Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) is currently conducting virtual trainings on equipping informal traders with marketing an online trading skills as the COVID-19 induced national lockdown and curfew has made it hard for them to make sales.
Some vendors revealed that it has been a hustle for them to communicate and reach out to their customers during the national lockdown which took a dramatic toll on traders.
Speaking on a WhatsApp platform with vendors and informal traders, Blondie Ndebele said that online marketing has become more popular around the world at this time especially when the world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic and it comes with various benefits as more people spend their time online.
Ndebele added that online training reaches out to a wider audience and it is cheaper as it eliminates, physical printing, paying for vending space and travel costs and it allows people to check comments and reviews on the traders’ products.
The most common ways of online marketing are the use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook , twitter and LinkedIn.
Ndebele pointed out that in online trading some potential customers ignore adverts, there is high competition because the traders will be also competing for the same space with wider global businesses and traders can face cyber security issues.
Lillian Musipani, an informal traders said that with online trading you do not have to pay any rent and there is no policy that regulates online trading meaning that no vending license is needed.
It is important for vendors and informal traders to understand the payment methods such as ecocash and money agencies such as western union.
“When developing a message it is important to know your product, determine the desired audience and the online platform to use. Message developments are tailored to communicate effectively with intended target audience,” added Ndebele.
Informal traders were also encouraged to download the ZRBF Sizimele Application that links buyers and sellers and creates market linkages, enabling transactions to be done online.