Blogs

Total 35 Blogs

How Facebook ads can help a business grow

Facebook has become an integral part of our daily lives, and it is now one of the most powerful social media platforms for businesses to reach out to potential customers. With over 2 billion active users worldwide, Facebook provides a vast audience to promote your business and increase your brand awareness. One of the best ways to do that is by using Facebook ads. In this article, we will discuss how Facebook ads can help a business grow.Targeted AdvertisingFacebook allows businesses to target their ads to specific groups of people based on their interests, demographics, location, behavior, and more. This targeting feature makes Facebook ads more effective than traditional advertising methods as it helps businesses reach the right audience. For example, if you are selling baby products, you can target your ads to women who are pregnant or have recently given birth.Cost-EffectiveFacebook ads are relatively inexpensive compared to other forms of advertising, such as TV, radio, or print ads. Businesses can set their budget and bid on the cost per click or cost per impression to control their spending. With Facebook ads, businesses can reach a broader audience with a smaller budget, making it a cost-effective way to promote their products or services.Increased Brand AwarenessFacebook ads are an effective way to increase brand awareness. By promoting your business on Facebook, you can reach a vast audience and increase the visibility of your brand. This can lead to more likes, shares, comments, and followers, which can help you build a loyal customer base.Increased Website TrafficFacebook ads can drive traffic to your website by linking your ad to your website or landing page. This can help you generate leads and increase sales. By using Facebook Pixel, you can track the behavior of users on your website, such as their purchases or the pages they visited, and use this information to optimize your ads for better performance.Measurable ResultsFacebook ads provide measurable results, allowing businesses to track their performance and adjust their ads to achieve their goals. Businesses can track metrics such as impressions, clicks, conversions, and ROI. By analyzing these metrics, businesses can optimize their ads for better performance and achieve their advertising goals.In conclusion, Facebook ads are a powerful tool for businesses to reach out to potential customers and increase their brand awareness. With its targeting options, cost-effectiveness, increased brand awareness, increased website traffic, and measurable results, Facebook ads can help businesses grow and achieve their advertising goals. If you are a business owner looking to expand your reach, consider using Facebook ads as part of your marketing strategy.

More details

Published - Wed, 05-Apr-2023

Created by - Skill Space

How Google My Business can help your business

As a business owner, it is essential to have a strong online presence. One tool that can help you achieve this is Google My Business. This free tool from Google can help your business reach more customers and improve its online visibility.Google My Business is a platform that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Google Search and Google Maps. It allows businesses to provide accurate and up-to-date information to potential customers, including business hours, contact information, photos, and reviews. Here are some ways Google My Business can help your business:Increased visibility on Google: With a Google My Business listing, your business is more likely to appear in local search results. This can increase your visibility to potential customers who are searching for businesses like yours.Better customer engagement: Google My Business allows customers to leave reviews and ratings, which can help build trust and credibility for your business. It also allows you to respond to customer reviews, providing an opportunity to engage with your customers and address any concerns they may have.Accurate information: With Google My Business, you can manage your business information, including hours of operation, address, and phone number. This ensures that potential customers have accurate and up-to-date information about your business.Improved SEO: By optimizing your Google My Business listing, you can improve your search engine optimization (SEO) and increase your chances of appearing in local search results. This can help drive more traffic to your website and improve your overall online visibility.Free advertising: Google My Business is a free tool, which means that you can reach more customers without spending any money on advertising.In conclusion, Google My Business is a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. It can help improve your online visibility, engage with customers, and drive more traffic to your website. By optimizing your listing and keeping it up-to-date, you can ensure that your business is easily discoverable by potential customers.

