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You cannot set up Facebook Shop in South Africa anymore...

Facebook is the most popular social media platform in South Africa. Until November 2023, you could set up a shop on Facebook and Instagram in South Africa. However, now you cannot set up an e-commerce shop on Facebook in South Africa anymore. How does this affect your retail business? Is the platform still doable? Let's find the answers to these questions in this article.Facebook and its Significance in South AfricaThroughout the years, Facebook has retained its top position amongst other social media platforms in South Africa. South Africans primarily use Facebook and WhatsApp (collectively under Meta) for their daily life entertainment, social activities, and of course, business activities.You could set up a retail shop on Facebook in South Africa before. This was especially beneficial for small and medium retail businesses led by individual owners. But since December 21, 2023, Facebook has made the shop features unavailable for South Africa. These are the changes as mentioned in the Meta notice.Shops on Facebook and Instagram and associated features are no longer available, including product tagging (in posts, Reels and stories) and creating custom and lookalike audiences derived from people who visited a shop.People can no longer see your shops and associated features if your shop is located in these countries.On Instagram, ads with product tags are still available. Businesses running ads with product tags do not need to take any action and campaigns are not impacted.While this may seem discouraging for SMEs looking for influential platforms to list their products and earn profits, Facebook and other Meta platforms (Instagram, WhatsApp) are still more than doable for conducting business and advertising or selling your products online.So, how do we sell via Facebook/Meta in South Africa?Through your Instagram handle or Facebook page, of course. We have been doing this for ages. The Facebook Shop was not deemed necessary for and by all retail businesses out there.On Instagram, you can advertise your products with professionally captured pictures or videos. Instagram is a visual platform where each picture is supposed to tell you a story. This opens a lot of opportunities to entice customers with creativity in your advertisements.On Facebook, there are two ways to go about selling your products in South Africa.First, via a Facebook Page. Facebook Page gives your brand an identity the other option would not. Apart from displaying your products, you can tell stories about your business, post business updates, or host quizzes to engage with your audience. A personalised business sits better with your target audience. Even though you cannot set up shops anymore, Facebook still allows you to post product images and information on your page. Then, you can advertise these products to garner or appeal to a larger audience, who can redirect to your website to make a decision.Second, Facebook Marketplace. This is a peer-to-peer selling and buying platform without any seller protection or payment gateway options. While retailers rarely choose to utilise the platform, it can open some unique opportunities for your business. For example, finding buyers for a product that rarely gets sold, such as collectables or antiques.Bonus - WhatsApp AdvertisingSouth Africa loves using WhatsApp for their primary over-the-internet communication needs. As a South African, you likely have noticed their brand new 'Community' and 'Channel' features. You can use WhatsApp to push updates and products via a personal channel or create a community of loyal customers. Having loyal customer programs often works positively for your business.Facebook Advertising can make customers contact your business via WhatsApp. You can use this opportunity to build rapport with your customers and provide them with prompt and best possible services.ConclusionSetting up an actual retail shop with payment gateways is no longer possible in South Africa. But that has not made Facebook obsolete. The point of this article was to inform you about the changes and the alternatives to selling your products on Facebook/Meta platforms.Skill Space is developing a course on Meta Advertising for Facebook and Instagram. As a South African entrepreneur, harnessing the power of Meta advertising can empower your business to perform better and generate better revenue.Meanwhile, if you are looking for a platform to start selling your products, we also have created a Takealot Seller Course. It is available for free for a limited time. Take advantage of the offer today! If you have any questions, you can always reach out to us via the contact page.

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Published - Wed, 26-Jun-2024

Created by - Skill Space

How to Set Up WhatsApp Business in South Africa?

