Anthony Muzondo
GWERU: Aiming to capacitate businesses with online trade skills, Building Bridges for Global Markets trained local entrepreneurs on digital marketing and e-commerce.
With support from the US Embassy, the team trained locals on how to utilize online platforms to enhance their businesses as well as reaching new audiences/ customers.
Speaking on changing consumer behavior, Team Leader Thulani Mthunzi said, it was important that local, especially small businesses adopt e-commerce.
“Changing consumer behavior globally have necessitated businesses to start selling online, and to consider an online sells, e-commerce strategies so it’s important to consider a e-commerce strategy to have an online presence and sell your business online,
“For online presence we need to create awareness in your platform as well as adverting online through social media marketing through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok ads and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO),” Mthunzi said.
Program Coordinator Patience Ziramba said they hope their training program will change or improve local business revenue going forward.
“This initiative is designed to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners with tool and knowledge needed to successfully evolve into a digital economy and expand into an international market.
“Participants are equipped with fundamentals of e-commerce and online business models, digital marketing strategies to attract and take customers, payment gate ways, and strategies to maintain and attract international markets,” she added.
Participants also acknowledged that new insights were shared and hoped to use them towards improving their businesses.
“We have learnt a lot concerning our businesses as small medium businesses enterprises, and the greatest take away is e-commerce and digital marketing which has got large following not only in Zimbabwe but also abroad,” one Matthew Nyamdela said.
“Women will find this very biennial and as a women leader, I will make sure I will pass on this knowledge to those I can reach,” added Grace Mazambani.
Also added an elderly Charity Ndisengei; “This knowledge will definitely help people of my age move volumes in their small businesses. Imagine exchanging chicken breeds with someone in Europe, it’s a big deal,” she said,