More details

Published - Wed, 05-Apr-2023

Created by - Skill Space

Takealot Seller Fees

Take our FREE Takealot seller course today here: https://skillspace.co.za/home/course/takealot-seller-course/51 Takealot is the biggest marketplace-selling platform in South Africa. You can register your business on Takealot and start selling, you can follow the steps from our Takealot Seller Course. There are a few fees associated with the Takealot Marketplace.Success feesThese are Takealot's referral fees and cover transactional costs, customer support and all round platform support.They are calculated as a % of the VAT inclusive selling price per item sold. This fee will be credited for returned items.The below table provides an indicative range of success fees per category. Please see the detailed breakdown hereSuccess Fee % on VAT inclusive product selling price excluding shipping *Product Categories12.0% – 15.0%Baby10.0% – 15.0%Beauty14.0% – 14.0%Books4.0% – 12.0%Cameras8.0% – 15.0%Camping & Outdoor10.0% – 18.0%Clothing & Footwear6.0% – 9.0%Computer Components5.0% – 9.0%Computers & Laptops10.0% – 12.0%DIY & Automotive10.0% – 14.0%Electronic Accessories5.5% – 15.0%Games12.0% – 14.0%Garden, Pool & Patio10.0% – 12.0%Health15.0% – 15.0%Homeware8.0% – 10.0%Large Appliances7.0% – 10.0%Liquor15.0% – 15.0%Luggage & Travel7.5%Mobile10.0% – 15.0%Music & DVD8.0% – 12.0%Musical Instruments8.0% – 8.0%Non-Perishable7.0% – 12.0%Office10.0% – 10.0%Office Furniture10.0% – 10.0%Pets10.0% – 12.0%Small Appliances5.0% – 14.0%Smart Home & Connected Living12.0% – 15.0%Sport10.0% – 14.0%Stationery12.0% – 12.0%Toys5.5% – 12.0%TV & AudioFulfilment feesFulfilment Fee per item shipped from a Takealot warehouse (Rands)*WeightSizeLightLess than or equal to 7kgHeavyGreater than 7kg and less than or equal to 25kgHeavy PlusGreater than 25kg and less than 40kgVery HeavyGreater than or equal to 40kg and less than or equal to 70kgStandardProduct Categories: Non-perishables, Household Cleaning & Liquor that are less than OR equal to 35 000 cm3R20R47R100R100StandardProduct Categories: Stationery, Pets, Baby Items, Beauty, Health FMCG & Bathroom Items that are less than OR equal to 35 000 cm3R30R47R100R100StandardProduct Categories: Mobile, Laptops, Small Household Appliances, Small kitchen Appliances, Smart Home & Appliances, TV, Audio, Video, Smart Audio Technology & Smart Energy Solutions that are less than OR equal to 35 000 cm3R55R55R100R100StandardAll other categories that are less than OR equal to 35 000 cm3R42R47R100R100LargeGreater than 35 000 cm3 and less than or equal to 130 000 cm3R55R60R100R110OversizeGreater than 130 000 cm3 and less than or equal to 200 000 cm3R100R120R150R110BulkyGreater than 200 000 cm3 and less than or equal to 545 000 cm3R100R135R150R160Extra BulkyGreater than 545 000 cm3R250R250R300R360Storage fees (May apply)Free storage on fast-moving lines! It's all up to you. Product with a stock cover of 35 days or less receive free storage at our distribution centres. Alternatively, opt to sell on leadtime and only deliver the number of products ordered to avoid being charged.Formula: Stock Cover = ( Total Stock / Sales unit in the last 30 days ) * 30Storage FeesEligible products are charged on the 1st day of the following month i.e. you will be charged for December's storage on 1 JanuaryStorage Fee per item/month (Rands)*Size of packaged product in cm30 - 35 stock days cover35+ stock days cover (Overstocked)Small0 – 60 000 cm3R0R4Standard60 001 – 130 000 cm3R0R12Large130 001 – 200 000 cm3R0R25Extra Large200 001 – 275 000 cm3R0R45Oversize275 001 – 545 000 cm3R0R150Bulky545 001 – 775 000 cm3R0R250Extra Bulky> 775 000 cm3R0R450* All fees are exclusive of VAT

