What is dropshipping? Explained in detail
Dropshipping is a business model that allows entrepreneurs to start an online business and sell products to their customers without ever actually stocking the items themselves.
But dropshipping isn’t a new business model.
Huge companies like Amazon, Sears, and Zappos have all used this business model for a while in their early years.
And it isn’t just the big companies who use dropshipping to start an online business – an estimated 33% of the entire eCommerce industry uses dropshipping as their primary inventory management model.
Dropshipping is a model which has some very clear advantages, like not carrying an inventory, which allows entrepreneurs to concentrate more on important things like bringing in new customers and scaling their businesses.
Want to know exactly why dropshipping is adopted by such a large portion of businesses across the globe? In this article, we’ll do a deep dive into what dropshipping is, why AliExpress dropshipping is so popular, and why you should care about this business model if you’re interested in starting your own eCommerce store.
Ready? Let’s dive in.
At this point you might be asking yourself, how does dropshipping work?
Maybe you’ve heard the term before, or maybe it’s your first time hearing the concept – don’t worry, it’s simple to understand regardless.
Essentially, dropshipping is a business model that allows entrepreneurs to start an eCommerce store without every stocking inventory – dropshipping entrepreneurs will have suppliers who store their products in their warehouses until they make a sale.
Whenever dropshipping entrepreneurs make a sale they’ll need to contact their supplier, who will then ship their products directly to their customer’s doorstep.
Benefits of Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a business model which offers entrepreneurs a bunch of advantages, especially when they’re looking to start an online business.
- You control your margins – you aren’t bound to a suggested retail price (MSRP) and you can decide your retail prices on your own.
- You don’t need to be an established business entity before getting started with your store (although you will need one as you grow.)
- You have access to a catalog of millions of products that you can add to your store through Oberlo using AliExpress dropshipping.
What Is Dropshipping?: How to Start a Dropshipping Business
1.How to Start a Dropship Business: Can You Dropship Products Easily?
Yes, you can easily dropship thanks to tools like Oberlo. Oberlo is an essential tool if you’re looking to start an ecommerce store using the dropshipping business model.
2. Will My Customers Know If I’m Dropshipping
We can’t make any guarantees about this. If you’re using AliExpress dropshipping to run your business, we recommend reaching out to suppliers to let them know that you don’t want any promotional materials included in your packages. The best way to avoid any suspicions from your customers is to build a professional online store and provide a high-quality service for your customers.
3. Why Should Someone Buy From My Store Instead of the Supplier?
Because you’re better.
Call it better marketing execution, which reached the prospective customer first.
Call it branding, which drives people to buy from you.
Call it creating a store that people trust.
Call it the value you offer by providing extra services or content.
Call it technology that allows your customers to shop more easily.
Don’t get preoccupied asking questions like “why wouldn’t customers just buy from my supplier instead?” Think about it – when was the last time you purchased products directly from a supplier rather than a brand?
4. Shipping Takes Too Long With AliExpress Dropshipping, Will My Customers Wait?
Your task is to define your shipping policy and then display it on your store’s website to set clear customer expectations.
With the commonly favored ePacket delivery option, it typically takes only 7-14 days for a package to reach the US from China.
In addition, some suppliers keep their most popular products in US warehouses, which will mean your delivery will be even quicker.
5. What About Quality Risk and Copyright Infringements?
You’ve probably heard stories about the ridiculously bad quality of Chinese products. Sadly, some of these claims are true. As usual, though, there are two sides to every story.
In reality, you can easily run into a bad supplier no matter what their geographical location is.
In the end, you need to be cautious when it comes to choosing your dropshipping suppliers.
6. Do Dropshipping Suppliers Speak English?
When it comes to AliExpress dropshipping, lots of the suppliers who you’ll be interacting with will be Chinese, which means that their English isn’t always perfect. However, you can always contact the suppliers in advance to get a sense of their level of proficiency before doing business with them.
Larger suppliers are typically quite responsive as they’ll have sales teams managing your orders and can answer your questions via live chat or email.
7. Is AliExpress Dropshipping Favored by PayPal?
PayPal is one of the most well-known and widely used payment gateways, so it makes sense that many ecommerce entrepreneurs want to use it for their businesses.
From a customer’s perspective, PayPal is a great system as it tends to favor customers over merchants. If a customer has a payment dispute or wants a refund, for instance, it’s likely that PayPal will take the customer’s word and respond accordingly. All of this is meant to protect the many millions of people who use PayPal to make purchases every day.
In order to create a more stable and secure experience for customers, PayPal has set some precautions in place that can make using it as a payment gateway a bit of a hassle. For example, PayPal puts limitations on the money in your account in advance. These limitations are based on your business history, track record, ability to provide proof of delivery on time (via tracking numbers), your business’s physical location, and many other factors. Holds on your funds can sometimes last for months, which can end up being a problem when you’re trying to grow your business.
As dropshipping becomes increasingly more popular, PayPal is also adapting some of its policies to make it a friendlier environment for eCommerce entrepreneurs who dropship, and there certainly are merchants who have success with this option. That said, we still suggest exploring other payment gateways. Some of our top picks in this regard include Stripe, 2Checkout, and Shopify Payments. Shopify Payments in particular is a great choice if your store is hosted on Shopify because you can accept payments directly with this inbuilt system, which eliminates the complication of utilizing a third-party payment gateway. Note, however, that Shopify Payments isn’t available in every country.
8. How Can an Established Business Benefit From Dropshipping?
When it comes to dropshipping, learning by doing usually works best.
Dropshipping is the ideal model for first time entrepreneurs. It’s totally understandable that an established business wouldn’t change its order fulfillment model and adapt to dropshipping, but it’s still worth considering in these scenarios as well.
Why?
Simply, dropshipping is a great model that you can use to quickly test new product ideas regardless of the size of your business.
In addition, you can add a new product category within a few days and if it proves to be successful, you can stock the products in your warehouse as you usually do. This way, you reduce the risk of stocking the inventory before knowing what sells. It increases your business flexibility.
