Category: Ecommerce

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5 things to know about dropshipping in the Philippines

Marketing

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Online retail continues to thrive as an industry, and E-commerce services are also expanding with it. With promos, vouchers, deals, even cash-on-delivery, consumers are more engaged. This has led to businesses needing to be more creative on how to sell their products.

In the Philippines, dropshipping is an E-commerce service that is gaining popularity among merchants who go into online retail. Dropshipping allows merchants to sell products without storage concerns because they work directly with third party suppliers. This helps them offer diverse products and it simplifies overall operations management.

If you’re considering this type of online business, here are five things that you should know about dropshipping in the Philippines.

Identify what to sell

Like many businesses, merchants who want to do dropshipping in the Philippines must also identify the products they want to sell. This can best be done by studying the market and finding a niche or specific audience to serve. Since many online sellers prefer dropshipping as a business model, new entrants need to check what products are of high demand to Filipinos. From there, they see how they can go about selling against the competition.

Work with suppliers

A benefit of dropshipping in the Philippines is that merchants can choose the suppliers that they want to work with. This grants them the freedom to do background checks. They can also ask to see samples of their products first. Merchants can set agreements to ensure that products are at their best quality, especially as orders come in and are shipped out.

Decide on your approach

There are two ways to go about dropshipping. Merchants can either purchase products from a supplier beforehand, or simply route orders directly to them after confirming the customer’s shipping details. Both will heavily rely on the suppliers as they will take care of the packaging and shipment of orders.

Find a place to sell them

When merchants start dropshipping in the Philippines, they can actually choose whatever selling platform they prefer. They can choose to sell on their own website, social media or online marketplaces. This E-commerce service allows merchants to take their products everywhere. What is important is that merchants do proper marketing and their suppliers handle the logistics properly.

Know the potential risks

Merchants who want to put up a dropshipping business in the Philippines must know that it also has risks. With this E-commerce service, merchants do not have direct visibility over products and handling. This can result in compromises on quality and fulfillment. These include wrong orders or addresses, damaged goods, and shipment delays, to name a few.

Thus, merchants must be ready to provide service recovery to manage potential negative customer feedback. This can be through discounts, replacements, or even refunds, all in an effort to save the relationship with the customer.

These are just some of the things to remember when you start dropshipping in the Philippines. If you’re looking to get into this, its best to have a partner that can support the different aspects of your store. 

Choose the right partner

Dropshipping in the Philippines is quite simple and easy to do. What would make things easier for merchants is having the right partner that can help set their online store up and manage various aspects of the business. Payo is the best choice for the job because it is a leading E-commerce enabler. They offer innovative end-to-end E-commerce solutions to their partners. With Payo, merchants’ online selling experience can be efficient and seamless!

Among the E-commerce services that Payo offers are Marketplace Optimization, Live Customer Support, Fulfillment, Last Mile Management, and Cash-on-Delivery Integration. These are all essential in running the day-to-day of a digital store. With Payo’s help, merchants can pursue dropshipping in the Philippines with ease while also focusing on more important matters of their business.

Interested in starting your own dropshipping business? Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at [email protected]. Let’s get your online store up and running!

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6 characteristics of effective marketplace sellers

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Online marketplaces have been the buzz of the retail industry for the past several years. These platforms have become so popular that the largest ones have millions of products to offer. As a result, online marketplaces have given birth to the fiercest competition within E-commerce. There’s now a need for marketplace sellers to stand out.

So how do you become an effective marketplace seller? We asked Payo’s Marketplace Manager Kim Casaje about the characteristics that an online seller must have, and here are her insights.

Be organized

Believe it or not, a big part of running a successful online marketplace store is organization. 

“Well-designed, organized stores make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for,” Kim noted. This ranges from having accurate product descriptions and labeling items right, to putting the right tags and photos for your items. A well-curated store can keep your customers continuously scrolling.

And also, you need to be organized in terms of knowing your inventory. You have to monitor what’s going in and out of your online store, as well how your store is doing. If you are unorganized, expect havoc for your business.

Be confident and decisive

Making decisions is what marketplace sellers do daily. This is why it pays to build self-confidence in your decision-making over time. And how do you do it? Kim said merchants should spend time developing their knowledge and understanding of E-commerce. Merchants need to stay updated on everything, as the industry is very dynamic and disruptive.