More details

Published - Wed, 27-Sep-2023

Created by - Skill Space

Good items to sell online

Take our FREE Takealot seller course today here: skillspace.co.za/home/course/takealot-seller-course/51Takealot is a famous online selling platform exclusive to South Africa, made for South Africans. While selling on Takealot may seem complicated, it really is not. Skill Space has an excellent course on the topic if you are interested. However, if you already know how to do so, but are confused about what to sell on Takealot in South Africa, this article is for you. Here are some good item suggestions to sell online on Takealot in South Africa.Takealot - South Africa's Largest Online MarketplaceLet's familiarise ourselves with Takealot, especially if you are a South African but have never heard of them. Though that would be very very rare.So what is Takealot? Takealot is an online selling platform made for South Africa by South Africa. No matter the size of the business, Takealot allows you to post products for selling, however, restricted within certain guidelines. Furthermore, it also streamlines the delivery process with the Takealot DC system.Utilising Takealot services will incur fees, as with any other selling platform. Adjusting your prices according to the fees and your revenue projections is the way to go. If these prices and fees seem reasonable to you, or profitable for your business, then Takealot is certainly for you.What can I sell online on Takealot?There is no one jack-of-all-trades sort of answer to this question. When it comes to online shopping, there are certain trends that make certain items popular; which means that items would get sold rapidly. However, an item that is not currently trending may have fewer buyers in the market.There are certain items you may be able to sell without having to worry about these "trends". In this article, we will cover such categories only. Let's take a look.a. Laptops, Smartphones, TabletsWith our ever-growing digital world, the demand for Laptops, Smartphones, and Tablets will never cease to exist. In South Africa, almost everyone has at least one laptop or a smartphone. The versatility of these products makes them an everyday item. Thus, this makes them excellent products to be sold on Takealot in South Africa.Search volume for laptops and smartphones is amongst the highest in South Africa. Tablets may not perform as well, yet they are a popular search.b. Baby Products, Baby ClothingSearch demands for baby products or baby clothing are also at an all-time high in South Africa. These are essentials almost every family in South Africa with a baby is looking for. Hence, selling these products can generate sustainable revenue for your business.Baby Products such as baby toys, nutrition, powders, accessories, and other baby products. Baby clothing would include diapers, onesies, and so on. Make sure your products are of high quality and are okay for babies. As long as your products are good for babies, you should be able to make a fair deal of sales with baby products in South Africa on Takealot.c. ApparelShopping for clothes is a common phenomenon, regardless of trends. While trendy fashion styles do experience a higher volume of sales, apparel generally does generate sustainable revenue. Selling clothes of high-quality materials at discounted prices is one way to boost apparel sales in South Africa.More adventurous shops would consider importing fashion statements that may not be available in South Africa. These are always a hit or miss. However, when hit, they become a trend and thus this would boost your sales in South Africa on Takealot.d. Kitchen AppliancesWhile kitchen appliances are made to last long, they consistently generate revenue as people in South Africa would often look for a replacement. Compared to apparel or electronic devices, kitchen appliances generate less search volume and only by a specific demographic, such as married couples, elderly women, and so on.Selling high-quality, branded kitchen appliances is one way to generate consistent revenue. People have shown to trust popular brands. It is best to search for these popular brands before you start selling these appliances. If you can procure branded appliances, then you will be able to make a good sale. The key here is to build trust with your customers with these products.ConclusionSo, what can you sell on Takealot in South Africa? Literally anything, as long as it is within the guidelines of Takealot. However, some products perform better than others. And there you have it. These are the four product categories that perform well in terms of sales in South Africa.If you are looking to sell your products on Takealot in South Africa but don't know how to, Skill Space has an excellent course for you. Feel free to take a look or connect with us via the message tab on Skill Space for more information.

More details

Published - Fri, 29-Sep-2023

Created by - Skill Space

Dropshipping in South Africa | What can go wrong?