9. How Does AliExpress Work?
AliExpress is an ecommerce website which offers a huge catalogue of products. Consumers can use AliExpress to find products to purchase online for their personal use. Entrepreneurs can use AliExpress to find and source products for their ecommerce businesses. You can use oberlo to import products directly into your Shopify store with just a few clicks. Whenever you make a sale using AliExpress dropshipping, you can then purchase your products from the AliExpress supplier, who will then ship them to your customer.
Would like to get a prebuilt dropshipping store today? contact us and we get it for you.
Call/Whatsapp +256-705490849 | Email: info@palnode.com
Ten reasons to consider when choosing a website designer
When it comes to choosing a company to design a website for your business, there are several factors to consider. Here are a few key reasons to keep in mind:
- Experience: It’s important to choose a company with a track record of designing high-quality websites. Look for a company with experience in your industry and a portfolio of successful projects.
- Cost: The cost of website design can vary widely, so it’s important to get quotes from multiple companies and compare them. Don’t just choose the cheapest option, but make sure you get a good value for your money.
- Design style: Different website design companies have different design styles, so it’s important to choose one that aligns with your business and your brand. Look at the company’s portfolio and make sure their design aesthetic is a good fit for your business.
- User experience: The user experience (UX) of your website is critical to its success. Choose a company that places a strong emphasis on UX design and can create a website that is easy to use and navigate.
- Responsiveness: With the increasing use of mobile devices, it’s important to make sure your website is responsive, meaning it looks and functions well on all screen sizes. Choose a company that has experience with responsive design.
- SEO: Search engine optimization (SEO) is critical for the success of your website. Choose a company that understands SEO and can design a website that is optimized for search engines.
- Maintenance and support: After your website is launched, you’ll likely need ongoing maintenance and support. Choose a company that offers these services and is responsive to your needs.
By considering these factors, you can choose a website design company that will create a high-quality, user-friendly website that helps your business succeed.
How to optimize your website
There are many ways to optimize a website to improve its performance and user experience. Here are a few key steps you can take to optimize your website:
- Use a fast and reliable hosting provider: The speed and reliability of your website’s hosting provider can have a big impact on its performance. Make sure you choose a hosting provider that can deliver fast load times and uptime.
- Optimize your images: Large images can slow down your website, so it’s important to optimize them for the web. You can use tools like Photoshop or online services like TinyPNG to reduce the file size of your images without sacrificing quality.
- Minimize the use of third-party scripts: Third-party scripts, such as social media buttons or analytics tracking code, can slow down your website. Minimize the use of these scripts and consider using asynchronous versions to improve load times.
- Use a content delivery network (CDN): A CDN is a network of servers that delivers content to users based on their geographic location. Using a CDN can improve the speed and reliability of your website, especially if you have a global audience.
- Use caching: Caching stores static versions of your website’s content, such as images and HTML files, on the user’s device. This can improve the speed of your website, especially for repeat visitors.
- Use a mobile-friendly design: With the increasing use of mobile devices, it’s important to make sure your website is mobile-friendly. Use responsive design techniques and test your website on different devices to ensure it looks and functions well on all screen sizes.
These are just a few of the many ways you can optimize your website. By following these steps and continually monitoring and improving your website’s performance, you can ensure that it provides a fast and user-friendly experience for your visitors.
Six reasons why your business should have a website
A website is an essential tool for any business, large or small. Here are a few reasons why businesses need websites:
- A website gives your business credibility: In the digital age, having a website is a must for businesses of all sizes. Customers expect to be able to find information about your business online, and a website gives your business credibility and professionalism.
- A website allows you to reach a wider audience: A website allows you to reach a global audience, as opposed to just the people who happen to walk past your physical storefront. This can be especially important for small businesses that may not have a large local customer base.
- A website allows you to showcase your products and services: A website is an excellent platform for showcasing your products and services. You can use high-quality images and detailed product descriptions to give potential customers a sense of what you offer.
- A website allows you to communicate with customers: A website can be a valuable tool for communication with customers. You can use your website to post updates about your business, provide customer support, and even allow customers to make purchases online.
- A website allows you to track and analyze customer data: By using tools like Google Analytics, you can track how customers are interacting with your website. This data can be used to make informed business decisions, such as which products are most popular or where customers are coming from.
Overall, a website is a vital tool for businesses of all sizes. It allows you to reach a wider audience, showcase your products and services, communicate with customers, and track and analyze customer data. If you don’t already have a website for your business, it’s time to get one!
Get your website from us us today. follow https://palnode.com/quote and get started
Here’s How to Keep Your Information “Private” on Websites
Due to complex end-user license agreements, privacy appears to have become a myth in 2022, with applications and websites tracking everything from your surfing patterns to where you are headquartered. In other words, if you live a digital life, you run the risk of being watched.
Even if not every website may not be out to get you, there’s a good probability that you are divulging too much data to get a more “custom” experience. Here are some tips for keeping your internet activities confidential.
- Browser Tweaks
Have you unquestioningly allowed cookies on websites? So you could potentially be followed by ads. Clear the entire history of your browser to erase any existing cookies. After erasing any already-installed cookies, make sure to block third-party cookies going forward.
Using Chrome, follow these steps to do it: Click Settings, then select Privacy and Security, then Cookies and Other Site Data. Turn Whether your internet traffic is on or off, send a “Do not track” request.
2. Install and use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
There is no better option than utilizing a VPN to hide your IP address and encrypt your browsing data. There are several different free VPNs from which to pick. Even while connecting to the internet via a public network, a virtual private network, or VPN, keeps you secure. Using a VPN would stop any personal information from falling into the hands of outside organizations as ISPs can access your data and sell it to ads for personal gain.
3. Use tracking browsers
Have you ever encountered pop-ups with advertisements and arbitrary spam prompts? So employing a tracking blocker will stop websites from tracking your browsing and installing illegal cookies. For the majority of browsers, tracking blockers are accessible as plug-ins.