Doing this will give you a better chance of making the right business decisions. It can also help establish your credibility among your employees, customers, and business partners.

Be analytical

Another vital tip that Payo’s resident marketplace expert shared is that merchants should be analytical.

“An analytical online marketplace seller can scale their store easily if they base their promotions on historical data such as sales and store traffic, and other analyses like pricing, competitor, and market analysis,” she further explained. 

Be persistent

In the online marketplace, persistence is the name of the game. Kim added that an online marketplace seller “must be persistent in a way that when they need answers to questions that can help their store grow, they pursue those answers until they find them.”

Marketplace sellers always need to be sure that there are no stones left unturned in their E-commerce journey. It can be challenging, but having this mindset will enable them to grow in the industry.

Be accommodating to your customers

When you are a marketplace seller, patience is everything. Even if this isn’t your strongest suit, you still have to know how to deal with customers. You have to learn how to accommodate their needs, especially the difficult ones.

“Having great social skills and being approachable and likable has always been a cornerstone of any good salesperson,” Kim said. Remember, how you deal with them can make or break your E-commerce success. Try to be an accommodating seller at all times, and not just when complaints are there.

Be optimistic

There is a lot of competition in online marketplaces. But nothing is impossible as long as you believe you can succeed.

Optimism is one of the most important traits that marketplace sellers should have, according to Kim. As a marketplace seller, you can’t expect that there are great sales all year-round. But even in these situations, you must be your own business’ biggest cheerleader.

“When you are optimistic about your business, it breeds confidence. Customers can see and feel your can-do, positive attitude! If you don’t believe you can sell, then you probably won’t,” Kim added.

Success in online marketplaces does not happen overnight. While these traits are helpful for merchants to be effective and efficient, it requires passion, expertise, and some marketing chops to succeed. “The good news is that there are E-commerce enablers to help merchants scale their business in online marketplaces,” closed Kim.

Payo, one of the Philippines’ leading E-commerce enablers, does this and more. From Warehousing and Fulfillment to Marketplace Optimization, Payo can help address your needs and drive growth in your E-commerce business. 

We take E-commerce seriously with our range of tech-based services like Live Customer Support, Last Mile Management, Woocommerce Integration, and Shopify Integration. These services are designed to make the other aspects of your business hassle-free.

Want to level up your online marketplace strategy? Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at [email protected] so we can help you become an effective marketplace seller!

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The rise of E-commerce enablers in the Philippines

Marketing

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Technology has grown to become a large part of everyone’s daily life. Whether it is for personal or work purposes, innovation is truly transforming the world in more ways than one. It also gave birth to E-commerce as a service. Customers now have the option to shop online aside from visiting a physical store.

In recent years, more consumers and businesses have been turning to online retail. As a result of this, companies called ‘E-commerce enablers’ have continued to optimize the online shopping process. Similar to online businesses, they are also growing in number across the globe. But what exactly are they and how do they work?

Defining E-commerce enablers

An E-commerce enabler refers to a company that offers end-to-end solutions to help brands manage their online business. It covers a wide variety of E-commerce services. These services include but are not limited to store management, marketing, design, customer service support, supply chain management, and fulfillment.

While the focus of E-commerce enablers are mainly digital, they are also knowledgeable on physical operations. They can provide solutions for the on-ground aspects of businesses. These include sales remittance and retention, product management, and courier coordination.

Simply put, E-commerce enablers assist businesses with their online store operations. They provide efficient and seamless management whether it is customer-related or internal functions. Their services can also be customized based on the brands’ requirements. Some even provide recommendations on how to further improve overall business management.

E-commerce in the Philippines

The Philippines is among the countries where E-commerce services continue to thrive. Thanks to the ease and convenience it offers, E-commerce has given birth to an entirely new age of Filipino consumers. These customers will continue to explore the digital space for their needs.

Similarly, Filipino business owners are also flocking to the digital space because of how big the market has grown. They are keen on exploring different platforms where they can sell their products. These merchants either have their own website, go to online marketplaces, post on social media, or engage in a mix of all three. As a result, E-commerce enablers offering all kinds of business support have increased to better serve online customers and merchants.