If your business has a Facebook/Instagram identity, it would be unwise not to use WhatsApp to engage with customers. Since all three platforms are Meta products, they work seamlessly with each other. As WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging app in South Africa, it is a great tool for conversational marketing. Let's discuss how to set up a WhatsApp Business Account and how it can help you generate leads in South Africa.WhatsApp - The Most Popular Instant Messaging App in South AfricaIn South Africa, we use WhatsApp for our day-to-day conversational needs. Whether it is friends, family, or work colleagues, we always think of having 'WhatsApp' for easy conversation anytime, anywhere. Meta products such as Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp have rooted their presence in South Africa for a long time. The familiarity with these apps is also one of the reasons why South Africans would continue to use them for a long time.In 2024, you can use WhatsApp for personal messages, business conversations, or creating influencer channels and communities. For businesses, WhatsApp even has a business version of the app. It also allows you to list your product catalogue, something you cannot do on Facebook or Instagram anymore. Let's see how you, as a business, can set up an account and generate leads on WhatsApp Business.How does WhatsApp help you generate leads in South Africa?WhatsApp is a peer-to-peer message app that focuses on creating personal experiences. As a business, WhatsApp allows you to provide a personalised and unique experience to your customers. You can either generate leads on WhatsApp via an Instagram or Facebook advertisement or other platforms, such as your website or other social media platforms with a short link. If you are setting up an ad through Meta, you get an option to redirect ad visitors to your WhatsApp business account. Or, you can include the link directly in your posts and boost the post for some easy advertising.As South Africa finds WhatsApp effective for communications, interested customers are likely to contact your business via WhatsApp. From here onwards, you can focus on personalising your customers' experience and provide them with the relevant services they require from you.For all these WhatsApp business-related activities, you will require a WhatsApp Business Account. Let's see how that works.Let's set up WhatsApp Business in South AfricaTo make a WhatsApp Business account, you need to download the WhatsApp business app. You can search for the business app on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.Once installed, open the app. The initial setup is similar to setting up a personal WhatsApp account. If you already have a personal WhatsApp account, you can migrate that account to the Business app. This will include all the media and your chat history as well. If you are registering the account with a new number, you will have to verify it by putting in the 6-digit code you receive via SMS.In the next step, you have the option to set your profile picture, name, and category of your business. After that, you can start working on your business profile.In the business profile, you can customise your profile picture, name, and your address. Furthermore, you can set your category, description, and business hours. Furthermore, you can also add details like your email, website, and any social media accounts.WhatsApp Business ToolsYou are downloading WhatsApp Business App for a reason. You want the business tools to efficiently manage your WhatsApp business account so that you can focus on other important matters. So, let's explore these business tools.To access WhatsApp Business Tools, tap on More Options on Android or Settings on iPhone, then select Business Tools.WhatsApp Business tools allow you to;Set a Product Catalogue. In the catalogue, you can display your product pictures, name, and price information. You can group these catalogues into categories as you like.Setting a Short Link. A short link allows a customer to connect with you over WhatsApp directly. WhatsApp Business will auto-generate a short link for your business which you can share with your customers, on your website, or via your Facebook Page or Instagram Handle.Using Messaging Tools. The messaging tools help you stay on top of every received message. When it comes to customer service, lower downtimes in sending responses often yield a better result. On WhatsApp, you can set three different types of automated responses: Greeting Messages, Away Messages, and Quick Replies.Creating Labels. Being organised is one way to stay on top of things. One way of doing it is by labelling your conversations. By labelling conversations into helpful categories, you can prioritise services or orders more efficiently and effectively.We can use WhatsApp on three different platforms: Web/Desktop, Android, and iOS. While the general experience is the same, there are a few variations with the setup process. We highly recommend you check out the WhatsApp FAQ section for all your answers.Final WordsWhatsApp Business claims to generate 5x more leads for South African businesses. You can set up a WhatsApp Business account within 30 minutes in South Africa and are ready to go!If you require any help with WhatsApp or Facebook marketing, feel free to connect with us. Meanwhile, if you are looking to open your e-commerce shop on Takealot, we have an excellent course for you. The Takealot Seller Course covers all the fundamentals of being a successful Takealot seller in South Africa. And it is for FREE for a limited time! Take advantage of the offer and find success in selling on Takealot in South Africa.

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Published - Wed, 26-Jun-2024

Created by - Skill Space

How much do Dropshippers make in South Africa?

