Business
How a Strong Online Presence can Help a Business Grow
Having a poor or no online presence is a wake-up call for businesses in this world where a third of us come online on regular basis either to collect useful information or to buy stuff online. Simple to say that getting a business or brand out across the internet is a key success factor in this virtual world and online presence means more than creating a simple website with basic business details and contact info. A successful online presence means setting up a comprehensive virtual version of a brand by having a responsive website, social media profiles and availability on different local directories etc. Ignoring this amazing and fertile marketing platform is similar to saying that if a brand or business is not online, customers cannot find it on the web.
As a small business owner if you have no or minimal presence on the web, then you are missing a bunch of opportunities to grow your business. in order to help you make sure you are not missing any opportunity to grow your business online, we have highlighted following points to help you understand how a strong online presence can help a business grow.
Online Presence MakesIt Easier for Potential Customers Come to YouWhen it comes to gather more details or information about a business, people usually search online by using their mobile devices. For instance, either someone is searching for your watch company or another option to buy racing watches at reasonable rates, having a successful online presence will give your business a competitive edge by appearing in the search results. In simple words, there will be no need to put extra efforts to finding your business online because a single Google search can bring your business in front of the potential customers if optimized accordingly.
Build Strong Relationships with Customers
Customers can easily find essential business details and news by visiting the official website of a business or brand. Moreover, availability on social media also helps a brand or company to interact with potential and existing customers in real time. It helps a business build strong relationships and trust as well. Customers can also visit social media profiles and other online communities to check the reviews and customer feedback for their favorite brands before making purchases.
Cost-effective and ExtensiveMarketing Approach
Digital marketing is inexpensive to produce and distribute than traditional marketing approaches and limitless as well. A single advertisement shared on social media can reach to a wider audience as people usually share content within their social circles when found useful and informative as well. In this way, your corporate message can reach to millions even in short span of time and without spending extra bucks. A highly responsive website loaded with problem solving and informative content can also be a great marketing tool for a business these days to secure more leads and sales too.
Increases Credibility
People these days are tech savvy and they do inclusive search on the web before purchasing something even from their favorite brands. They read customer testimonials on website, check social media platforms for reviews and moreover they ask others for recommendations to influence buying decisions. And a strong online presence shows that the business or brand is serious about its online repute and provide customers withany possible information and details that customers need before making purchases. It increases the credibility of a business in return and attract more customers.
Reputation Management
Either a business is accessible on the web or not, customers are always online and possibly they could be talking about the business or its products within their social circles or in some online communities. If you are not online, you will not be able to know and understand what people are talking about you. At the end, you will not be able to manage your repute online. That is the reason, you must be there on the internet to listen your customers and to make necessary changes in your business operations and processes accordingly in order to build and manage strong repute in online the market. Signing up on social media platforms will enable you to find and resolve customer problems accordingly in real time to let them know that you really value your repute and customers as well.
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the country’s satellite operator, has called for immediate promolgation of policy action that will enable the country to harness the potentials of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
NIGCOMSAT, also warned that Nigeria risks missing out on Africa’s projected $1.2trillion share of the global AI economy by 2030.
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend following her participation in the Meeting of the National Council for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, economies, and societies worldwide, with projections that it will contribute up to $15.7trillion to the global economy by 2030. Africa stands to gain $1.2trillion of this if the right policies and innovations are in place”, Idehen said, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The NIGCOMSAT MD underscored the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, highlighting its applicability in Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
According to her, machine learning tools could revolutionize agricultural practices by improving pest detection and optimizing planting schedules using satellite imagery.
“AI offers us the chance to not only flourish economically but also to achieve food security. However, we must ask ourselves if we are prepared to manage this technology responsibly”, she added.
Idehen also noted that internet access remains a significant barrier to AI adoption in Nigeria.
“For AI tools to be effective, basic digital infrastructure is essential. Addressing this gap must be a priority.
“AI is happening. We have the opportunity to manage this technology revolution responsibly, both in Africa and globally, through innovation and governance”, she said.
In August 2024, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy released a draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aiming to position Nigeria as a global leader in AI.
Corlins Walter
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Chief David Omereji, has said the council has so far spent over N1 billion for the electrification of communities in the area.
Omereji said this while addressing staff of the council at the council headquarters recently.
He said the move was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure peace and development of the LGA.
According to him, the Council spent about N29 million on monthly basis for the maintenance of the Emohua Local Vigilante group known as OSPAC, with each member being paid a stipend of N100, 000 monthly.
He diaclosed that 11 out of the 14 wards are currently enjoying electricity, while efforts are on to light-up the remaining ones.
“I also want to use this opportunity to inform the political class for purposes of records and for the understanding of the people that the Council under my watch have done more than enough”, he said .
The Emolga boss explained that all that have been achieved were through the personal effort of the Council, without support from anybody as rumoured in some quarters.
Omereji further reaveled that a number of other projects, including roads, fencing of schools, hospitals, courts premises, and reconstruction of some abandoned buildings at the Council Headquarters are being undertaken by his administration.
He enjoined the people of the area to support his administration’s drive to bring purposeful development to the LGA.
The Emohua Council boss, who reiterated his hatred for noise making, stated that his works would speak for him, and solicited the support of staff of the council and the entire people of the area.
He noted the fact that some people may not be happy with his achievements, saying that he would remain focused, while advising critics of his government to do so constructively with facts and figures.
King Onunwor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has raised some ethical questions over a Financial and Technical Services Agreement (FTSA) between Sahara Energy and West African Gas Limited (WAGL), an affiliate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
MOSOP said the agreement was not done in good faith, not in the interest of the Nigerian people, and did not follow due process.
Foremost Ogoni born activist and MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, who made this known in Abuja, weekend, described the Sahara-WAGL deal as fraudulent, deceptive and an insult on the intelligence and integrity of the Nigerian nation.
Nsuke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel that FTSA between Sahara Energy and WAGL, noting that the agreement is fraught with irregularities and deceptive.
“What Sahara and the NNPC did in the FTSA between Sahara and WAGL is shameful and depicts high level corruption in public service of our country.
“WAGL is an affiliate of Sahara and the NNPC. How then can Sahara go into an agreement with its own affiliate? It’s as good as going into an agreement with itself. This is deceptive and fraudulent”, Nsuke said.
He continued that “Sahara Energy is certainly not a company the Ogoni people want on their soil and we are calling on Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to terminate any deal between the NNPC and Sahara Energy over OML 11, and to allow for an inclusive arrangement that considers a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in the distribution of revenues from natural resource extraction on Ogoni soil.
“The last Ogoni Congress has been unequivocal on the Ogoni demand for justice and has given a clear path to resolve the three decade old conflict between all critical parties.
“It will be good to explore this path to peace and development for Ogoni and for our country”.
Nsuke accused Sahara Energy and the NNPC of frustrating the progress made by MOSOP to achieve a permanent solution to the Ogoni problem.
He urged a presidential intervention with deep consideration for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in order to permanently address the problem.
He noted that Sahara Energy should give up on the Ogoni area to allow for an engagement in the interest of the country and the people.
Recall that MOSOP and Sagara Energy have recently been engaged in a row in what MOSOP describes as an unholy relationship between Sahara Energy and the NNPC over OML 11.
MOSOP expressly rejected Sahara Energy and called for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in natural resource extraction in Ogoni.
It noted that Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, paid the sacrifice to take the oil from Shell, hence “the position of MOSOP must be taken into consideration in decisions relating to resumption of oil production in Ogoni”.