Having said that, be cautious about your browsing patterns, accidental permission grants, and the links you click on. Due to a thriving advertising industry in 2022, it is simple to get tracked, but taking the aforementioned actions should ideally reduce some of it.
Email Marketing in Uganda explained
In this article, we shall take a look at the world of email marketing in Uganda. Is it worth it? What are the benefits of email marketing? Keep reading to find out more.
What is Email Marketing in Uganda?
Email marketing is one of the most effective forms of digital marketing. It involves sending out emails to potential visitors with the intention of turning them into paying customers. It is a great way to keep in touch with one-time customers by routinely reminding them to check out your business.
Email Marketing in Uganda is used by Jumia Uganda. You might have seen periodic emails from Jumia informing you about sales and promotions. This prompts you to check out the products on Jumia and potentially buy something.
Additionally, Jumia Food also sends you promotions on your email. People eat every day, so there is a high chance of people ordering food based on the discounted prices.
Other shopping apps also use emails to send you receipts of your purchase.
Email Marketing in Uganda is also commonly used by banks. It is essential to get emails regarding your bank balances, whether weekly or monthly.
You might overlook the power of email marketing in Uganda, but the power of suggestion is always in action, whether you see it or not.
Why Choose Email Marketing in Uganda
What are the benefits of using email marketing? Let’s find out.
1. Email marketing improves sales
Placing a strategically worded Call to Action (CTA) in your email title can boost your sales. Most people won’t open an email if they read the title, and it doesn’t sound important or interesting. However, if you excite people with your emails, for example, by offering discounts and treasure hunts, you have the potential of improving sales.
Imagine a scenario where you attract a customer via email. They end up loving the way you do things. From there, they begin to order more products from your business. In fact, they don’t stop there – they inform their friends and family, and this grows your user-base rapidly.
2. Email marketing lets you communicate with your customers
While social media may be an excellent platform for informing customers of new changes in your business, some people may miss your post. When it comes to email, there is no way a user will ignore your message. Emails are very reliable in that they always reach the user.
One of the best ways to build your brand is to send out frequent emails. It is imperative to change your narrative from a voiceless brand to one that your audience can relate to. Your audience will feel closer to your brand with frequent communication.
3. Email marketing generates traffic to your website
Email marketing can bring users to your website. When they read your email and see something they like, they will click through to your website. From here, they may find other products that they are interested in.
Having a website is one of the most significant aspects of internet marketing. It offers valuable information to users. People like to search for your website so they can find out everything you offer. Your website should also have contact details so that your audience may reach you in case they need to communicate with you.
4. You can deliver more value to your audience
Emails are a great way to send your audience important information they might have missed from your website. Some businesses like to send links to their blog posts via email so that users can click through to get a better reading experience.
When people like a brand, they will be interested in reading blog posts from it. In some cases, it can be hard to monitor a blog for the latest posts. In such a scenario, it will be highly effective to send out emails to notify your audience about new blog posts.
5. Email marketing allows you to get feedback
Email marketing gives you personal access to your users. Being able to talk to your audience opens up a door to many possibilities. You can inform people about new products. You can contact them concerning promotions. Or, you can ask for feedback.
Request your audience to give you feedback by providing simple questionnaires, for example, Google Forms. You can explain to them how important the feedback is to you in terms of helping you improve your business. Many people will be happy to provide feedback.
Advantages of Email Marketing in Uganda
Now that you know how email marketing can benefit you, let’s check out the advantages of email marketing.
Email Marketing is inexpensive
Email marketing in Uganda can be entirely free for small businesses. When you manage to obtain email addresses from interested users, all you have to do is craft valuable content and send it out. However, if you are a larger organization that collects thousands of emails from users, you will have to pay for an email automation service which is relatively inexpensive.
Emails will always reach the intended user
Emails always end up in a user’s inbox. Unlike digital marketing strategies like social media that depend on whether or not a user is online, emails will always be delivered.
Email marketing offers stability to brands
Trends have shown us that social media apps have fallen in the past. Some stop being relevant, while others run out of funding. However, emails have proven over time that they are here to stay. The most popular emailing apps have been around for decades.
5 Ways to Grow Your Email List in Uganda
What is an email list?
An email list is a collection of emails from users who opt in to receive emails from a website.
Email marketing is all in the email addresses. You need to collect as many email addresses from potential customers as you can. This is the most challenging part of email marketing. Business owners fail to entice customers to give up their emails. But with these 5 tips, you will begin to see growth in your email list.
1. Craft good content
Even if you come up with all sorts of tactics to pull customers, they will inevitably leave if your content is subpar. Focus on making sure that you create high-quality content. Sending out low-quality emails might even cause your subscribers to opt out of receiving your emails.
Examples of good content ideas include:
- Blog posts
- Freebies
- Promotions
- Announcing new products
2. Make interesting Call To Action (CTA) buttons for your email list
Telling people to “Sign Up” for your emailing list is pretty boring. Find more interesting phrases that will entice people to sign up. Some phrases will incentivize an uninterested user to sign up just to see what you are offering. Remember to use power words like “Free” or “Exclusive” or “Now” and exclamation points.
Here are some excellent phrases to consider when inviting people to your email list:
- Get Instant Access!
- Sign Me Up!
- Count Me In!
- YES, I want free goodies!
- Get it Now
3. Offer free content
Nothing excites people more than free content. Be ready to create guides, worksheets, or e-books that you can offer for free to your audience. In exchange for the freebie, you will obtain their email address. Now, you can send them emails whenever you have new products that they would be interested in. Offering free content is the best way to grow your mailing list in Uganda.
4. Ask subscribers to share your emails
At the end of every email, write a short paragraph asking your current subscribers to share or forward the email with their friends, family, and coworkers. Be sure to add a small “Subscribe” button at the end of every email. This way, people who were forwarded the email can easily sign up to your email list if they like your content.
