This time around, Lunaworks would like to share some tips and business strategies to ensure business continuity during the MCO implementation season. For your information, the topic that we are going to talk about will be focusing more on the optimal use of digital platforms. This is because there is an increasing number of Malaysians who are now utilizing digital platforms, especially in business transactions and communication.
[1] Start an online business
This is one of the most important business strategies during MCO that entrepreneurs should consider. After more than a year of living in the new norms with the unpredicted situation, many of us have become aware of the importance of using digital marketplace platforms to conduct business such as Shopee, Lazada, Grab, Foodpanda, TNG eWallet, and other types of e-hailing.
Such platforms are also becoming more advanced as there are many new features that shoppers can use. For example, Shopee provides discount options, voucher coupons, and most recently (at the moment this article is written), there are add-on offers to help merchants give services to their potential buyers.
[2] Use a variety of social media platforms for marketing
Apart from Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, TikTok is also gaining ground among Malaysians. Marketing with TikTok can look professional if you do it the right way; you don’t have to dance to promote the products.
In addition, Instagram now has Reels that works similar to TikTok, which was recently launched in 2021, this year. On the other hand, Shopee has the Feeds features that allow sellers to interact with the customers, like in Facebook and Instagram pages.
[3] Create Google My Business account
Generally, everyone knows that Google Search is the most popular search engine in the world. One way to take advantage of Google Search is to register your business with a Google My Business (GMB) account.
This is also one of the business strategies during MCO that is very useful. By having this account, and then pairing it with the right SEO techniques, your business name and brand have the high potential to be listed on the first page. There is no such thing as being impossible for you to be in the top search list! As a result, it is easier for your potential customers and existing customers to find about your business later.
[4] Start having a blog website for your own business
Writing content on a blog is evergreen and long-lasting. This is because writing on a blog is more ‘friendly’ with Google, especially when people search on Google with certain keywords.
Writing with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques can help our writing on the blog go up to the first page and subsequently become the top ranking in the search listings.
For a kickstart, it is sufficient to use a website with a free domain ‒just for you to have a landing page.
[5] Consistent in posting on social media
Find out when is the right time to make a posting on a social media account for our business by taking advantage of the Audience Insight function.
If possible, do it daily and often. With a marketing plan (content planner), filling out content will become easier.
[6] Provide more than one payment gateways to buyers
While planning business strategies during MCO, you should also consider payment gateways. Aside from providing an account number for your customers to make online banking, other popular ways include e-Wallet and Cashback rewards.
[7] Run a marketing campaign
Email marketing should also be included in your business strategies during MCO since many people recommend it. Well, that’s true! It is found that informing customers about your promotional campaigns through blasting emails is more convenient. Even the WhatsApp app now has enabled us to blast messages simultaneously to many people in a certain way. If the marketing content is planned and written correctly, for sure many people will be more interested in approaching our brand and products.
For those who already know about the business strategies during MCO and are looking for a place to learn the basics of doing online business for FREE, let’s join the e-Usahawan program!
The e-Usahawan program is a program organized by MDEC, an agency under the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (KKMM). This program aims to apply the values and knowledge of digital entrepreneurship to micro, rural, and youth entrepreneurs to generate income, market products, and increase sales through a fast-growing and profitable digital platform.
What do the participants of e-Usahawan program say?
Read more about e-Usahawan program here.
From January 2016 until December 2020, a total of 408,016 of young and rural entrepreneurs have been trained; and out of this number, a total of 158,340 entrepreneurs have successfully reported additional sales of RM973.4 million (Portal Malaysia.gov.my).