E-commerce enablers study the shopping behavior of Filipino consumers to understand how they can address the needs of the market. This allows them to provide recommendations and strategies on how to attract more customers while also improving their operations.

Partnering with an E-commerce enabler

E-commerce enablers are here to make life easier for brands, and partnering with one will see your business benefit. If you’re looking to partner with the best one, choose Payo!

Payo is a leading E-commerce enabler in the Philippines that works with local and international businesses. The company helps bring their products to a growing online Filipino consumer base.

Payo offers holistic and tailor-fit solutions to address the needs of online merchants. The company forms collaborative relationships with all their merchants to solve E-commerce challenges and improve their logistics processes. This ultimately helps them scale faster and reach more locations and customers.

Among the many E-commerce services that Payo provides are Sales Retention and Fulfillment. These services are designed to ensure product quality, successful delivery, and a seamless purchasing journey. Additionally, the company has a Courier Algorithm that provides courier options in order send out parcels faster and safer. 

Payo’s Marketplace Optimization helps merchants set up and manage their own Shopee and Lazada stores. Plus, no need to worry about Warehousing and Cash-on-Delivery Integration – Payo covers those too!

Managing an online business can be as intimidating and tiring as running a physical one. Partner with Payo to help lighten up your load so you can focus on more important things!

Want to learn more about E-commerce enablers? Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at i[email protected]. Let’s collaborate on how we can improve your online business!

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Why is social selling so popular today?

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The Philippines is known as the social media capital of the world. Filipinos are among the most active users of various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

During its early years, social media was only used to connect with family and friends and share life updates. Over time, each platform transformed into channels that now cater to news, gaming, content creation, and retail promotions.

Additionally, social selling — or the selling or products and services online — has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. This can be attributed to the continuous E-commerce boom in the Philippines, and the reliance of Filipinos on social media.

Food, toys, apparel, homeware, tech – these are only some of the items being that merchants offer through social selling. But why has it become so popular? Here’s a list of reasons why, as well as how you can be part of it!

Familiarity with the platforms

Filipinos are social media-savvy. This means they have no to minimal difficulties in navigating these platforms. They are aware of their different functions. They can easily share content and join groups where sellers gather to showcase their products. Thus, social selling is instantly a preferred way of purchasing items. 

Ease and convenience of social media

Since they are already familiar with it, customers find it easier and more convenient to shop on social media. It doesn’t require them to learn anything new. Social selling streamlines their consumer journey. Transactions can be finalized through a simple exchange of messages privately.

Quick comms

Social selling works for a lot of Filipinos because they can communicate fast. Whether it’s posting their questions in the comments or through a private message, it all happens very quickly. Got a question on the price, stocks, mode of payment, shipping fee, and others? Just message or comment away! And because sellers need to maintain a good response rate, turnaround will certainly be faster.

Fun and engaging

The experience of social selling can also be fun and engaging for Filipinos, especially when there are live selling sessions. What makes it exciting is how simple it is to make a purchase by commenting “mine” or “dibs.”

The audience can ask questions that the seller can respond to in real-time. Sometimes, there are even giveaways and raffle prizes to ensure that viewers are engaged all throughout.

So, how can merchants get it on social selling? It’s a lot simpler than you think.

Set up your merchant profile or page

Start your social selling journey with a cool name for your shop. Then, start creating your social media profile or page. You can do this through your own profile. You can even use an entirely separate page to keep everything organized.

Upload and post content regularly

What’s important when it comes to social selling is maintaining your visibility. Make sure that you upload new content like product photos and customer reviews. These can be in the form of themed posts, customer highlights, or even better, new products. You can also try social media ads by boosting your posts for added visibility and reach.

Respond promptly and meaningfully

Responding to inquiries is a key part of social selling as it is another way of engaging with your audience. You can set up auto-replies for frequently asked questions. Don’t forget to still provide meaningful and timely answers to customers to keep them interested. This will help build rapport, establish customer loyalty, and keep your response rate high.

Keep audiences engaged

Apart from posting regular content, you should also consider other ways to keep your customers engaged. You can explore discounts, promos or seasonal sales so they can buy more for less. Contests and giveaways are also great for social selling. It encourages user-generated content and boosts page traffic. You can also host live selling sessions and have exclusive offers only your viewers can avail of.

