building an audience is to start inviting your colleagues, friends and email contacts to like your page.

On Facebook, when a friend likes a page, it often pops to the newsfeeds of their friends too meaning that more people will see your page increasing your brand visibility. Also, you can invite your Facebook personal profile account to like your page.

3. Collaborate with and tag influencers in your industry

Tag pages of influencers in the same field and ask them to do the same for you, which will help you get your page off the ground. Gaining page likes from influencers or bloggers will also have a positive impact on your brand credibility.

4. Produce quality content

Start sharing quality content on a regular basis once your fan base begins to grow. But also avoid being overly-promotional, remember nobody wants to be sold to every time. People follow you to gain something so make sure you give them exactly what they are looking for.

This will help you increase engagement and traffic.

5. Carry out Page Likes Campaigns (Paid Advertising)

Page Likes Campaigns is a form of paid advertising which can dramatically increase your page likes on Facebook.

Facebook has great potential in helping you increase your brand awareness as well as increasing your sales in Kenya.

Check our article on how to advertise on Facebook

Also Read: How to pay for Facebook Ads in Kenya

Tips to help you increase your e-commerce sales

So you have set up an amazing e-commerce website with a great design, products updated and are ready for the sales to come in.

But so far your results are nothing but short of underwhelming.

Getting your e-commerce store up and running is only the first step of launching a successful business online.  You need to know how to market your store so that you can start making sales.

Many businesses are taking their business online and you should definitely stay ahead of your competitors. These tips will help you define tactics that you can put into action and get you those sales.

Let look at the tips that can help you increase your e-commerce sales in Kenya.

Social Media

Having a business, you cannot sit in the corner and keep quiet. Social engagement is essential in today’s world. The more people talk about you the more they buy. Social media is the best way to drive new visitors to your store, convert them into paying customers and reengage them to buy more.

Open social media channels that suit your brand and start posting your products there. For most e-commerce stores Facebook, Instagram and Twitter work best. On Facebook and Instagram, you have the option of creating a shop where you can post your products by categories and people can easily browse through them and later go to your website to buy the products. Facebook and Instagram provide a wide-open window of sales opportunities mostly if your store’s visual branding is on point.

Brand Awareness

Be everywhere. The more people know and trust your brand the higher your sales will grow.

Brand awareness impacts trust which in turn impacts sales and repeat purchases. Be active on your social media, invest in paid ads that can reach more people, focus on quality content, consider partnering with influencers who have a following that can consume your products and partner with other businesses in your industry whose products compliments yours. Doing this will give you more audience, brand authority and affinity which will, in turn, give you more sales.

Paid Ads

Utilizing online advertising on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and google will give you more visibility to your potential customers. Paid ads are one of the best ways of generating sales quickly for your e-commerce store. Even if people will not click on your ad, they will start becoming familiar with you which is the first step of building brand awareness.

You might think that paid ads are expensive but you can always start small before you find your footing.

If done well, paid traffic can, in fact, be quite affordable and once you have a winning campaign on your hands, paid traffic can really take your business to the next level.

When you are starting, you can set aside a budget of ksh.5,000 which you can use to test different ads and then increase the budget of the most performing ads.

Email list

Building a tribe of loyal customers is very critical for your business. It means that you are targeting people who are already interested in your products and creating an opportunity of building a community.

In an era where competing is a norm, being able to directly contact customers to encourage repeat purchases is very important.

With an email list, you can update your customers when you have discounts, sales and new products which is a great way to upsell other products.

People opt into your email list because they like your products, so use it to engage and make sales.

Provide excellent customer Service

Your customer’s opinion matters a lot. Online reviews can make or break your business.  Most people look at products reviews before making a purchase and if they don’t find any review their probability of buying the product is minimal.

Respond to comments and messages on time on your social media as well as your online reviews. If people can actually talk to you they will realize they are speaking with a real human, rather than just a faceless business.

Reviews or testimonials show you’re open and honest. Showcasing both good and bad reviews shows your customers that you have nothing to hide. If you get a bad review you can use it to showcase your excellent customer service by resolving the issue in a professional manner.

Listen to your customer’s feedback and improve your products so that your product ratings and sales can improve. Great products with great service will build your brand in the long term.

Add Live chat

You can also add a Live Chat option to your e-commerce store. Automate the live chat to answer most of the questions people ask. Having an automated chatbot will decrease the number of chats you have to answer manually and increase the number of orders you get. In case of complaints send personalized email messages to your customers and reply to them immediately.