Dropshipping is currently one of the popular business models, especially amongst youngsters in 2024. The model consists of connecting suppliers with buyers through your business. Here, your business acts as a middleman, helping suppliers sell their products via your online platform to an audience you already know. Your profit? The middleman cut. Your supplier takes care of the order fulfilment, packaging and everything else. So, how do these dropshippers make in South Africa?How much do Dropshippers make in South Africa?If you devour the internet to find an exact answer, you may be confused. And rightfully so.There are dropshipper gurus telling you how they found success just within a week or two. Then there are some humble personalities talking about how much a dropshipper can make. The problem is, if you are new in the dropshipping game, you get confused about whom to trust. Dropshipping is currently a trending business model, and when there's a trend, there are 'fake' gurus claiming to make some 'real' profit to accumulate views. Or worse, selling you a fake or mediocre course about dropshipping.It all boils down to your best judgment on whom you want to trust or follow for advice.Right, back to the burning question: how much do dropshippers make in South Africa?From a realistic perspective, it would be safe to assume that dropshippers make about R5000 to R10000 a week in South Africa. Despite what gurus say—'dream big' and whatnot—it is important to keep your feet on the ground and set realistic goals. Of course, your goals may differ depending on the niche you select. For example, if you are selling in a popular and expensive niche, you should be expecting better profits.If Dropshipping is so Profitable, then why doesn't everyone do it?While we want to provide a realistic answer on how much dropshippers make in South Africa, the answer would not be complete without answering this question. Dropshipping, if done right, can be profitable. However, let's see what factors may prevent you from achieving that success.Competition. Dropshipping is a trendy business model that focuses on selling trendy products. Usually, these trends emerge from either Instagram or TikTok, both being massively popular in South Africa. When there's a trendy product, there's a massive competition. And if you are not ahead of the competition, then you already lose the edge. A dropshipper, with some luck, is keen on identifying what would become the next trend and focuses on capitalising on it. On the contrary, finding a less competitive niche is also difficult as there are often products that have little to no demand in the market.No Brand Identity. A dropshipping store is often a temporary brand that focuses on selling one to five top trendy products. For example, take a look at this dropshipping store selling a trendy product. This is what most of the dropshipping stores look like. Anyway, if you indulge in dropshipping as a business selling regular products, chances are your customers are going to ignore your business. The bottom line here is that getting that one chance to prove your dropshipping business is highly difficult due to competition and having no identity as a brand.Lack of Customer Service. This is more of an aftersale service aspect, but also the most difficult one. As a dropshipper, you have no control over product quality or order fulfilment. This solely depends on the trust between your supplier and you. Finding a reliable supplier is important in case your customers have issues with your products; which is technically not your fault, but your customers are going to see it that way. This makes providing satisfying customer service tedious and nerve-wracking.It's not all about the money, but most dropshippers fail to understand this. They are often under the impression that they will list certain products, advertise them on popular platforms, make sales, and... Profit! They look at this business model as an easy way of making money. But if you understand the problems above, you will understand the folly and naivety of this logic.Final WordsSo, is dropshipping really for you? This depends on how you decide to approach the dropshipping business model. And how does a dropshipper make in South Africa? As mentioned in the article above, it would be safe to assume an amount between R5000 to R10000 a week or a month. Do not expect quick profits and often consider being wary of online gurus telling you how they found 'golden eggs' just within 2-3 weeks of dropshipping. Dropshipping is not as easy as it sounds on paper and requires learning, proper research, and a proper customer service system. And like all businesses, you also need a little bit of luck to get the success you dream of.In the next article, we will talk about some popular Dropshipping suppliers in South Africa.On the other hand, if you aim to become a Takealot Seller in South Africa, Skill Space has an excellent Takealot Seller Course for you. The course provides in-depth and step-by-step practical knowledge on how you can successfully become a Takealot Seller in South Africa. The course is free for a limited time, so hurry up and take advantage of the offer!If you have any further queries, please don't hesitate to connect with us via our website.

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Published - Fri, 28-Jun-2024

Created by - Skill Space

Conversational Marketing for a Small Business in South Africa

Let's talk about Conversational Marketing today. It is the art of providing personalised services and a unique experience to your customers through conversations. In the previous article, we talked about how you can set up WhatsApp Business for your business. Now, let's talk about how Conversational Marketing helps your business in South Africa.It begins with Understanding Conversational MarketingConversational Marketing focuses on opening a peer-to-peer dialogue with your customers to assist them or making a decision with their purchases of products and services. Such personalised assistance establishes a bold yet warm impression on your customers about your business.Conversational Marketing challenges the traditional norms of filling out forms sending emails for queries or seeking assistance from a business. In the modern world, the traditional contact model is slowly becoming obsolete. In 2024, many of us South Africans do not prefer calling or filling out forms to wait for responses. Conversational Marketing bridges that gap and provides a comfortable yet effective dialogue option for your customers.Forms of Conversational Marketing in South AfricaIn the previous article, we briefly talked about how WhatsApp Business could prove to be an effective tool for your business. WhatsApp Business is likely the most successful Conversational Marketing model in South Africa. Almost everyone in South Africa uses WhatsApp. We are familiar with the app; we literally live with the app.Now, if you provide an opportunity to let your customers contact through via WhatsApp within a single click, chances are they are going to take it. Your potential customers can send you a WhatsApp message at their convenience. Although they expect a near-instant response, it is okay to take a few minutes to formulate a proper response to your customer's queries.This is where automated responses also help you to attend to your customers' requests on WhatsApp business.Other alternatives are other Instant Messaging apps, such as Facebook Messenger or Instagram. Furthermore, many websites also have an in-built chatbot that acts as a FAQ answerer or a bridge that connects a user with customer service personnel.Why does Conversational Marketing work in South Africa?Throughout the last decade, South Africa has experienced multiple revolutions in the communication sector. One of the results of this evolution is the Instant Messaging technology. We have been using the technology since the 2010s and it has been getting better, faster, and more reliable over time.It essentially eliminates the need to call (and the need to be present for the call). It is fast, efficient, and very convenient for all of us. The technology allows us to remain anonymous and yet conveniently connect with anyone with little to no effort.People love it. Even introverts do! Instant messaging technology has made our lives convenient and has changed the way we communicate and make purchases. And if a business does not understand that, then we can safely say that the business is stuck in the past. Sure, emails and phone calls are still considered a standard. But even the corporate world has adopted instant messages over relying on emails for all conversational needs.Your customers are used to forming bonds with people via texts and emojis. Now, as a business, if you are willing to provide the same form of communication your customers are comfortable with, then they are going to have a positive impression of your business. It's as simple as that!And that is why Conversational Marketing works in South Africa.The Stats show it!Drift, a US-based B2B sales company has written an elaborate article about Conversational Marketing. We highly recommend you give it a read if you are interested in this topic.According to their article, and we quote, "The B2B buying process has become cold, impersonal, and way more painful for the buyer than it needs to be." This is true. The modern view of a traditional corporate setting and business practices has become stoic and negative.Their study says that, and once again we quote,27% more B2B buyers expressed frustration with old-school forms in 2021 than in 2020;Email usage has dropped by 25% since 2020; andThe demand for immediacy has grown by an average of 64% year-over-year.Stats are just there for your reference. But think about this for a second from a modern buyer's perspective. Your buyers, especially if they are late Millennials or Gen Z, are definitely going to opt for a business that provides a more personalised experience. However, you may experience otherwise if your primary target audience is the Baby Boomer Generation or Gen X.So, Should I be adopting Conversational Marketing in South Africa?You must! This is not even a question anymore. If you want to stay relevant to the contemporary time, you must consider adopting conversational marketing tactics in your business practices.If you are confused, just start with a WhatsApp Business account in South Africa and take it from there. The best part of this practice? It is an easy-to-setup and easy-to-understand process. For more information on setting up a WhatsApp Business account, please refer to our previous article.On the other hand, if you are a small business in South Africa looking to sell on Takealot, we have a perfect course for you. Skill Space's Takealot Seller Course goes in-depth with the procedures of setting up a Takealot Seller account in South Africa. It is free for a limited time, so hurry up and take advantage of this beneficial offer to become a successful Takealot Seller.If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. More information about our contact is available here.