These are just some reasons why social selling continues to be popular among Filipinos, along with a guide on how you can be part of the fun. While it may seem simple to manage, it can be overwhelming once the bulk of orders come in. More so when you’re only a one-person team. With Payo, you don’t have to worry about that.

As a leading E-commerce enabler in the Philippines, Payo can help you be better at social selling. They have wide range of services designed especially for online merchants.

Live Customer Support can help with your inquiries. Fulfillment and Last Mile Management can see to it that deliveries are successful. Cash-on-Delivery Integration can help you offer more flexible payment options.

Want to start or level up your social selling game?  Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at [email protected]. You’ll definitely be a social selling expert in no time!

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Innovative E-commerce solutions to use for your business this 2022

Marketing

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E-commerce services continue to grow as more consumers and businesses explore the digital space. Thanks to technology, user interfaces and experiences have also become more innovative, and various E-commerce solutions have made transactions easier to manage.

Locally, the E-commerce Association of the Philippines, Inc. remains hopeful that the growth of E-commerce will progress further, especially with the right policies that support digital marketing. As things look brighter for the industry, here are some of the most important E-commerce solutions that continue to transform E-commerce services in the Philippines.

Chat function

One of the most important E-commerce solutions that benefits consumers and merchants is the integration of the chat function. This feature lets customers freely reach out to sellers for inquiries and concerns. Likewise, merchants have also set up chatbots to help manage similar inquiries. Some brands also innovated this further by making it more intricate to provide specific advice or instructions that customers may need before speaking with the seller or a brand representative.

Live customer support

The growth of online shopping also paved the way for new consumer behaviors, including staying updated with their purchases. Live customer support allows merchants to share real-time updates, letting customers know their packages’ order status and whereabouts. Merchants also use this to notify customers of any delays, and to offer solutions ahead of time.

Additionally, live customer support is an avenue for customers to ask more questions that chatbots are not able to answer. Aside from this, merchants can also use this E-commerce solution to resolve customer issues through direction communication.

Cash-on-Delivery

Cash-on-Delivery (CoD) is likely to be the most popular E-commerce solution among Filipinos. As the Philippines remains to be a cash-based economy, consumers have also taken this preference in their online shopping. CoD grants them time to save up for their orders, enables them to properly manage their budget, and even allows them to check if delivered items are indeed what they ordered.

Courier algorithm

Courier algorithms come in handy for merchants because this E-commerce solution provides courier recommendations based on their shipping needs. This helps make the shipment and delivery of packages faster and more efficient as it takes into consideration different requirements such as location, preference for delivery time, value for money, and payment option.

Marketplace optimization

Since a lot of stores are now present in online marketplaces, this E-commerce solution helps merchants bring their business to platforms like Shopee and Lazada. Marketplace optimization provides assistance to merchants whether it is setting up shop, marketing products, or even handling logistics. This allows them to efficiently maintain their presence digitally while also working on other aspects of their operations.

Shopify integration

Anyone who’s looking to put up an online business has likely seen Shopify among the top E-commerce solution providers. It allows users to build their own online store that they can design and customize based on their personal preferences. It also offers various marketing tools and services that merchants can use to promote products and reach bigger audiences.

These innovative E-commerce solutions have changed the game in the digital marketplace. The community has grown so vast, while also becoming significantly smaller as consumers and merchants from around the world connect with each other through tech. But the ultimate hack to provide the best E-commerce service is having all these E-commerce solutions housed under one umbrella, and that’s what you get with Payo!

As an E-commerce enabler, Payo helps merchants both big and small in reaching more audiences in the Philippines thanks to its wide range of services. These include Live Customer Support, Cash-on-Delivery Integration, Courier Algorithm, Marketplace Optimization, Shopify Integration, and even Warehousing, and Fulfillment.

Unlock your business’ ultimate potential in the digital world. Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at [email protected]. Together, we’ll elevate your brand!

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Tips to make online marketplace selling work for you

Marketing

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The online marketplace is full of opportunities for E-commerce businesses. Customers are buying things online now more than ever, and merchants are turning to marketplaces to reach them and cater to their needs. 