Live chat allows your customers to directly speak to you in case they have a question. Sometimes your customers might have a question that they need to be answered first before they make a purchase and making them go through many processes to get an answer might make them not buy from you.

There you have it. Make a big impact on your e-commerce business. Just remember that increasing the number of orders you get is a gradual process. You won’t see a change in a day or two. However, you will see a significant increase in your store’s order volume with time.

We offer digital marketing services in Kenya as well as developing e-commerce websites in Kenya. Give us a call for a free consultation.

Also Read: The ultimate E-commerce website checklist  

The ultimate E-commerce website checklist  

As more people go online, the e-commerce business in Kenya is growing with more people trusting online products mostly when offered an option of paying on delivery.

When you start an e-commerce site you realize that there are loads of items that need to be checked, cross-checked and tested to ensure that your customers have a nice experience.

Customer experience remains paramount with an e-commerce business, then, before launching, make sure your platform fully provide the customer with values.

If you are having your e-commerce website developed or if you are in the process of getting one, here are some of the things that an e-commerce website should have to help you grow your business in Kenya.

Make a good first impression

It takes about 50 milliseconds for a user to decide if they will stay on your website or not and you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Your website design is the first point of contact between your store and your customers.

You need to invest in a great and reliable web design with the right structure that is visually comfortable for your users. If your homepage interface and navigation are not appealing to your users they will definitely leave.

Ensure your website is responsive

Most people are on their mobile devices these days so it is crucial that you ensure that your e-commerce website is responsive on both a personal computer and on a smartphone/tablet. Responsive means that your website appearance changes depending on the screen size and orientation of the device being used to view it. Most web design companies in Kenya can develop a responsive website but be sure to ask.

A prominent search bar on every page

An e-commerce website will definitely have tons and tons of products therefore having a search bar on top of every page will enable users to find products in your catalogues easily. If you are able to provide alternatives search terms while your customer types, that’s even better.

Cart icon must be on every page

In most e-commerce websites you will find the cart icon on the top right corner of every page. If your customer adds an item to the basket, it shows how many items are in the basket. This is very convenient for your customers while navigating through different pages. Give customers an option of adding or removing items from the basket.

Clear checkout button

E-commerce checkout button is normally found next to the basket icon. Make it easy for people to check out after they are done shopping otherwise you will have so many abandoned carts.

Clear navigation menus

Navigation menus help your customers identify the different types of products that you sell on the website. If you sell electronics you can identify your products range by ‘mobile phones’  ‘tablets’ ‘accessories’ etc

Contact information

Most people in Kenya still have doubts and anxieties while buying products online. Therefore having contact information and mostly on every page can help reduce their anxiety as they are assured they can contact you.

Include a Live chat

Having a live chat on your website is very important. It means that people can ask questions if they experience any challenge while shopping in real-time and this can help you sell more.

Indicate stock availability

Indicate stock availability on the product listing page instead of having a customer click through to the product page and finding out the product is out of stock.

Make the ‘Add to basket’ or ‘Buy’ button prominent

Incorporate the 3-second rule whenever a customer visits a product page. Therefore make the ‘Add to basket’ or ‘Buy’ button visible on the website and if possible use bold and bright colours to make them stand out.

Add ‘wishlist’ button

The wishlist button should not be as prominent as the ‘buy’ button but it should be there to help a customer put aside items that they would like to buy later.

 Use products images and videos

Show a variety of clear images showing different angles of the products and if possible add a zoom-in feature for customers to get a closer look. Use videos as well to demonstrate how to use products.

Show estimated delivery time and cost

Give your customers an accurate or estimated time when they can expect to receive their items as well as the delivery costs. You can as well include a premium for the customers who would want same-day delivery.

Return policy

Don’t forget to include a return policy on your website, it gives customers confidence that in case of anything they can return the product.

Showcase customer reviews or testimonials

Customer testimonials are usually found at the bottom of the products page. Reviews give potential customers confidence and affirmation before buying a product. Using customer reviews on products can help you sell more.

Payment options

Add more than one payment option such as a credit card or debit, PayPal or Mpesa.

Order process

To ensure the order process is smooth for your customers, you can break the process into the cart interface, customer’s details and delivery address, payment information then the confirmation page. You can as well automate emails such that after their order is confirmed on the website they also get an email for the confirmation of their order.

We hope this checklist will help you optimize your e-commerce website for conversions. We also develop e-commerce websites that can help you generate sales. Give us a call today for a free consultation.