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Published - Fri, 28-Jun-2024

Created by - Skill Space

Dropshipping Suppliers in South Africa in 2024

In the previous article, we strived to find an answer to the burning question: how much do dropshippers earn in South Africa? Now, to earn via your dropshipping business, you need to find the right niche and suppliers. In this article, let's explore some of the popular and trustworthy dropshipping suppliers in South Africa in 2024.Trustworthy Dropshipping Suppliers in South Africa in 2024Before we begin, we are not going to mention popular dropshipping suppliers like AliExpress. While AliExpress is a doable option, there are certain issues with using a Chinese supplier.The very first is the delivery time. When people order online, they usually expect an order to arrive in 7-15 days. This is not the case with AliExpress regarding delivering to South Africa. The average delivery time between AliExpress and South Africa is about 29 to 32 days, which is not optimal for your business. The second thing is the delivery cost. If you opt for the EMS option, it is too expensive to generate any actual profit barely. On the other hand, SAPO may be an option but many dropshippers in South Africa have complained about their unreliable tracking and delivery service.There is an alternative to this called Airpool. it is a special delivery service formed by a group of South African entrepreneurs that streamlines the process of importing products from China. We recommend you check their website for more information.Meanwhile, let us talk about some reliable South African dropshipping alternatives.DropStoreWhen we talk about Dropshipping, Dropstore is the first word on the tongue in South Africa. Dropstore is the largest hub for Dropshippers in South Africa to source products locally. Dropship is a "freemium" dropshipping service with premium plans starting from R199 per month. If you are new to dropshipping, you can consider putting some skin in the game with Dropstore's starter plan.We encourage you to go with dropstore if you are new in the game and do not know where to start. Start Dropshipping in South Africa with Dropstore Today!Cosmic PetsThere is always a high demand for pet products in South Africa. Despite the high competition, there is always a market to explore in the pet niche. In South Africa, Cosmic Pets can help you source and deliver pet-related products. Established in 2006, Cosmic Pet has strived to be a trusted supplier of collapsible pet carriers, cat trees, toys, pet pens, and more. They claim to have more than 400 throughout South Africa.They are a wholesale distribution company dealing exclusively with pet supply stores, vet clinics and pet care professionals. If the niche interests you, you may choose Cosmic Pet Products as your dropshipping supplier.ShopStarShopStar is a for South Africans, by South African drop shipping service. Sourcing from plenty of local suppliers, ShopStar can provide you with a diverse set of products in various niches to jumpstart your dropshipping store in South Africa.Compared to DropStore, the premium plans are a bit cheaper. However, there is no free option. For more information on the plans, check out the ShopStar website.MantalityMantality is a big supplier in South Africa that focuses on selling products specifically targeted at the male audience. From skincare and grooming products to gadgets, gym supplements or even aesthetic products like fragrances or hair-care products, Mantality has it all.As a wholesaler in South Africa, Mantality also supports the dropshipping business model, thus helping your business thrive if you want to deal with niches related to men's products. For more information on the dropshipping business model price, contact the supplier on their website.Courier GuyUsually, your dropshipping supplier manages the logistics aspect of the products you sell. However, if you prefer using a custom delivery service for the order fulfilment process, Courier Guy is undoubtedly a reliable delivery partner in South Africa.We have talked about Courier Guy in detail in our Takealot Seller Course. The course is FREE for a limited time. We highly recommend giving it a go especially if you plan to sell on Takealot. Takealot also allows a dropshipping business model with some restrictions. For example, you will have to use Takealot branding for your products for dropshipping.Final WordsIn this article, we have listed the 4 most trustworthy dropshipping suppliers in South Africa for 2024. Dropshipping is a business model where you do not have to put too much skin in the game. It reduces the risk of loss by eliminating the inventory investment and logistics aspect from the model. However, the benefits do come with downsides as well. We have explained more about it in our 'How much do Dropshippers make in South Africa?' article.If you have any questions regarding dropshipping or our Takealot Seller Course, please feel free to reach out to us.