Selling in online marketplaces can be beneficial to merchants who want to have an online store without the extra burden of driving traffic to it. But while these platforms offer this benefit, this doesn’t mean you should just sit back and wait for your customers to find you. As a merchant, you still need to have a marketplace strategy to succeed in E-commerce. Here are some ways you can make online marketplace selling work for you!

Optimize your content 

To succeed in online marketplaces, you should start with optimizing your content. Your product content – things like your product categories, description, and product titles – would usually drive customers to make a purchasing decision. And the more optimized your content is, the higher it will appear in an online marketplace’s search results. As your listings appear higher in the search results, more people see them, which improves your click-through rates and sales.

To do this, identify the best categories, find the perfect keywords, and write accurate but compelling product descriptions. Make sure that you also use high-resolution images for your products. 

Always keep your store updated 

Unlike brick-and-mortar shops, your online store is open 24/7. This means that customers may visit and buy your products any time of the day. This requires you to be on top of managing your store, and keeping all the products and information updated all the time.

Track and resolve customer complaints in no time

Online marketplaces can be a very highly competitive, global environment. But what can set you apart is the way you manage customer returns and complaints. Remember that online marketplaces’ terms and conditions usually favor the customer, so make sure to solve any disputes quickly and effectively. 

Thankfully, there are E-commerce enablers that offer Live Customer Support to take care of your customers’ queries. Stay on top of your customers’ complaints and product concerns by having a partner to help you with them.

Establish an efficient fulfillment strategy

Another way you can improve your online marketplace strategy is by working with a reliable fulfillment partner. You can track and manage your inventory and make sure your products are ready for shipping and fulfillment. And once your customer has purchased from your store, dependable fulfillment service providers will go beyond just picking, packing, and handing packages to couriers for delivery; they will also help you give your customers a smooth delivery process. 

Leverage social media to amplify your marketplace store

More and more people are using social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram to discover brands. You can use these platforms to promote your products as well as direct customers to your marketplace store. Being active online can create familiarity with your business and your brand. And engagements such as likes, follows, replies, and mentions can do an effective job in closing the distance between your customers and your business.

These are just some of the strategies that can help you win in online marketplaces. But while some merchants believe that joining an online marketplace will boost their sales immediately, success doesn’t happen overnight. You need some time to gain sales traction. It’s a learning process, and the only way to really learn what works is to get experience. 

As an online seller, you have to be patient and give yourself time to discover what works for your business. If you are struggling at one point, there are E-commerce enablers like Payo that can help you!

Payo is the perfect partner in building and managing your online store. We’ve got everything you need to start selling online with our innovative tools like Marketplace Optimization, Fulfillment, Warehousing, and Last Mile Management. Simplify your operations and have more time to focus on other aspects of your business when you partner with us!

Sign up with us today or send us a message at [email protected] to kick-start your marketplace journey!

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Analyzing the impact of online selling in the Philippines

Marketing

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Getting into E-commerce in the Philippines is one way for brands to reach a wider audience and showcase their offerings. When online marketplaces were first introduced, Filipinos were quick to explore these platforms because of the great deals and discounts they offered. However, many still preferred visiting traditional brick and mortar stores, with only 2% of the online population making online purchases.

When the pandemic broke out and restrictions were put in place, many saw the potential of exploring E-commerce. Merchants and customers alike turned to online selling in the Philippines for their essential needs because they couldn’t go out. Thus, a new generation of shoppers and shopkeepers were born.

Rise of the digital marketplace

During the height of the pandemic, E-commerce activity grew as physical movements and mobility continued to be limited. This saw local E-commerce transactions reaching PHP229.8B in 2020, and estimated to have reached PHP264.5B in 2021. This is proof of how businesses and consumers coped with online selling in the Philippines.

Because of the restrictions, some businesses scaled down physical stores. This was followed by expansions online while many startups also came into the digital fold. The Department of Trade and Industry even reported that online merchants have grown from only 1,700 in March 2020 to over 93,000 in January 2021.

Whether it’s on social media like Facebook and Instagram, online marketplaces like Shopee and Lazada, or on merchants’ own websites, online selling in the Philippines is thriving thanks to technology. Not only did costs decrease, but merchants are also able to maximize expenditure on other things. This includes increased inventory, storage, and even advertisements for different marketing promotions.