Take our FREE Takealot seller course today here: https://skillspace.co.za/home/course/takealot-seller-course/51Dropshipping is a business model where a seller sells a product without holding any inventory. The model has been holding popularity for a while in South Africa. However, most dropshippers 'drop their business' in South Africa after 6 months to a year. Why? In this article, let's understand dropshipping in South Africa and the precautions you should take to make your dropshipping business successful.What is Dropshipping in South Africa?In simple words, dropshipping in South Africa is a middleman business. As a dropshipper, you connect a warehouse directly to the demand in the market. This way, you eliminate the traditional upfront costs of starting a business.A dropshipper usually has an online website where they display the products and take orders. It is important to be transparent about prices as, even though you are sourcing a product from a warehouse or a supplier, you will still have to pay some extra charges, such as transport and handling fees, customs fees (if ordering from overseas), taxes, and so on. Therefore, even if sourcing a product directly from a warehouse should be cheaper than the retail price, these extra charges add up to the cost. This is one of the reasons why dropshippers actually earn less profit on their sales.So is dropshipping really profitable? It can be if you find the right customers and the right supplier for the products you want to sell.The Problems with Dropshipping in South AfricaIn most cases, the cons weigh more than the pros when it comes to dropshipping. Why? Because it is difficult to find the right niche for your ideas. Secondly, most entrepreneurs fail to understand that the profit they would make via dropshipping would really be insignificant in the beginning. Dropshipping is a great model, but most expect to get rich in a shorter amount of time. This is primarily why many dropshippers get demotivated to keep up with the business, or even begin to cut corners to earn more profit.Like any other business, regardless of its low upfront costs, Dropshipping business also requires dedication and passion to make it successful. Yes, you can do this business from within your comfort space, does not mean it is an easy business.The two main problems you face in dropshipping are logistics and customer service. As a dropshipper, you are not in control of how the product will be delivered. It is usually done by your supplier. Secondly, as you are not involved in the actual operation of dealing with the product, you cannot really guarantee the product quality by yourself. So in this case, you may take a longer time to resolve customer complaints, which really hampers your business as well.I understand the problems, what should I do?As a dropshipper, it is important to deliver good quality products and good customer service. These are the two pillars of making your dropshipping business successful in South Africa.The idea of your dropshipping business begins with understanding the niche, market demands, and competition. If the competition is too saturated, you need to rethink your plan. Otherwise, once you figure this out, your next move is to find the right supplier. In South Africa, we highly encourage you to find local suppliers to streamline logistics and shipping costs. One way you can do so is by finding best-selling products on Takealot. Finding international suppliers from platforms like AliExpress may incur additional costs like customs, currency differences, and taxes.Once you find the right supplier that is trustworthy to your standards, you may start dropshipping via your website. Remember, you are just a middleman, so you have no control over product manufacturing, quality, or delivery. This is exactly why finding the right supplier is the most crucial part of dropshipping.To sum upDropshipping in South Africa takes patience, determination and passion. To get your dropshipping business right, you should do the following.Find the right supplier, best if it is a South African supplier.No cutting corners on the customer service. Do your best to resolve your customers' doubts and grievances.Make sure your website is up-to-date and visually good.Dropshipping may look easy, but finding the right customers and suppliers is the key to making it successful. Are you interested in starting your own dropshipping business? It's completely legal in South Africa. Skill Space is currently working on a course to help aspiring dropshippers in South Africa. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, feel free to reach to us via the message tab and we can help you out.

More details

Published - Mon, 16-Oct-2023

Created by - Skill Space

Instagram Advertising in South Africa | Why should you do it?

Instagram advertising is a great way to reach and engage users in South Africa with visual content. As a platform that focuses on visual storytelling, Instagram provides a unique opportunity for businesses to be creative. Let's understand how to advertise your business on Instagram in South Africa in this article.Instagram: A Visual Storytelling PlatformInstagram, a social media platform owned by Meta Platforms or simply Meta, is a social media platform focusing on sharing photography, images, GIFs, and videos. As a visual social media platform, Instagram allows for unique opportunities, like product showcases, brand awareness, providing insights, and more. In South Africa, users are more prone to watch your videos or interact with your image posts than any other platform, such as Facebook.With Instagram advertising in South Africa, you can create a unique brand identity for your business, or efficiently showcase your products. If you are considering advertising on Instagram in South Africa but are still deciding about it, then let us convince you.Instagram Advertising in South AfricaHere are four reasons why you should advertise your business on Instagram in South Africa.Brand AwarenessAs a visual storytelling social media platform, Instagram is an excellent platform to improve your brand awareness. Whether organic or paid, if you push the right buttons, your presence can take off on Instagram within a night. When it comes to Instagram, #hashtags (hashtags) are popular. All you have to do is identify the right trend that matches well with your brand and capitalise on it.Efficiency with Ad CampaignsThe best thing about Instagram is that you can integrate your Facebook ad campaigns here seamlessly. Your Facebook ads can be optimised to show on Instagram and vice versa. What's more? You do not have to pay separately for each platform. You can simply manage your ads via Facebook/Instagram Ads Manager and you are good to go. To advertise on Instagram, however, you will have to convert your account to Professional status.Freedom of CreativityInstagram does not restrict you from creative freedom as long as it does not go against the community guidelines. You do not have to have technical knowledge to advertise on Instagram. All you have to do is come up with a solid idea that resonates well with your business ideas and then shape it into an attractive image with a catchy phrase. Of course, that is the most difficult part. However, you can use tools like Canva to design your posts.EngagementAs a visual storytelling platform, Instagram is famous for engaging with your audience, and your audience shows a keen interest in engaging with your business as well. Visual storytelling is more than just words and information, it is a captivating story about a specific part of your business. In this digital world where the attention span is less than 3 seconds on average, Instagram works wonders on storytelling, thus having a significantly higher chance of conversions.Bottom LineInstagram is a popular social media platform in South Africa, especially with a young audience between ages 18 and 24. If your business targets a young demographic and relies on growing with trends, then Instagram is an exceptionally perfect platform. In South Africa, following trends to grow your business is crucial.As an online learning platform, Skill Space is currently working on an Instagram marketing course in South Africa. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, we encourage you to reach out to us with your queries, and we will do our best to help you out.