5. Optimize your email for mobile viewing
An email that can’t be read on mobile will cause people to not read your email, or worse, unsubscribe. Everyone has their email app set up on their phone. Chances are, they will check their email on the phone. However, if your email is too huge to fit on the user’s mobile screen, they will close it without reading. It’s better to craft emails that have smaller images that won’t overlap a mobile screen. Additionally, you can consider asking users to download a PDF attachment if you have many elements within the email.
Does Email Marketing Work in Uganda?
Is email marketing dead in Uganda? Many people have voiced concerns over whether or not it is essential to have an email list. While it may seem useless, having an email list is definitely worth it. It can bring you paying customers when other sources of traffic are failing. Additionally, platforms like social media are not stable – they may shut down or change their policies without notice. Email platforms are reliable and long-lasting.
How to Use Email Marketing in Uganda
Email marketing in Uganda involves subscribing to an email automation platform, creating and maintaining an email list, crafting emails, and emailing this content to your audience. If this seems like a lot of work, you can always opt for a digital marketing partner to take on the work for you.
How to Grow Your Business Online
Growing your business is a challenging endeavor, no matter the circumstances. However, after a considerable number of companies had to shut down in 2020, the thought of creating a business growth strategy might seem impossible.
2020 brought about a lot of firsts for a lot of us. The pandemic showed us just how versatile our businesses need to be. The upcoming 2021 is the best year to consider a few fool-proof methods of keeping your business running despite any unforeseen circumstances.
This is where online business presence comes in.
Why You Should Get Your Business Online
Putting your business online gives you many benefits, the biggest of which is the promise of more customers. There are also other critical positive outcomes in creating a business website. Let’s take a look below.
1. Your business will get credibility.
Let’s face it – the way the world is headed right now, every business needs a website. Owning a website gives your business credibility. People will likely trust your brand more if they see that you have a website. Your business will appear more professional and dedicated to serving its customers.
2. You will reach more customers.
When you own a brick-and-mortar store, there are limited advertising opportunities available to you. The most you can do is employ good branding for your business. On the other hand, putting your business online gives you a wider reach. You can even start getting customers from all over the world, regardless of where your business is located.
3. Receive online reviews
Most people leave reviews for restaurants online, but these days even small businesses receive ratings. What customers think about your business is vital because the internet is getting more and more user-oriented. Users trust other people to rate the quality of service that they receive from a company. As a business with an active website, you can reply to customers’ comments and provide better customer service.
4. Be better than your competition.
Most people will consider your business to be reliable and professional if it has a website. In the cutthroat world that we live in, any small advantage you have over your competitors can be all it takes to be the best.
5. Be in control of your brand.
When you create a website and social media accounts for your business, you control your brand. These days, companies all over the world are going online, and Ugandan firms are no different.
When you control your own online presence, you have a say in how people view your business. Take control of your business narrative by putting relevant details about your brand online.
If you are ready to take your business to the next level and have a solid disaster recovery plan, you need to get your business online. Let’s take a look at how to grow your business online in Uganda in 2021.
7 Ways to Grow Your Business Online in Uganda
1. Buy a website
The first step in growing your business’s online presence? Invest in a website.
A lot of businesses in Uganda are turning to websites to make their online presence stronger. Just think about it – how many times have you googled a restaurant, or checked the directions to a place? Now more than ever, Uganda is shifting to a more digitized way of living.
There are many web design companies in Uganda today that can create your business’s website for you.
2. Create a content marketing strategy
Content marketing is a type of online marketing that aims to bring attention to a brand without necessarily advertising products to buyers. This means that you create different kinds of content for users who might find your products attractive and useful to their lifestyle.
There are different tactics you can apply in your content marketing strategy. Let’s take a quick look at them below:
Write articles
When you type something into Google, you are looking for information. This information is almost always presented to you in the form of an article. Of course, these days, you can also find YouTube videos on the search page, but most of your answers are located on a webpage.
What does this mean? You need to write articles that will attract visitors to your page. Visitors to your page are your potential customers. A lot of people think that they can create a website and stop there. However, if you are looking to grow your business’s online presence, you need to start writing informational content.
Publish SEO optimized content
After writing your articles, it’s time to make sure that they actually reach people. Here is where SEO comes in. SEO, or Search Engine Optimization is a set of techniques that allow search engines like Google to present your articles on the first page of the Search Engine Result Page (SERP).
The first step in SEO is to ensure that you create quality content that answers user questions. Make sure your articles have proper grammar and punctuation. In addition to that, keep your website functioning correctly and responsive to different devices. This increases your chances of appearing in search pages.
Incorporate social media into your business
You are probably no stranger to the social media platforms that are popular in Uganda today. Apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are gold mines for content creation. Social media apps make sharing your content easy. People can share your articles and videos on their pages if they like your content. This, in turn, brings in more customers to your business.
Make YouTube videos
To bring in more customers to your business, consider creating YouTube videos. People love watching videos these days. In one day alone, over 5 billion videos are watched on YouTube!
Combine great visuals and appealing music to entice visitors to check out your business. Create informational content that people will share with their friends and family. This way, you can increase your audience reach.
3. Create contact forms
Now that you have your website up and running, it’s time to create contact forms. Adding contact forms to your website allows visitors to talk to you. These users are potential future customers. When a user clicks on a website and doesn’t find a way to contact you, they will likely click off and find another website with contact information.
4. Build your email list
An email list is a collection of user emails. To entice visitors to subscribe to your email list, create a compelling Call to Action (CTA) that promises to provide new and exciting updates from your business.
5. Use Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free tool that helps you to see the traffic statistics of your website. When you create a Google Analytics account, you can see the number of visitors to your site, how they found your site, and what they do after landing on your site.
You can also see what articles or pages on your site are getting the most attention. These statistics are essential for planning and improvement. You can then focus on what brings in the most results and do more of it.
