Before COVID-19, the Internet was already a competitive place for online sellers. Now that the pandemic has caused millions of job losses and pay cuts, many Filipinos exhibited their resiliency by finding other sources of income online.
As a result, there is an influx of new sellers joining the Filipino e-commerce market, turning up the competition by a tenfold. Thus, with so many people selling their goods and services online, how can you make your brand stand out?
1. Create a page or website
Having your own page or website is the best first step to becoming an online seller. While there are still many sellers who prefer to sell using their own profiles, creating a page for your brand can put you a step above the rest.
If you’re not sure how to create your own website, you can find a service that does web development outsourcing. Alternatively, if you are operating on social media platforms alone, you can look at tutorials on how to customize your brand’s page.
2. Invest in brand visuals
The visual aspects of an online store are crucial to how customers perceive your brand and how likely they are to remember it. Thus, before you launch your online business, pour your creative juices into your brand name, logo, header, and other graphics you need for your page. If you don’t have graphic design skills, hire a graphic designer to create the material for you.
While your products and services matter more than the “face” of your brand, having well-designed and memorable graphics is an excellent way to set yourself apart from the competition. After all, if they remember your name, the more likely they are to order from you again.
3. Don’t hop onto every trend
Nowadays, it seems that there’s a new hot commodity every day. Joining a few trends can be beneficial to your brand, but don’t rely on “trends of the month” to serve as the backbone of your business. They are, after all, just trends that will die out after a new one arrives. Hence, stick to products and services that have consistent demand.
4. Look at what others are selling
Who are your competitors, and what are they selling? How can you rise above the competition and be unique? If you are operating in a particular area, say, your town or city, you can find out your competition by scrolling through social media and looking at what others are posting. Then, ask yourself, how can you make your products or services stand out? What can you offer to customers that other stores can’t?
Here are some perks that can make your store more enticing than others:
- Free delivery to nearby areas
- Discounts and promos
- Freebies with certain purchases
- Free shipping
- Varied payment options
With e-commerce on the rise in the country, it is only natural that the competition will be higher than ever. Thus, if you want to set yourself apart from the others, use these strategies and create a brand that will stand out in the eyes of your customers.