Growth of digital payments

The rise of online selling in the Philippines also saw the jump in digital payments. Because they were not able to go to banks and bayad centers, consumers had to learn how digital banking worked to manage their finances and online purchases.

Despite being a cash-driven market, Visa revealed that 60% of Filipinos carried less cash during the pandemic, while another 84% tried going cashless. There was also an increase in preference for mobile wallets, online card payments, in-store card payments, and quick response (QR) payments.

The company even went on to say that the preference for cashless payments is clearly gaining momentum. “More Filipinos are confident to get by without cash and for longer periods of time — with more than half feeling confident to get by for a week or longer, as cashless payment options grow,” it shared.

Multiplier effect in other industries

Demand for logistics service providers also soared as online selling boomed in the Philippines. As businesses and consumers dominated the digital marketplace, they also grew to cater to the surge in customers. This has led to more employment opportunities for Filipinos and access to untapped markets.

Similarly, this growth also impacted warehousing as E-commerce accounted for nearly half the total demand in early 2021. This shows not only the increased investment in storage spaces, but the potential of serving a bigger market in the metro and in rural areas.

Technology has indeed enabled a lot of opportunities to ensure a thriving local retail industry. If you’re looking to leverage these, then now’s the right time to explore and take your shot. 

With Payo’s solutions, you can break into the Philippine E-commerce scene effectively and seamlessly. These include Marketplace Optimization, Warehousing, Fulfillment, Last Mile Management, Cash-on-Delivery Integration, and so much more. 

Want to scale your business in the Philippines through online selling? Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at [email protected]. Your journey into the digital marketplace starts here!

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Here’s why E-commerce marketplaces are so popular

Marketing

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The world of E-commerce is fast evolving.  As consumer behavior changes constantly, the industry has to continuously innovate, which is what brought about the prevalence of E-commerce marketplaces.

A marketplace is a shopping platform where you can find different products coming from multiple merchants and shops. Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, Lazada, and Shopee are just some of the most established E-commerce marketplaces one can think of.

Its popularity can’t be ignored, especially if you’re looking for ways to scale your business. But why are online marketplaces a worldwide favorite? Let’s take a closer look at how E-commerce marketplaces benefit both local and international online sellers:

It allows businesses to expand their market

An E-commerce marketplace’s biggest advantage is that it makes acquiring new clients and expanding the customer base easier. Online marketplaces have been a conducive space for growth in the homeware, fashion, sporting, and even pets’ needs categories globally. So if you are offering these kinds of products, this could be your chance to reach overseas customers!

It helps boost sales

Reaching revenue targets in no time is possible with an online marketplace. These E-commerce platforms have been really helpful for small local businesses to reach a much bigger audience, therefore giving them more opportunities to boost their sales. Also, the low cost of setting up a marketplace store plays an important role in helping achieve better profit margins.

It builds and increases trust among customers

Being part of an established online marketplace enables sellers to build a higher level of trust among their customers. Online marketplaces provide greater transparency as the product availability, prices, and stock levels are accessible in an open market. 

Customers also utilize the review section to gather insights about the services and products provided by the merchants. And they would feel more at ease when they buy from a trusted E-commerce marketplace since online fraud and scams are prevalent. 

It increases brand awareness

With a single keyword search in an online marketplace, your items will be immediately displayed in a list along with other brands and merchants. This kind of competition could be beneficial for you especially if you rank high in terms of customer reviews and pricing. 

It gives merchants an enhanced marketing experience

Marketing and promotion are vital to an E-commerce business’ growth. Getting your online store to stand out requires a dedicated marketing effort, especially since competition is stiff. Good thing there are tons of opportunities to promote your business on online marketplaces!

From flash sales, discounts, and personalized promos, to in-app and web advertisements, E-commerce marketplaces offer numerous ways you can market your products to potential customers. 

These are just some of the reasons why online marketplaces are gaining popularity in the E-commerce industry. Considering their growth, it’s obvious how these platforms can be beneficial for merchants. But if you’re still unsure whether an online marketplace is for you, let Payo help you!