6. Consider advertising
In the past, advertising might have been rare in Uganda, but today, advertising content is straightforward. There are so many Ugandan businesses that are advertising their products and services online. You might have seen “sponsored” posts on Instagram and Facebook. These are examples of the simple advertising that you can do today.
7. Interact with users.
To grow your business online in Uganda, interact with users to your site. Interacting can be as simple as replying to a customer’s comment with, “Thanks for leaving a comment”. These types of comments promote a sense of community among users. A user will choose your business over someone else’s just because you appeared friendly and helpful.
Over to You
Now that you have learned how to grow your business online, it’s time to buy your website and get started with your email list. Ugandans today are gearing more towards online methods for buying products and services. Take, for example, Jumia – there is a reason why it is so popular today. We are all going online.
10 Reasons Your Business Needs A Logo
When starting a business, having a logo may not be on the top of your list of agendas. But think of any brand that comes to mind, for example, Nike or Apple. What pops up first? Their logo. Logos are an undeniably important aspect of brand creation, and in this article, you’ll learn why you need one for your business.
Why your business needs a logo
Today, you will learn the seven reasons your small business needs a logo designed before launching it.
Let’s get started.
1.The first impression is everything for your business.
You want your potential customers wowed the first time they see your business. With an eye-catching logo designed for you, you can create a lasting first impression.
Then you can strengthen the impression in the future with a quality product or service delivery to the customers.
2. It’s a form of professionalism.
In this modern age, potential customers have raised the bar of expectations. Most of them are informed. So, having a professionally designed logo is a massive plus to your business.
Nobody wants to associate with a business that looks unprofessional from the first interaction. Everyone imagines that a legit company must have a professional logo to make them feel proud to associate with it.
3. Logos raise business expectations.
When you buy and wear Nike shoes, you expect a high quality and durable product. The brand has kept these expectations for every new product they launch.
Your small business logo sets the expectations you intend to deliver to your customers from the moment you launch. Having a logo that has your message clearly defined on what customers should expect from you is critical. The moment they start interacting with your brand, they know what to expect.
4. Get easily recognized
Human beings heavily rely on their sense of sight. A logo for your small business printed on clothes that your staff or other people wear can give your brand free recognition.
It’s common for big brands to have their company logos on printed material like fashion wear, banners, and even billboards. It’s a powerful form of advertising.
5. Create an emotional connection with customers
All the famous consumer brands like Apple, Nike have created emotional connections with their customers that still keep their products relevant. Their logos alone connect in a positive way to their customers.
Your business has only one chance to impress. If your logo is designed poorly, it will scare away potential customers since they cannot connect or relate to it.
6. Nurture brand loyalty
After your brand is recognized in the market, you need to foster loyal customers who will be your brand ambassadors through giveaways of products with your business logo.
These can be water bottles, pens, t-shirts, or even sponsoring a local event. Global brands like Visa does this by supporting football games. Nike does it by sponsoring individual athletes.
Also, it cultivates trust and credibility for your brand by showing interest in your community’s growth and progress.
7. Create consistency.
Brands evolve all the time, but their message doesn’t. It’s consistency. If you want your business to remain in your customers’ minds, your message must be consistent, and it can quickly be done with an eye-catching logo.
Besides, a well-designed logo gives your business identity regardless of its size and eliminates any identity confusion with competitors.
What makes a good logo?
Now, it’s easy to get a logo designed for your business at an affordable price from a company with expert illustrators. But, how do you know your logo has been made by a professional?
There are four characteristics your logo must have. These are;
Simplicity
A simple logo is easily spotted, and its message is quickly delivered. Your logo should communicate what your business does at a glance.
Memorability
Humans have a short memory. The logo designed for your business has to be memorable for your potential customers. They should connect with it, to remember it. The logo should leave a lasting impression.
Relevance
A logo with an exact meaning will be relevant. When requesting a logo design, provide the core principles that will govern your business for logo designers to bring out its relevance in the design.
Versatility
In this digital age, your business needs to have a digital presence. So, your logo has to be adaptable to different platforms because of sizing and re-sizing. This change in shape can blur your business’s identity through a logo when using online platforms if not well adjusted. You’ll want to ensure your logo looks good on a variety of media and digital platforms.
Other Considerations
When recommending a particular layout for your logo design, it helps to ask yourself a few questions because a poorly designed logo will turn off your prospective customers the moment they see it. These questions include;
Which primary color to use when designing?
The color you choose must be consistent with the branding you want to build for your business. A logo can have as many colors as Slack or Google but using one or two colors makes it simple and straightforward.
What shape should the logo take?
It can be circular, oval, rectangular, or star-shaped. The shape is essential when scaling up and down of your logo to fit other platforms. If you want your logo to have words written on it, the form you choose might be different from one without.
Should the logo have words written on it?
A logo can be written words only. But if you are thinking of a drawing or picture, should there be words written on the logo? You should consider these questions before submitting your instructions to a logo designer.
Over to you
For the above reasons, it’s clear that having a logo for your small business is essential. More so, it provides you with cheap branding because you only need to put it on a banner or printed material, and your core message is delivered to potential customers the moment they see it. If you need a compelling logo for your business, consider hiring a logo design agency to bring your ideas to life.
Top 30 Startups and Online Business Ideas to Try in Africa 2022
Starting a business has a variety of implications.
You own your time, get to do what you love for a living, and increase your earning capacity. Increasing your earning capacity is only a single benefit of starting a business, the growth of the company will also allow you to recruit other members, inadvertently providing income and sustenance to several other households.
Starting a business has positive implications for the community and society. The formation of startups and online businesses provides an alternative to job creation, decreasing the unemployment rate and increasing the quality of life within a society.
The current business ecosystem in today’s modern world is filled with willing and eager Angel investors and Venture capital firms determined to assist entrepreneurs in establishing a startup or online business.
Creating a startup or online business has never been this easy! The environment gradually entering a post-pandemic climate is a conducive one, ripe with endless possibilities.
If you are eager to start an online business or startup, we’ve got you covered! We’ll be exploring 30 Startup and Online Business ideas that you should try.
