THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is pushing for digitally competitive micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Negros Occidental amid the growing market challenges.
The agency, through the business counselors of different Negosyo Centers in the province, Thursday, September 21, trained 36 entrepreneurs on expanding the market through electronic commerce.
Rachel Nufable, chief trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the seminar held at the Metro Inn Hotel in Bacolod City is aimed at equipping participants with better understanding on online platform as a marketing tool.
She said this will also capacitate MSMEs to cope with current trends and strategies on e-commerce so that they can effectively expand their markets.
“Aside from product quality, it is also important that entrepreneurs are capable of adapting technologies to sell more products and increase their income," Nufable said, adding that many MSMEs in Negros Occidental have yet to improve their digital literacy like navigating websites, or even using Facebook and other social media sites.
During the activity, Negrense blogger-entrepreneur and product development consultant Jojo Vito shared concepts and techniques on digital marketing including the “do’s” and don’ts” in e-commerce.
Vito underscored the importance of separating personal issues, especially negative ones, from business when using the internet space in selling products as the former may affect consumers’ perception towards the product.
He also suggested that MSMEs should also have their own website aside from Facebook and other social media accounts to further provide “professional” image to the business.
The DTI-Negros Occidental is looking at creating a website catering to all MSMEs in the province.
Nufable said it will serve as a “network” showcasing Negrense entrepreneurs and their products as well as providing potential buyers the information on how to reach them.
“This could be an effective platform to link our producers to more and bigger markets,” she added.
Nufable also said the seminar is an eye opener for MSMEs as it made them understand the advantage of selling their products not just in traditional way.
“Digital marketing is really a powerful tool in boosting local entrepreneurs,” she said, adding that being digitally competitive gives them the market advantage amid the challenges brought by Asean economic integration and other globalization developments.