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Published - Tue, 02-Jul-2024

Created by - Skill Space

Why should you use WordPress to Build a Website in South Africa?

If you have used website builders like Wix or Weebly, you may have come across WordPress. WordPress is a completely free-to-use website builder supported by thousands of plugins and themes and an active developer community. In this article, let's explore the reasons why you should be using WordPress to build a website in South Africa.What is WordPress?WordPress is a website builder; an open-source content management system (CMS). You can create and use a basic WordPress website for free as long as the plugins and themes you use are free. It is a popular tool amongst many as you do not require any coding knowledge or experience to build a website and blog.If you were a blogger in the last decade, there's a high chance you must have used WordPress. WordPress was primarily developed to create blogs, such as news blogs, lifestyle blogs, hobby blogs, informative blogs, and so on. And now, WordPress is capable of making a full-fledged website within hours for any purpose. So, should you be using WordPress in 2024? The answer is absolutely yes, you should. It is a free-to-use website builder with thousands of free plugins and themes. Too good of an opportunity to pass on!But wait, why does it say I have to pay for WordPress?When it comes to WordPress, there are two distinct websites: WordPress.org and WordPress.com. Despite the word 'WordPress' in the domain, the WordPress.com website/service is owned and operated by Automattic, Inc. They provide a modified version of the WordPress software with premium plans to eliminate the hassle of building a website and hosting a domain. The only free thing on WordPress.com is free blog hosting.On the other hand, the WordPress.org domain is owned by the WordPress Foundation. According to their website,"The WordPress Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Matt Mullenweg to further the mission of the WordPress open source project: to democratize publishing through Open Source, GPL software."WordPress.org allows you to build a website as you wish. You have the absolute control over the web design aspect. You are also free to host your WordPress website with whichever domain provider you see fit. So, if you are looking for a free WordPress experience, WordPress.org is the way to go.Why Should I Use WordPress to Build a Website in South Africa?According to WPZOOM, WordPress powers about 43.4% of all websites internationally and dominates the CMS market with a 62.7% share. Why?WordPress is Open-SourceOpen-source software refers to the software's code being available to the public. This means you can modify the source code as you wish and redistribute the software. The open-source idea survives on the basis of people contributing to the software to make it better. And thankfully, WordPress is blessed by thousands of developers and contributors who made WordPress the better CMS platform it is today.Beginner-FriendlyAs established previously, WordPress requires no coding knowledge or any engineering degree. WordPress CMS aimed to simplify website building and designing and has succeeded so far. WordPress is designed for non-technical people. Its user interface is intuitive and friendly.WordPress itself is just a blank canvas with a backend where you can manage your website settings. To add designs to your website, you simply have to download a theme. Furthermore, you can also add functionalities to your website by installing WordPress plugins.SEO-FriendlinessSearch Engine Optimisation is important if you want to make your website visible on a search engine like Google and attract organic traffic. Thanks to the simplicity of WordPress CMS, SEO optimisation on a WordPress website is simple. You can even get plugins like Yoast! SEO to help you optimise SEO for your website.SecurityWordPress consistently upgrades its platform, patching security loopholes, improving performance, or adding new features. You must update WordPress every time there's an update available. Once an update is available, you will get a notification about it on your website's backend. You want your website to be secure amidst numerous data breaches or hijacks happening everywhere. The consistent updates to the platform and plugins and active community keep the platform up-to-date, making it one of the safest and most secure CMS platforms.Supports all Media TypesA WordPress website allows you to load all sorts of web-compatible media files. That means you can put different kinds of images, videos, and text to make your website more appealing towards your audience. The flexible support allows for unlimited customisations, thus helping you make your website uniquely enticing.ConclusionWordPress is a great free website builder in South Africa that allows for immense website customisations at almost no cost. The only real financial aspect you will have to worry about is paying for a website host. The cost-effectiveness and ease of use are exactly why we would recommend using WordPress to build your dream website in South Africa.Skill Space is currently developing a full-fledged course on developing a WordPress website. The course will be out soon, so stay tuned. If you have any questions or require any guidance related to WordPress, kindly let us know by contacting us.

