Nairobi, Kenya – Imran Khan recently launched an Indiegogo campaign for Yululate, Kenya’s premier business review website. It is a platform where consumers in Kenya can go online and review and rate local businesses and services. Thousands of businesses in a wide range of industries have registered on the website. Yululate.com has not only given consumers a voice, it has also given small and medium enterprises (SMEs) a chance to break down the digital divide and catch up with big businesses dominating digital platforms.
“While the website is meant to empower the African consumer, it is also a platform for SMEs to effectively compete with bigger businesses by exploring the digital marketing offered to them by the website,” says Imran Khan, “Big search engines are too complex and expensive for these SMEs to access and hence limit their growth. We offer a business its own optimized page with its location and other details that help them get recognition online.”
SME’s are critical in powering Kenya’s economy. According to a 2014 economic survey by the Kenya Bureau of Statistics, they employ 45% of the Kenyan population and are responsible for 80% of the jobs created every year. Despite this, they have fallen on the wrong side of an emerging digital divide. They lack access to digital technologies as well as resources and skills needed to effectively participate in these technologies, resulting in failure to benefit from them. The main reason for this is the high cost and inexperience with the required tools and strategies.
The importance of digital marketing for businesses in Kenya cannot be stated enough. 74.2% of population has access to the internet. 65% of those visit search engines while 42% use the internet to look for online shops. This provides SMEs with possibilities that can only be achieved with the proper and effective digital marketing strategies.
“Reviews by customers are another way for SMEs to digitally market themselves to new customers. Reviews published by Yululate are seen by thousands of consumers looking for reliable businesses to use,” the creator explains, “This is an opportunity for the SMEs to get more customers who are swayed by glowing reviews by others who’ve used their business. This is marketing that would otherwise be expensive and most likely not available to SMEs.”
In exchange for pledging to the project, backers can gain access to a variety of rewards including a customized Yululate supporter’s t-shirt and a brick with your name on a virtual supporters wall for $100, an original oil painting from Adrian Nduma for $1,000, and more! Backers can also pledge $10,000 to experience a true safari with two nights’ complimentary stay at one of the top rated eco-luxury camps in Kenya.
For more information, please visit the Indiegogo page here or contact the creator below.
Distributed by CrowdfundingPR
Media Contact
Company Name: Yululate
Contact Person: Imran Khan
Email: imran@yululate.com
Phone: +254726984292
Country: Kenya
Website: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/yululate-empowering-the-african-consumer#/