The businesses that we will focus on are not capital intensive, so they should be within reach and could be why you quit your job and retire early. Without further ado, here are 30 startup and online business ideas to try in 2022.
1. Cleaning Service
Starting a cleaning business is relatively straightforward and does not require much investment to get started. All you will need are cleaning apparatuses and a good work ethic.
The financial rewards of a cleaning business are incredible. The larger your business grows, the more personnel you would require, and it would also allow you to branch off into different avenues of cleaning services. Below are some cleaning businesses you can easily get into:
House Cleaning Services – The target market of this niche would be busy and single professionals. The starting equipment required would be simply necessary detergents and other equipment that should not be difficult to obtain; your main effort should go to expanding knowledge of your business through word of mouth, fliers, and other forms of marketing strategy to get your name out there.
Vehicle Cleaning – Another cost-efficient business with significant demand. Like home cleaning services, you can utilize direct marketing to advertise your services, and you can take things further by advertising to companies, which might land you your first big contract.
Carpet Cleaning – If you have access to carpet cleaning material, this might be something to consider. Some companies rent the equipment; outsourcing the equipment during the early days could provide you with an opportunity to save and buy your equipment, which will, in turn, increase your future profits by reducing your operating expenses.
2. Daycare
Do you have an affinity for children? Why not provide a service that gives overburdened parents a little relief.
Starting a daycare business can be fulfilling. The bonus aspect of this business is it requires very little investment to get it up and operational; you can even do it from the comfort of your own home.
Depending on your location, you might need a child care license, make that initial investment, and you could be nurturing tomorrow’s leaders while getting paid to do it.
3. Social Media Management Service
The rise and dominating influence of the digital age has created several opportunities that had previously not existed.
The arrival of social media platforms developed an entirely new industry that companies have identified as a necessity. Companies of all ranges and sizes are eager to strengthen their online presence. Providing social media management services by handling in-need companies and busy entrepreneurs’ social media accounts could help you build a future empire.
4. Virtual Assistant Service
Many small businesses, startups, and solopreneurs require a lot of assistance to keep their businesses going. Providing assistance such as composing and sending emails, responding to customer queries, client liaison services, among others, could be an avenue to explore.
Often these businesses are in dire need of an additional set of hands and are willing to pay appropriately. On top of the benefits of providing such assistance, you get to do all of this without being present; most of the required duties can often be done remotely. Platforms such as Upwork provide platforms for you to offer your virtual assistance.
5. Start a Podcast
Podcasts have become increasingly popular. Their rise to prominence has led to many people deciding to start a podcast as a business.
The primary demographic of podcast consumers is the younger generation, but it’s hard not to find your area of interest with the variety of podcasts available. When considering starting a podcast, stick to a micro-niche to make your podcast stand out. Sticking to your specifications might seem to constrict your business, but this will allow your podcast to grow organically and build a loyal group of enthusiasts.
6. Home Tutoring Services
Offering home tutoring services is a unique business idea and worth trying. There will always be a significant demand for tutors as long as children are still in school. Capitalizing on the comfort of virtual services created by the pandemic could put a little money in your pocket. You could teach anything from Math, English, Etc.
Additionally, you could start this business and offer your services without being physically present, which would minimize your running costs. Platforms like Turtorme allow interested tutors to find clients on the forum.
7. Video Editor
YouTube recently achieved the status of being the second largest search engine. This statistic indicates the rise of visual consumption preferred by consumers. Offering video editing services could see you harness an in-demand market that is certain to require your services.
8. Web Design Agency
If you like to design stuff and would be able to commit time to learn WordPress, you might want to consider starting a website design business. Unlike the old days where you needed intricate coding knowledge to build a website, the introduction of no-code solutions such as WordPress and Wix has changed all of this.
In addition to website development, you could offer automation testing services, which is a process that verifies if the software is functioning appropriately and meeting the requirements before it is released into production.
9. Writing Resumes and Cover Letters
The increasing competitiveness of the job market has created a demand for tailor-made resumes and cover letters. If you have a knack for personal branding writing cover letters, this might be the opportunity for you.
Use job searching platforms like LinkedIn to find clients. You can also provide pro-bono work to your network circle to allow them to refer you to their network contacts.
10. Sell Online courses
If you possess a particular skill that you can also teach, then selling the skillset online could gain you that extra income. Whether that skill is gardening, copywriting, or even video editing, you could begin to sell your knowledge in your area of expertise online.
What’s more, you don’t need extra filming equipment to get started; a smartphone should suffice until you decide to invest in increasing the quality.
11. Blogging
If you naturally like to write and enjoy writing platforms, then blogging could be a way to subsidize your income. Choose matters of your interest, whether tips for new moms, teaching financial literacy, etc. To grow your blog would require you to produce regular content, but when writing about your subject of interest, the task shouldn’t be difficult.
12. Errand-Running
This idea is beneficial for teens and young graduates. It has a minimal entry threshold and does not require much to start.
Grocery shopping, picking children from school, collecting clothes from the cleaners, to mention a few, could earn you a good income. Advertise your services online; you would be surprised at the demand for this service.
13. Laundry
Laundry services is a tried and tested method that is still an in-demand service. It is perfect for new entrepreneurs looking to venture into their first entrepreneurial endeavor. It also possesses the potential to become a lucrative business when run correctly.
14. Ice-Cream
Who doesn’t love ice cream? Your Geographic location and the current season of the year might affect your sales, apart from that, this idea should prove to be popular among consumers of all ages. Invest in an ice-cream vending machine and space to serve as an outlet, and you should be good to go.
15. Teaching English Online
The demand for online English tutors has been steadily increasing in recent years. If you speak English natively and have a good internet connection, then you could start a business from the comfort of your couch.
If you love travelling and exploring, teaching English Online could open a host of avenues for you to explore some of the best and most remote places on earth.
Platforms like Oakery allow you to connect with clients from all over the world.