Payo is the best partner you can have for marketplace growth. Our Marketplace Optimization solution caters to sellers who want to focus their efforts on the county’s top online marketplaces. Our experts in E-commerce will make sure that your online store is user-friendly and optimized for selling here in the Philippines. We can also help you ensure that your shop is ready to receive orders through our reliable marketplace management solutions. 

Plus, our other tech-based services like Live Customer Support, Courier Algorithm, Warehousing, and Fulfillment are designed to make even other aspects of your business more hassle-free.


Give your business dreams a pair of sturdy wings to soar high when you partner with Payo! Send us a message at [email protected] or sign up now to check out our Marketplace Optimization solutions.

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How to start a dropshipping business in the Philippines

Marketing

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In the world of E-commerce, you always have to be on the lookout for new trends. From the rise of online marketplaces to live selling, technology has made it convenient for merchants to be creative with how they sell their products. One E-commerce trend that has been gaining momentum in the Philippines is dropshipping. 

Dropshipping is a type of retail fulfillment where merchants do not personally store or have an inventory of the products they sell. Rather, they work with different third party suppliers. For instance, when a customer makes an order, the merchant purchases the product from a supplier or routes it to them and lets them handle the packaging and shipping. It’s that simple!

This business model has become popular among merchants because it allows them to offer a wide variety of products in different locations at minimal costs. They don’t have to worry about inventory, storage space, and even the shipments as these are already taken care of by partner suppliers.

Want to start your own dropshipping business in the Philippines? Here’s how you can do it.

Choose your products

A lot of merchants continue to explore dropshipping in the Philippines. You need to be mindful of this when choosing the products you want to sell. Do your research and find a specific market to cater to. If you already have your product preference, you can always level it up through different marketing techniques. This will help you stand out from your competition.

Find your suppliers

Apart from your products, you also have the freedom to select which suppliers you want to partner with. They can be established local brands, vendors on online marketplaces, or wholesalers and general merchandisers. You can also consider their locations to get an idea on which areas you can cater to when you start selling.

Set up supplier agreements

To ensure a smooth and seamless shopping experience for your customers, you need to set agreements with your partner suppliers. Since this is a dropshipping arrangement, they will be handling the products from packaging to shipment. These agreements will help you make sure that products are kept and packaged in their best quality, and that shipping is managed properly and efficiently.

Another way of going about dropshipping is purchasing the products and personally packing and shipping them once an order has been placed. In this case, your agreement with suppliers can be more focused on maintaining product quality and availability for easy access.

Build your shop and choose your platform

Now that you’ve ticked off your products and suppliers, you need to determine your brand’s identity like its name and logo. Once you’ve worked out those details, you must now select which platform you want to use for your online store.

You can choose to have a website which you can fully design, manage, and control. Not as tech-savvy? You can always go for online marketplaces like Shopee or Lazada where there are already templates to guide you. Social media is another platform that you can explore. It’s one of the easier platforms to manage because it’s quite similar to managing your personal social media accounts.

Bring out the best in your products

Since products sold through dropshipping may be similar among merchants, you have to unleash your creative side. Choose the best product photos in different angles and settings. It would also help to have people model your products and even add photos from other customers using your products. 

You can liven up these photos with punchy or witty descriptions to get the attention of customers. These are necessary for you to stand out from your competitors.

Create buzz through marketing

Once your business goes live, you also need to start on your marketing. This can be done through promotions on social media, online advertisements, or even through referrals or word of mouth. If you’re on Shopee or Lazada, you have a wide range of free and paid promotional features that can boost your visibility.

Keep communication lines open for feedback

Feedback matters to both you and your customers. You can utilize the chat functions of your platforms and also have a space where they can provide feedback. This will help you build rapport and also address any concerns that they may have with their purchase.

Prepare for potential service recovery

You may already have agreements with your partner suppliers, but since you don’t have direct visibility over the handling of products, it’s best to have service recovery plans in place. Should there be any disruptions on the delivery like delays, damages, and wrong addresses, you can offer discounts, free replacements, and refunds to help manage your customers. This will show them that you value and care for their experience.

Dropshipping in the Philippines may already sound easy enough, but you can always partner with Payo to make the process more seamless for you. Payo can help you thrive in E-commerce through different services like Fulfillment, Last Mile Management, Live Customer Support, and Marketplace Optimization.