More details

Published - Wed, 01-Nov-2023

Created by - Skill Space

Dropshipping in South Africa - Is it viable in 2024?

South Africa presents a good opportunity to start a dropshipping business in certain popular niches, such as electronics, apparel, and car accessories. In this article, we'll discuss whether dropshipping is viable in South Africa in 2024. Let us begin.What is a Dropshipping Business?A dropshipping business is an order fulfilment business model where the seller does not keep any inventory on hand. Instead, they utilise their connections with the suppliers to fulfil the orders. This is how it works.A dropshipper has an online e-commerce website where they sell the products. When a customer places an order through the website, the dropshipper forwards the order to their supplier. Then their supplier handles the order fulfilment process. The customer then receives their order. The product may include customised packaging or your branding on the product as well.How does Dropshipping work in South Africa?The most common dropshipping model is Chinese Suppliers processing the order you receive on your website in South Africa. Chinese giant e-commerce websites like AliExpress or CJDropshipping allow you to set up a dropshipping business easily.This includes your e-commerce website, either made with WooCommerce or Shopify, and plugins that allow you to import dropshipping products. The process is simple. Install the necessary dropshipping plugin on your website and import the products you wish to sell. You can also check supplier ratings and product ratings before you choose to import such products, allowing you control over choosing quality suppliers and products.You might have heard that these Chinese dropshipping models are obsolete in South Africa due to high shipping fees and long delivery times. But with solutions like Airpool, you can make the process significantly easier for you.Is Dropshipping still viable in South Africa in 2024?Dropshipping has certainly become a viable business model, especially in the post-pandemic recovery era. You can most certainly try your hand at running a dropshipping business in South Africa in 2024. While it is not for everyone, dropshipping can be your calling if you can identify trends and trendy demands in the market.Dropshipping is a business that mainly runs on trendy products. TikTok and other social media platforms are excellent sources for such research. For suppliers, you can use traditional Chinese sites from Alibaba or AliExpress. Or, you can consider using South African dropshipping suppliers like DropStore or Shopstar.Choosing a South African dropshipping store can significantly reduce order fulfilment times. Besides, Dropstore and Shopstar both have plans that may provide you with a web design as well. With them, you can start your business in mere hours at reasonable monthly costs.ConclusionSouth Africa has a favourable environment to start a dropshipping business. However, you must understand the niches and the trends that sell well in South Africa. The flexibility of a dropshipping business also allows you to change or offer new products as you move forward. Use this to your advantage to experiment with various niches to understand what would work for you.Skill Space is developing a full-fledged course on Dropshipping. It will be available soon, so stay tuned! Meanwhile, if you have any questions, feel free to drop a message to us and we will get back to you.

More details

Published - Tue, 02-Apr-2024

Created by - Skill Space

How to Sell your Products Online in South Africa?