16. Offer Translation Services
If you are bilingual or proficient in two or more languages, this type of service could make good use of a skill you may take for granted. Consider receiving certification to access more reputable clients.
Duties and responsibilities may range from translating material to localizing content to suit the target audience’s culture.
17. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is relatively straightforward. You find a physical or digital product online and help drive traffic to the site; when a sale is made as a result of your referral, you receive a commission on the item sold.
18. Become an Audiobook Narrator
Although becoming an Audiobook Narrator may sound simple, it is a bit more nuanced. You might be required to express the narrated story with accompanying emotions, so acting skills may often be necessary.
If you possess the necessary acting chops, then becoming an audiobook narrator could be a perfect fit for you, not to mention they often pay well for material converted.
19. Handmade Crafts
If you have always been crafty with your hands, capable of sewing a good sweater, mittens, shawls, or other similar material, then selling your Items might be something to consider. You could sell your items in places like Etsy. Many women who produce identical products have found great success on this platform.
20. Offer Technical Writing Services
The US Bureau of labor statistics released statistics illustrating the increased demand for technical writing, growing faster than 7% faster than the expected average.
The purpose of technical writing is to simplify industry-specific material and ideas easier to understand; this may require compiling user guides, technical products, and services or even handbooks, among others.
Consider receiving certifications and building a reputable portfolio to increase your earning potential.
21. Launch a YouTube Channel
The rise of content creators has made video content creation a lucrative business idea. YouTube receives over 30 million daily active users. You will have carte blanche as to what video content you wish to submit, anything from video tutorials, book or movie reviews, cooking lessons. The choice will be yours, be sure to stick to a subject matter you know particularly well.
Surpassing the YouTube metric of 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours will allow you to apply for the YouTube Partner Program, enabling you to monetize the channel.
22. Food Delivery Service
Opening a restaurant is expensive; a cheaper alternative is a Food Delivery Service.
How does it work?
You prepare a tasty meal, take orders online, and send it to your hungry and willing customers. This type of venture allows you to start small and gradually work your way up.
Confirm with your local municipality if you need a license, as some areas require this.
23. Aerial Photography
If you think you can fly a drone, or at least learn how to fly one, Then the aerial photography industry is worth deliberation. The demand for aerial photography in recent times has gone through the roof. The drones required for this service are pretty affordable; making a single investment with a view on the returns is a business idea in waiting. The demand for aerial photography ranges from music videos to real estate shoots, among other industries.
24. Sell Stock Images
Businesses often incorporate stock images into marketing campaigns to evoke the desired emotional effect. Stock images, which are licensed images for various uses, have seen a natural increase in demand in recent years. Investing in a good camera as starting equipment and specializing in a specific market niche will aid you in standing out.
25. Pet Grooming
Do you generally love animals? Then offering pet grooming services could help you achieve your passion while earning. Consider giving your clients house calls to provide them with further convenience to branch out further.
26. Write Guest Posts
If you love writing, but don’t want to go through the hassle of starting your own blog, then this is for you. You will earn by submitting articles to blogs. Often some platforms look for ghostwriters, with the content shared under someone else’s name. For instance, Sadja WebSolutions offers guest writing opportunities. Visit Sadja WebSolutions guest blog submission to learn more about this offering.
27. Amazon Kindle Publishing
This one is for lovers of literature and writing. Getting your book published and released on a public platform has never been this easy.
All you have to do is once you have written your book, upload it to Amazon Kindle publishing. They will have a look at it, and if it gets approved, it will be shared by the platform. Each time a copy is purchased, the platform will take its commission and send the rest to you.
28. Launch a Data Entry Service
Many corporate organizations are often looking to outsource data entry work that might include documenting sales reports and minutes from meetings, to mention a few.
If you have quick keyboard fingers, this opportunity might take you to the next level. Delivering excellent and timely work will only earn you a good reputation and referrals.
29. Work as an SEO Consultant
SEO has become a critical component of the online success of businesses.
SEO consultants advise businesses on how to optimize their websites to rank higher in search engines.
Consider focusing on a specific market segment or niche to stand out in a crowded marketplace.
30. Flip and Sell Thrift Goods
The business of buying and flipping thrift goods is a business idea that could suit just about anyone. All you would require for this is to look around for second-hand goods that possess resale value; this might require investing in some instances.
Conduct market research and obtain the market value of the items. You might need to invest in recycling some products to increase value. You resell the item at an increased price.
This type of business is scalable. Visit Flea Market Flipper for more inspiration with regards to this.
Conclusion
Deciding on a business idea and further achieving success can be a long journey.
Try the above 30 online and startup business ideas if you are stuck for ideas. If you already have a business going then We can guide you to achieve all your digital marketing needs if you need further assistance.
How to Use TikTok for Business
At face value, TikTok comes off as a social media platform for comedy excerpts and cool teenagers, but the business opportunities on TikTok are ripe for the taking. It’s a cash cow.
Currently, TikTok has over 1 billion active monthly users. A billion! It’s an app for exposure, which creates ample opportunities for any brand in Uganda to engage with audiences in an exciting new way. With the exciting launch of TikTok Shopping, the app’s commercialization only gets bigger.
Get in with the prominent brands that are already harnessing the future of TikTok through trends and all the hashtag challenges, try out TikTok live streams, or experiment with editing tools and the trending “sounds” to produce fun-filled short-form videos that represent your brand.
It’s important to note that this shift can be overwhelming even more if you’re new to the app. Take this as the handbook that answers your questions on how to get your brand’s TikTok Business Account rolling.
Here is how to use TikTok for business;
Step 1: Obtain a TikTok Business Account
Don’t worry if you’ve already had a personal TikTok account; switching to a Business Account: Scroll right to the fourth step.
Go to an app store, Download, and open TikTok. Create a new personal account. You can either use your email address or log in with your Google, Twitter, or Facebook accounts.
Tap ‘Me’ in the bottom right corner, go on and tap ‘Edit Profile. Here is where you can add a profile picture, bio, and links to your other social media accounts.