Want to start your dropshipping journey in the Philippines? Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at [email protected]. We’ll be right with you!

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Here’s your guide to building an online store

Marketing

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The digital marketplace offers a multitude of opportunities, which is why merchants both big and small are bringing their businesses there through different platforms. If you have a business and you’re looking to break into that space as well, then you better start building your online store.

But how and where do you start? What do you need to prepare? Is it advisable to tap an E-commerce enabler in the Philippines? Don’t worry because here’s a quick guide to building your own online store!

Establish your identity

Before anything else, your store needs to have its own name. It can be simple and straightforward, or creative and unexpected. It’s all up to you and how you want to make an impression. Put a face to your name with a logo, which you can also use for your packaging and business cards.

Another thing that’s equally important to any business – your products. What do you want to sell? Clothes, toys, houseware, general merchandise, tech? You need to finalize the products that you’ll be selling so you know what to focus on and how to market them later on.

Identify your preferred digital platform

For starters, you need to know where you want to be seen and how you can be accessed. Nowadays, you can explore multiple platforms in setting up your digital store. It all depends on your preference and how you want to manage your operations.

You can develop your own website which you can fully design and manage. On the other hand, you can explore online marketplaces like Shopee and Lazada. These platforms allow you to build an online store easily thanks to their templates. Want something much simpler? Go for social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram where you can just upload product photos, create witty captions, and share posts regularly.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even mix and match these platforms to help you attract customers across different channels. Plus with the help of E-commerce enablers, it will be even easier to manage your operations and reach Philippine customers.

Make your products stand out

Competition is stiff online, especially now that this has become an entry point for many businesses. You can always get the upper hand over your competitors not just with promotions, but by how you present your products.

Building an online store is very different from a physical one because customers don’t get to see your products firsthand. You can enhance their shopping experience by uploading multiple photos of your products. Work on the angles, and the setting, or if you can get a friend to model for you, then better. It’s all about what makes your products different, better, and more enticing to customers.

You should also level up your copywriting game. Aside from sharing basic information, you can engage your customers by adding a twist to your product descriptions. Filipinos are known to be witty so go for short, punchy, and funny content. You can also add a story to convey different product experiences. What’s important is that you strike the balance between what your customers need to know, and what you want to tell them.

Plan your logistics

Whether you’re new to doing business or looking to expand online, you should also have a plan for your logistics. Identify where you want to sell your products or areas that you want to reach. Is it within your city, or in multiple locations? This will help you decide if you need to rent a warehouse to better manage your operations.

That said, you also need to consider how you deliver your products. Look into different couriers that you can partner with, as well as their delivery routes. They should match your target locations so you can effectively reach audiences and efficiently deliver packages.

Offer different payment and shipping options

Payment and shipping options are crucial in building an online store. Filipinos have different preferences on how they want to pay and how they want to receive their products.

For payment options, you can always go for card transactions, bank transfers, and e-wallets. But if you want to reach more customers, offer Cash-on-Delivery (CoD). Many Filipinos still prefer CoD because it gives them time to save and the chance to check the product before paying for them. This also shows consideration on your part as a merchant.

For shipping methods, you can opt for the standard ones offered by different couriers. However, what many customers really prefer these days is express delivery. This can be in the form of next-day deliveries or shorter delivery times.

Provide communication lines

For any online store to flourish, an open or direct line to consumers is a must. Make sure to have a chat function on your website so customers can message you. For social media and online marketplaces, the chat function is readily available. You can set up auto-replies so customers can get quick responses and you can provide more details later on.

These lines are also important because it’s not only for inquiries but for concerns and feedback. Whether they’re satisfied or unhappy, giving customers a communication line highlights that your store is reachable and can assist them anytime.

Building an online store is quite easy thanks to today’s technology. For those who aren’t as tech-savvy or would need assistance, Payo is one of the leading E-commerce enablers in the Philippines that can help you do the job.

Payo is the perfect partner in building and managing a holistic online store. It provides various services such as Marketplace Optimization, Live Customer Support, Fulfillment, Last Mile Management, and Warehousing. These will not only help simplify your operations but even grant you more time to focus on other aspects of your business.

Want to get started on your online store already? Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at [email protected]. The digital marketplace awaits!