Selling products online is a smart way to make revenue without investing in physical infrastructure for your shop. In the contemporary post-COVID economy, many more businesses are choosing to sell their products online in South Africa. And so can you, too! How? Let's see how you can sell products online in South Africa in this article.How to Sell Your Products Online in South Africa?What you will need is a brand and an online storefront that caters to a particular niche. Selling high-quality products means you get high customer satisfaction; which means you get more returning customers and new customers; which means you get more sales. And so the cycle repeats itself and your business grows. Sounds simple on the paper.However, an e-commerce business can entail a few hurdles. What to sell? What kind of customers to target? Will my business grow? These doubts are common, thus making a game plan before you start a business is important. Do not cast these doubts aside as they can help you brainstorm and come up with a business plan that may just work for you.Let's have a crack at how you can start your online shop.Making an Online BrandWhen you start a business, you need to give it an identity. That's your brand. When a potential customer visits your business, your brand makes the first impression on them.This is the first hurdle in starting your online store. It makes deciding on your business's overall nature and outlook crucial. A brand name, when done right, can tell your business's story and what it stands for. Over time, your customers also learn to associate your brand name with certain products and their quality.So, how can you make your brand better?Brainstorm the ideas about your business. Include the common doubts mentioned above and develop a strategy accordingly. Once you have an idea about your business, coming up with a brand name may become relatively easier for you.Keep it simple. Aim for positive connotations with your brand name. Use wordplay if applicable but don't try too hard.Choose a name that would suit your logos, any catchphrases, and the domain name.Website DesignOnce you are set on your brand design, your next step would be to get a website for your business. If you have finalised your brand design, designing your website per your brand's identity and palette should not be a nuisance.A proper web design may take hours to days to complete. You or your web designer has to ensure all the functionalities are in place and working as intended. Also, the payment gateways have to be functional and secure. There are plenty of factors that play an important part in visitor retention and the conversion funnel:website loading speed,easy-to-navigate website,SSL-secured website,simple and faster checkout services, and last but not leasta customer service page with appropriate contact details or live chat.E-Commerce Website vs Online MarketplacesThere are two ways to sell online. Either you sell on an e-commerce platform like Takealot in South Africa, or you make your website to sell your products.While selling on an e-commerce platform has its benefits, you will also have to face their fees and follow certain standards to list your shop and products. On the other hand, getting a website means you do not compete with other sellers on an e-commerce platform nor do you abide by any fees. However, you will have to pay for website maintenance, website promotion costs, and other miscellaneous costs.In South Africa, Takealot is the #1 marketplace platform to sell your products online. For a limited time, our Takealot Seller Course is available for absolutely FREE so make sure to take a look at it.Online MarketingYou have launched your e-commerce website. Now all you have to do is wait for customers and watch your business soar high in the sky. But wait, the customers are not coming to my business. Why?That's because nobody knows about your business.This is why marketing your business is important. If you wait for the SEO to do all the magic alone, you might just get your first customer within 6 months. But, with advertising, you can attract a bunch of audience directly to your business, thus kickstarting the wheels in motion.For advertising, you can use strategies like email marketing (newsletters), SERP visibility marketing (making your business appear on search engines), and social media marketing (advertising on Facebook, Instagram, and other social platforms). Despite paid advertising, make sure you get the SEO right for your business. Because that is going to be your long-term strategy to perform well on a search engine and attract a crowd.Shipping and Order FulfilmentUnless you are selling a product on an online marketplace like Takealot, you have to manage your shipping policies on your own. This means you will have to find your own Order Fulfilment service in South Africa, like DSV or Collivery.The shipping costs should depend on how much your courier service charges. You may also offer free shipping on certain products, but remember that you'll be eating the costs from your profit. How you wish to handle the shipping charges is completely up to you.Final WordsIt is a challenge to sell products online in South Africa via your online business. There will be so many doubts, so many unanswered questions in the beginning. However, finding the answers that work for you is the key to coming up with a successful business idea.Going for your own online storefront could or could not be for you. Instead, if you decide to go for an online marketplace to sell your products in South Africa, Takealot is a popular option. Skill Space has a great Takealot Seller Course that entails A to Z information to become a Takealot Seller with minimal efforts in South Africa. For a limited time, the course is free, so make sure to have a go at it.Takealot Seller Course - How to sell on Takealot | Skill SpaceIf you have any questions regarding Takealot or our other course, feel free to contact us.

More details

Published - Mon, 13-May-2024

Created by - Skill Space

How to set up a Google Business Profile in South Africa?