To switch to a Business Account, click the three dots you see in the upper right corner, then click Manage Account. On the Manage Account page of TikTok,
Click ‘Switch To Pro Account’ and select between Business or Creator. Tap the category that best suits your brand and click ‘Next.’ Be sure to add a website and email address.
Check the Video on How to Create a TikTok Account for Business
https://www.youtube.com/embed/HdRNRX_KaRU?controls=0&start=53;end=122;rel=0
Welcome to your TikTok business account
And we’re through! Cheers on your brand new TikTok Business Profile!
Step 2: Curate a winning TikTok strategy
Whether you’re great at Facebook or Instagram marketing, TikTok is a tough nut to crack that needs a proper game plan, and that game plan begins with collecting information.
Get to know TikTok
Get comfortable with TikTok: browse through those videos on the For You page, get familiar with the editing features, filters, and effects the app has to offer. Take time and revel in the countless variations of whatever the trending sound is. You ought to get to know the app inside and out before developing your winning game plan.
Study the TikTok algorithm you see, the app’s algorithm is constantly changing, but you need to start from somewhere. Research how TikTok videos get ranked and how they get distributed, and what all trending videos share in common.
Explore the key players
At this stage, the TikTok famous have used their fame into million-dollar sponsorships/ endorsements and even get cast for movie roles. These are the players that the TikTok world revolves around; however, your industry has its key players, and it would be imperative to keep your eye on them.
Learn your target audience
Right before you delve into making that first video, learn your audience. Although TikTok is very popular with almost every teenager and the renowned Gen Z, other demographics have grown fond of the app.
Check out the competition
Find out whether your closest competitor is already on TikTok. If they are, closely watch their videos and note down a few ideas to make even better content for your shared audiences.
It is important to note that the TikTok influencers or creators lie in the category of “competition,” leaving them out as sources of inspiration or information wouldn’t be wise.
Prepare goals and objectives
After you’ve gathered all this information, go ahead and prepare some goals and objectives. The TikTok strategy you develop should define what you intend to achieve on the app.
The business objectives are a great place to start: will TikTok help you accomplish them, and how? You could apply the SMART framework to see that your goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.
Draw out a content calendar
We understand how remarkable spontaneity and a spur-of-the-moment post are. Still, planning content days or even weeks in advance is ideally a good idea for every busy social media manager.
A content calendar limits you from missing important dates and gives you ample time for creative execution. Search for ways to utilize holidays or brand events or even develop themes or series that can align your creativity.
The idea is for your posts to go up while your TikTok audience is online and eager for new video content.
Step 3: Optimize your TikTok account
You only get a few lines and just a single opportunity to share a link, but your TikTok business account is practically your digital front, so do it straight away.
Be intentional about your profile photo
Ensure your profile photo has a great look and symbolizes your brand. Essentially, your profile photo should connect your TikTok profile visually to all your other digital sites. For example, the same logo or colours to clarify this is part of the same brand as your website and your Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Shorten and sweeten your bio
You have only 80 characters to work with; that bio ought to be on point and have a CTA included. Don’t be afraid to use an emoji, especially when appropriate for your brand voice: it speaks of your brand personality and saves on that word count.
Choose your URL wisely
Think it through. Should the URL redirect to your eCommerce site, a particular landing page, or any social accounts? Well, that all depends on your strategic goals and objectives.
Step 4: Create content that the audience will quickly watch
There’s no secret formula to making a successful TikTok video, but there are a few road signs to follow.
Ensure your video looks great
It may seem obvious, but the finer your sound and video quality, the more appealing content will be to watch. That doesn’t mean you need to invest in pricey equipment, but be conscious about filming in well-lit spaces where the audio will be clean. If clean audio is impossible, add a trending track to your video instead of the original sound.
Hashtags are your friend
Hashtags on TikTok will enable your content to get discovered easily via search and also assists the TikTok algorithm tell what kind of topics you’re creating content for.
How-to videos and tutorials are always popular
It doesn’t matter if it’s a workout video or a knitting demo; audiences need to have a little education on their feed. Flaunt your expertise or share some behind-the-scenes content to keep them glued.
Collaborate with other creators
Feel free to Try the Duets feature to engage with other videos, or pay an influencer for a partnership.
Step 5: Keep your audience engaged and gain a following
Off the bat, do not buy followers! It’s a terrible idea; discard it! Put that credit card away.
Undoubtedly, excellent content creation is the only way to get those valuable views and followers. Keeping those followers curious and engaged once they get on board with the brand, the same basic principles apply as to any other social media platform:
Carry out interactive live streams.
Get creative with polls and questions.
Reply to comments and questions.
Make witty comments and like videos on other TikTok accounts.
Master social listening to ensure you’re at par with trending topics in your TikTok community.
Step 6: Dive into analytics
Once you’ve fully explored TikTok for a while, it’s essential to look closely at how things are going. What are the metrics of your reach and engagement? Are those tutorial videos a success? Who exactly is watching and engaging with your content?
TikTok’s in-app analytics tool can share insightful metrics to help shape your next steps. The study of Analytics becomes a roadmap for your content strategy and eject guesswork in the approach: they show what’s working — and what is not. Take time and Learn more about TikTok analytics.
Step 7: Learn TikTok’s advertising options
Ads aren’t a fit for every brand’s social strategy, but if paying for reach is an approach you’re interested in taking, do your research on it and act accordingly to gain the reach your brand requires.
One key piece of insight is that close to half (43%) of TikTok users are between the ages of 18 and 24, with the women in this age category making up nearly a quarter of it (24.7%) of the app’s advertising audience. In short, if your brand’s niche audience is younger adults, specifically women, advertising on TikTok is a suitable fit.
There you go! TikTok business 101! Set up your account and begin maximizing all the ripe opportunities this crazy and yet profitable app offers. As you grow, you’ll likely perfect your strategy and be an example for other brands in Uganda on the platform.