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Published - Tue, 09-Jul-2024

Created by - Skill Space

Is it Worth Selling on Takealot in South Africa?

Yes, it is worth selling on Takealot in South Africa. However, there's a catch. It may or may not be suitable for your business, thanks to certain factors that may make you take a step back from considering the platform. What are these factors? What makes Takealot a high-risk high-reward platform in South Africa? Let's find out if Takealot is a platform worth selling on in South Africa.Takealot - The Biggest E-Commerce Platform in South AfricaTakealot is the biggest e-commerce presence in South Africa and has a strong foothold in the market. It is so strong that even Amazon, a global e-commerce giant is struggling to compete with Takealot. This is despite the fact Amazon has lower product prices and dirt-cheap onboarding merchant fees at merely R1 (yearly). We are not going to see Takealot being dominated by any other e-commerce platform in South Africa for a while, that's for sure.Takealot is a South Africa-exclusive e-commerce platform. This translates into Takealot having a better understanding of the market and the wants and needs of the customers. According to Semrush, Takealot had around 21 million visits in May 2024 alone.Of course, being on the number one platform in South Africa means the competition will be extremely gruesome. This brings us to our next topic: Takealot seller fees that may turn you away from considering Takealot to make sales in South Africa.High Seller Fees on Takealot - A Dilemma for Sellers in South AfricaAs the name suggests, Takealot 'takes a lot' of fees from you as a seller. The LOLs aside, this may be understandable.Takealot is a brand of trust and quality in South Africa. Whatever comes out of Takealot, South Africans expect it to be of high quality and also expect good customer service if something goes awry. To maintain the quality, Takealot wants its sellers to put skin in the game. The higher investment costs mean subconsciously sellers will also be critical of the product quality and packaging as they would not want to waste their investment.However, while that is true, this creates a dilemma for sellers with a weaker budget. If you do not have backup finances to recover from losses, Takealot may not be a solid option for you. It may turn out to be a gamble for you; you may find success and recover better if you manage to attract the right customers to your products, or you may find yourself at a loss if the business does not work out on Takealot. And not to mention, Takealot seller fees can make this worse for you.We have extensively talked about the Takealot Seller Fees in our Takealot Seller Course. It is free for a limited time, so feel free to take a look. (If it is paid, then you were late to the offer, we're sorry!)We also have an article about the Takealot Seller Fees in South Africa. Make sure to give it a read.So, is it Worth Selling on Takealot in South Africa?Absolutely! You have a product that may fare well on Takealot; or you may have an extensive budget and looking to expand your business in South Africa. In such cases, Takealot is your next step in the game. You can rest assured that your business will grow with Takealot and generate profit despite all the fees eating into your profit margin. Also, the fact that Takealot does care and helps you grow your business with its infrastructure. Let's talk about some pros of selling on Takealot.Extensive customer baseAs Takealot is the #1 platform in South Africa, the platform boasts an extensive customer base. If you are a small business that is doing well locally and looking forward to expanding your reach, Takealot can provide a solid foundation for your growth. With visitors from all over South Africa, Takealot provides you with an extensive reach with different potentials.Logistics InfrastructureTakealot boasts an extensive infrastructure of logistics and seller support. Retail businesses or even dropship businesses can benefit from Takealot in South Africa if you are looking forward to expanding your reach and exploring new corners of the country. As a seller, you get access to Takealot's logistics and other tools to streamline the selling process. Takealot can help you with stock storage, order fulfilment, customer service, and much more.TransparencyTakealot is a transparent platform. All the prices are displayed without any hidden fees. When you take a look at a product on Takealot, you may see different product prices for that one product. The competitive prices are never hidden on Takealot. Of course, on the display, however, will be the cheapest price of the product.In terms of Seller Fees, Takealot maintains complete transparency. You may see some reviews stating how they faced unexpected fees from Takealot. However, that is not the case. We highly advise you to thoroughly understand and keep track of the Seller Fees to avoid unexpected expenses. If you do not understand nor agree with the fee structure, please consider avoiding Takealot.Summing up, Takealot can be a great platform for you if you are an already established business looking for a nationwide outreach. On the other hand, if you are just a startup, we strongly advise you to gain a foothold in your local markets before playing the big game.ConclusionTakealot is a great platform if you are an established business. Of course, several other factors may help you consider Takealot. These factors are profit margins, the type of products, and understanding and managing the fees. We must note that Takealot does not have any hidden fees. Again, we have explained extensively about Takealot Fees in our Takealot Seller Course.If you have any questions regarding the Takealot Seller Course, feel free to reach out to us.

