7 Ways to Effectively Promote Your Business in the Philippines During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The overall investment climate in the Philippines has improved in the past decade, and that’s a good thing. Experts say that the Philippines will sustain strong growth amidst the local and global uncertainties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. They also stated that it will achieve new heights in economic growth in the coming years. 

So if you want to realign your marketing campaigns and go digital, you are making the right decision. In this article, we will discuss seven ways on how to market your business effectively and give you some tips on how to maximize your efforts despite the economic downturn and lack of physical business interactions.

Tip #1: Create a website

The first step you should take is to create a website where users will find detailed information about your business. In the time of COVID-19, digital technology is going to be your best friend in every aspect of your business. So take advantage of every digital marketing tool you can use to boost your marketing efforts. 

To create an effective website, you should use a domain extension .ph and choose a design that will appeal to your target audience. Once the website is created, you should fill it with high-quality content. Since there are two official languages in the Philippines: English and Tagalog, you should decide which language you will use on your website. 

In most cases, it’s better for businesses to create content in both languages. But if you target a very specific audience that speaks only one language, there is no sense to spend your time and efforts on content translation.

Tip #2: Take care of SEO

When it comes to web content, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plays an important role. If you use the right keywords and format your texts in the right way, your website will get to the top of search results. Your brand will get noticed, and your business will thrive. 

If you don’t want to hire an SEO expert, or if you can’t afford it, create textual content with the following tips in mind:

• Before you start working on content production, research keywords, and make a list of relevant long-tail low competition keywords. Use these words when writing articles and page descriptions.
• Avoid complexity in writing. Keep your sentences short and concise. 
• Keep your paragraphs short, use subheadings, and add bulleted lists to make your pages scannable.
• Whether you write content in English or Tagalog, avoid using passive voice whenever possible.

Tip #3: Start a blog

The next step you should take is to create a blog. Publishing interesting articles, you will increase engagement and drive more traffic to your website. You will build a meaningful relationship with your target audience, and that will benefit your business in the long run.

If you know nothing about blogging, you can get professional help. You can use online writing websites or hire freelance blogging experts. Just keep in mind that it’s better to hire Filipino professionals rather than experts from other countries. They understand locals better and know what type of content will engage your target audience the most.

Tip #4: Use email marketing

Email marketing is another effective technique you can use to promote your business in the Philippines. You can send emails to inform your customers about your upcoming sales, special deals, new products, and many more. 

Also, you can use email marketing to educate your target audience and raise awareness of your products. If your business offers innovative solutions, it’s highly likely that your customers won’t initially understand what your products are about. 

By writing explanatory emails and sending how-to videos, you can explain to your audience what specific benefits your product has and how it works. It will help you convince your prospective buyers to make the first purchase and start sales.

Tip #5: Grow your social media presence

Have you already created business accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter? If no, you should do it right now. Filipinos are the world’s number #1 social media users in terms of time spent online. So if you want your business to thrive in the Philippines, you should build a solid social media presence.

Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the Philippines – it has more than 75 million local users. According to statistics, Facebook posts with videos generate the highest engagement rate – 6.5%. So if you want to maximize your marketing efforts, try to create more video content for Facebook.

Also, don’t forget to use hashtags. It will make your social media posts discoverable and help you reach a wider audience. To achieve the best results, you should use both: your own branded hashtags and hashtags that are trending in your niche. 

Tip #6: Collaborate with bloggers

Filipino bloggers and social media influencers have a great influence on local customers. So if you want to promote your business in the Philippines, we highly suggest you find a famous person to collaborate with. 

To choose the right person, you should conduct a little research. First of all, you should find out which bloggers are followed by your target audience. Next, you should check whether these bloggers have a good reputation and whether they have ever collaborated with your competitors. 

Once you find a blogger who seems to be a good fit for your brand, you can start the negotiation process. You need to agree on how much money you will pay per sponsored post and how many posts you want to get published in total.

Tip #7: Run a giveaway on social media

People do love to get freebies, and you can use that to your advantage. You can run a giveaway on social media to raise awareness of your product and increase sales. That’s simple. You just need to take a few steps:

• Offer a prize that has a value for your target audience.
• State the giveaway rules clearly and encourage participants to tag their friends.
• Collaborate with niche influencers. Ask them to announce the start of your giveaway so you can reach a wider audience.
• Use a giveaway picker app to choose a winner.

Wrapping Up

If you want to build a successful business in the Philippines despite the current crisis, you should use each and every opportunity to market your brand. You should promote your website, run a blog, be active on social media, and collaborate with bloggers in your niche. You should do your best to connect with your customers in a meaningful way and establish a lasting relationship. A relationship that will endure even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.