Have you ever searched for a business online? Then you may come across the business information directly as if it was written and recorded by Google. Well, it is recorded but not by Google. Instead, business owner(s) list their businesses on Google Business Profile. Small and medium businesses in South Africa have shown promising growth after they listed their business on Google Business Profile. So, how do you set up a Google Business Profile in South Africa? Let's find out.What is a Google Business Profile?A Google Business Profile is technically a listing of your business in the Google database. The database may include your open hours, contacts, location on the map, website details, photos, and more. You can also post photos and updates about your business, and interact with your customers. It is your social profile that gives your business a unique identity.A Google Business Profile may look like this.Google Business Profile was previously called 'Google My Business', which you might be more familiar with.It is no secret that Google is the largest search engine in the world. Listing your business on Google means your potential customers can find and understand your business more easily. Contacting and reviewing your business becomes easier. As your business gains more positive reviews, more customers will be attracted towards your business. And the cycle will repeat, and your business will grow.And the best news? It is completely FREE!So, how do you set up a Google Business Profile in South Africa?Let's Set up a Google Business Profile in South AfricaA verified Google Business Profile helps you attract, convert, and interact with your customers. Let's see how you can set up a Google Business Profile with ease.Sign into your Google AccountIf you have been an internet user for more than 6 months, chances are you already have a Google account. To set up your Google Business Profile, you will have to sign into your Google account.If you do not have a Google account, the process is simple. Simply log into Gmail and create your Google account there. If you are creating a new account, Google recommends you to sign up with a business email domain, if you have any. Here's the Google guide on how to set up your Gmail business email. However, it is not a necessary step. You can simply do fine with a free personal Gmail account.Once you have signed into your Google account, head over to Create a Profile in the Google Business section.Providing the Basic Details of Your BusinessNow, it is time to fill in some basic information to give your business an identity on Google Business Profile.Now, if yours is a locally popular business, Google might already have listed your business in their database. This happens due to the search volume your business may get or locals listing your business on Google Maps, although unofficially. Now, to check whether Google has listed your business, simply type your business name in the text box. If you see your name in the auto-suggested list, select it.If it's not there, no worries. Just type your business name and click next.On the next page, you will have to choose your business type amongst the three types listed below.Online Store, if your business is completely online and has no physical location. In this case, Google will not pinpoint your business on the map.Local Store, such as restaurants or libraries. A Local Store type of business will have a Google Map location in the red 'Pin' format.Service Business which provides services like pest control, appliance repair services and so on. Service businesses will have a pin and an area of operation highlighted in a radius on Google Maps.Once you have done selecting, click 'Next'.Depending on the business type, you will have to provide contact details and physical details accordingly. Once you have input all the necessary details, you will come to the verification step. There are many verification methods for verifying your Google Business Profile in South Africa. You can take a look at the full list on this Google Support Page.Verifying your Google Business ProfileAs seen previously, anyone can claim a business on Google. This is what makes your business appear in Google search results if you have not officially registered your business with Google Business Profile. To protect your business identity, it is necessary to get verified on Google Business Profile in South Africa.And now, we are at the verification stage. There are several verification methods.The Google Verification Code methodIn this method, you will have to provide Google with your phone number and then click next. On the next screen, you can choose to verify your number either via call or text. You can select either to receive a code from Google. You can input this code on the next screen to verify your number, thus proving that the number belongs to your business.Video VerificationGoogle has been increasingly using this method to combat spam in the Google Business Profile section. In this method, you will have to provide a recording of your business in one go. An unedited, raw footage of your business is what Google needs in this method. Make sure you shoot your business' location, equipment, and proof of management to pass the verification check.Google just uses the video to verify your business listing. The video is never shared publicly.Postcard by EmailIn this process, Google sends you a physical postcard to your business address with a verification code on it. You can use this code to verify your business. As this is a physical postcard, the delivery time may take about 3-5 business days.And That's It!Your Google Business Profile is now created and verified in South Africa. That was really simple, wasn't it? A Google Business Profile can help your business have a personalised identity for your business in South Africa. Talking about personalisation, we are not quite done yet. We still have to customise our profile. But we will talk about it in the next article.Meanwhile, if you have any questions up until now, feel free to reach out to us via the message tab. We would be glad to answer any questions you have. We also have an upcoming Google Business Profile course very soon, so stay tuned for that!Also, if you are struggling to sell products in South Africa, have you tried selling via Takealot? We have a full course on becoming a full-fledged Takealot Seller in South Africa. It's free for a limited period only and you would not want to miss out on the opportunity. See you in the class soon!

More details

Published - Wed, 15-May-2024