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Published - Fri, 12-Jul-2024

Created by - Saket Patil

How to Start a Dropshipping Business in South Africa in 2024?

Starting a Dropshipping Business in South Africa can be a little tricky. Unlike Western countries like the US or the UK, South Africa faces issues when it comes to delivery times from China. As you are aware, dropshippers almost always use Chinese suppliers to import and sell trendy products, all without keeping any inventory on hand. So, would a dropshipping business model work in South Africa? Can you really start a dropshipping business in South Africa in 2024? Let's find out.How do you Start a Dropshipping Business in South Africa?It is absolutely possible to start a dropshipping business in South Africa in 2024, despite the challenges you may face. In 2024, the competition is high and many popular niches are saturated with tons of suppliers, tons of retailers, and of course, plenty of knock-offs.So, how do you dominate this market? The answer is, you don't. But this is where it gets tricky.One solid piece of advice that almost always works for a dropshipping business is to focus on untapped, unfocused niches. This is the most difficult part of the process. Once you find the right niche for your business, however, everything else is pretty straightforward.How do I find the Right Niche for my Dropshipping Business?Research, research, and more research!Thanks to the internet, research is almost free and anybody can do it. First of all, decide on an umbrella niche you would want to research. This will also help you identify your target audience and your competition.Under your umbrella niche, research what kind of products have a high demand. Unless there's a potential market you can tap into with these high-demand products, you will automatically scratch them off your list. Now, your goal is to find a certain niche that has a high demand but low competition in the market. This is where understanding trends comes in handy. How do you do that? Keyword and trend research, of course.We highly recommend tools like Google Keyword Research, Google Trends, Facebook Audience Insights, and Keywords Everywhere. Google Keyword Research requires a Google Ads account.Use these tools to specify your keyword research. Use long-tailed keywords to explore specific niches and your competition and decide on your niche accordingly. Take a deep dive to find the right niche for your dropshipping business.If you can see that a certain product is about to get trendy, you can capitalise on it. The key here is to stay ahead of the competition."Do your keyword and trend research, try to find a high-demand low-competition market to decide on your niche."I got my Niche. What Now?If you have found a perfect niche for your business, you have crossed the biggest obstacle. However, it's not over yet. Your next step is to find the right suppliers for your niche.We have mentioned a few Dropshipping Suppliers in South Africa in 2024 in another article. Make sure to give it a read.However, if you have an obscure niche, you may have a hard time finding the right supplier. You may have to expand your supplier search outside of South Africa. In this case, be aware of the market demand, delivery time and costs, and product quality.Once you get a supplier, order a few samples for quality check. Remember, as a dropshipper, you have little to no control over product quality and logistics. Thus a background check will add that extra layer of relief for your business. The trust between a dropshipper and a supplier is crucial if you want the business to thrive."Finding the right supplier is the key to making your dropshipping business happen. Before finalising a supplier, order some product samples from them. Do some quality checks as you have little to no control over product quality, packaging, and shipping."You must get an E-Commerce WebsiteNow, you need a medium to connect your suppliers directly to your customers. The answer is an E-Commerce Website. Getting a website for your dropshipping business is a relatively easy task.In 2024, you can simply build a store with Shopify with a monthly fee or you can get a customised store completely built from scratch within South Africa with the help of a web designer.Some dropshipping platforms in South Africa such as DropStore or ShopStar also provide you a web design along with a few dropshipping products at a monthly cost.What option you would want to choose depends on how you want to represent yourself as a dropshipping business. For a fully personalised and customised website, we would highly recommend hiring a web designer to do this job for you."Hire a web designer to get a fully personalised dropshipping store that resonates with your branding. Or you can get premade websites from your dropshipping platform (if available) or build a website with Shopify."Now, let's attract your audienceA dropshipping business thrives on trendy products. In such cases, what's better than a social media platform to advertise your business?In South Africa, Meta Products such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook are the most popular. You may utilise their extensive and intuitive advertising tools to reach out to a specific set of audiences that resonates with your business.Also, you can use these social media platforms to provide customer service.Apart from that, you may also utilise Google Ads to further market the enticing products your dropshipping business has to offer.Marketing can be a tricky affair. If you are confused about marketing, then instead of shooting arrows in the dark, you can hire a marketing team to help your business. A marketing team can streamline your marketing strategy, attracting the right customers to your business, thus effectively helping your revenue strategies."Marketing is the key to letting others hear about your business. If you are confused about how to market your business, consider hiring a marketing team for your business. Invest in the right people to avoid the risk of unexpected financial losses."Drawbacks of Being a Dropshipper in South AfricaA dropshipping business is an easy business model that can help you understand a market without having to put your skin in the game.However, that comes at a cost.As a dropshipper, you are also competing with local retail markets. These retail businesses have already invested in a stock that they need to sell. On the other hand, a dropshipper does not invest in anything.Now, if your direct competition is a retail store, you may find it hard to compete as a dropshipper. Since you do not invest in a stock, it translates as 'you are not as serious about your business as these retail stores' for some. Furthermore, if doing business with you means angering their retail partners, a supplier may feel reluctant to conduct business with you.This makes finding a supplier challenging. This also marks the utmost importance of finding a niche that would not directly compete with local retail businesses. Also, as mentioned previously, the long delivery times and high costs are often not worth it if you choose a Chinese supplier.However, there's a workaround to reduce costs and delivery time from ordering from China. Airpool is a South African service that consolidates various deliveries for South Africa and ships them as one package. We highly recommend checking them out for more information.In ConclusionDropshipping in South Africa in 2024 is a totally doable option. The key is to understand the South African market competition and the dropshipping game. You may use a dropshipping business model to get a better understanding of the market or start a full-fledged dropshipping business. As long as the pros outweigh the cons, you should consider this low-cost investment business model.Skill Space is currently developing a full-fledged course on how you can start a dropshipping business in South Africa. Meanwhile, did you know that you can also dropship on Takealot? By becoming a Takealot Seller in South Africa, you can also do dropshipping. The catch is that Takealot will use their branding as packaging before they deliver your products.To find out how you can become a Takealot Seller, we highly recommend our Takealot Seller Course which is FREE for a limited time. Don't miss out and register with us today to take the course.If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.

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Published - Fri, 12-Jul-2024

Created by - Saket Patil

How do I cancel my Takealot Seller Account in South Africa?

So, you have decided to stop selling on Takealot? Well, if you are not selling on Takealot, you must deactivate your account before you move on. Why? Because Takealot Seller Fees will continue to accumulate whether you sell via the portal or not. So, how do you cancel your Takealot Seller Account in South Africa? Let's find out with this article.How do I Cancel my Takealot Seller Account in South Africa?If you are planning to deactivate your Takealot Seller account, you can literally do it in 3 simple clicks. Please note that we are discussing deactivating a Takealot 'Seller' account. If you are deactivating/deleting a Takealot Customer account, scroll down to Deleting your Takealot Customer Account in South Africa.There are two ways to handle the cancellation of your Takealot Seller account. Deactivating the account or completely deleting the account and wiping associated data with it. Let's talk about them one by one.How to Deactivate Your Takealot Seller Account?Being a Takealot Seller can be a difficult experience. For any reason, you might want to consider taking a temporary break from Takealot. In that case, you may just want to deactivate your seller account temporarily.Deactivating a seller account means you can always resume selling on Takealot whenever you want. During your deactivation, Takealot will not charge you a monthly fee.To do so,log in to your Takealot Seller Account.Then, click on your profile icon in the top right corner.Select 'Account'. This should open the Account Overview window.Click on 'Stop Selling on Takealot'.And that's it. You have successfully deactivated your account.If you want to start selling on Takealot again, simply follow the steps above. If your account is deactivated, you will see a 'Start Selling on Takealot' button instead of 'Stop Selling on Takealot'. Simply click on it and your account will be reactivated and you can resume selling.How to Cancel Your Takealot Seller Account?Cancelling your seller account is just a step further after you deactivate it.Once you click on 'Stop Selling on Takealot', Takealot will contact you to ask if you wish to cancel your Takealot account. If yes, Takealot will communicate with you and help you deactivate your Takealot Seller Account in South Africa. Follow the instructions accordingly. You will not be charged any subscription fee during your deletion.Deleting your Takealot Customer Account in South AfricaEarlier, we mentioned that we are mainly focusing on deleting a Takealot Seller Account in South Africa. Now, let's talk about deleting your Takealot Customer Account in South Africa.If you no longer use Takealot for any purchases, it is best to delete your Takealot Customer Account and all the associated data. Let's see how.Navigate to the Delete My Account page.If you have not logged in to your account already, Takealot will prompt you to log in.Login to the account you wish to delete.Carefully review all the information and then click on the 'Submit Deletion Request' button.You will receive a confirmation email. Simply click on the link in your email and that's it!You have successfully deleted your Takealot Customer Account and its associated data.Final ThoughtsAnd that is how you deactivate or cancel your Takealot Seller Account in South Africa. This information is usually reserved for Takealot Sellers alone. The cancellation process happens via email communications. But now you know how or where you can initiate it.Becoming a Takealot Seller can be a very rewarding experience for well-established businesses. Despite having plenty of subscription fees, Takealot can be a great source of revenue if you know where to invest and what products are selling. However, Takealot may seem overwhelming for starters. But fret not, Skill Space has a Takealot Seller Course that covers all the aspects of Takealot. It is also FREE for a limited time! So hurry up before the offer fades away.If you have any further questions about Takealot, feel free to reach out to us.

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Published - Wed, 24-Jul-2024