ShopCoupons Scholarship Program 2017 - Finalists
#3 - Muhamad Shahrul Amri b Mustapa
Saya suka membeli barang secara online sejak tahun 2013 dan ingin berkongsi pengalaman seorang pembeli online. Membeli barang secara online sangat mudah pada masa sekarang dengan adanya laman web yang terkenal seperti Lazada, Lelong, Shopee dan sebagainya. Penjual tidak semestinya mempunyai kedai sendiri untuk berniaga secara online kerana mereka boleh mendaftar di laman web yang menyediakan platform ‘online shopping’ dengan membayar komisen setiap bulan kepada syarikat laman web. Ada juga yang mempunyai kedai sendiri samada kedai besar atau sederhana, yang terkenal mahupun tidak, mereka juga mendaftar dalam sistem online shopping untuk meluaskan lagi akses pelanggan dan menambah keuntungan. Malahan, mereka yang tiada kedai yang berdaftar juga berkelebihan kerana mereka tidak dikenakan cas GST. Mereka juga tidak perlu menyewa kedai untuk berniaga secara online. Ramai orang yang telah berjaya dalam bisnes online hasil ilmu dan pengalaman yang cukup.
Pemasaran digital amatlah penting di zaman IT sekarang kerana rata-rata orang mencari barang yang mereka suka melalui Internet kerana ianya mudah, cepat dan menjimatkan masa. Dengan adanya servis yang mempromosikan bisnes syarikat- syarikat besar seperti Shopcoupons, mereka lebih mudah menambah keuntungan hasil pemasaran yang berkesan oleh Shopcoupons. Perniagaan secara online mempunyai masa depan yang sangat cerah jika peniaga mempunyai ilmu yang cukup dan bijak memancing pembeli. Shopcoupons menyediakan khidmat membekalkan kupon kod, deal dan promosi yang sedang ditawarkan oleh pelbagai laman web online shopping, jadi pengguna hanya perlu ke satu laman web untuk mencari apa tawaran menarik. Jadi, Shopcoupons juga perlu memasarkan namanya kepada semua pembeli online dengan membuat iklan di laman sosial, media massa seperti televisyen, radio dan surat khabar. Membuat iklan memerlukan belanja yang besar tetapi jika iklannya kreatif dan mampu membuatkan orang ramai ingat nama Shopcoupons, hasilnya sangat memberangsangkan. Pastinya Shopcoupons perlu memikirkan apa medium pengiklanan yang sesuai dengan bajet.
Saya pernah mencari kod kupon lazada melalui Google search dan saya dapati terdapat banyak laman web yang menyediakan servis ini. Jadi, Shopcoupons ada pesaingnya. Shopcoupons perlu membuat laman web yang lebih menarik minat pengguna dan lebih mesra pengguna di mana mereka merasa lebih mudah untuk mencari tawaran dan kod. Biar Shopcoupons menjadi antara yang teratas di dalam Google search dengan kata kunci ‘Lazada kupon kod’ atau yang sewaktu dengannya.
Shopcoupons juga boleh menyediakan khidmat auto emel kepada subscribers yang berminat untuk mendaftar dan mereka akan mendapat berita setiap hari tentang promosi. Shopcoupons juga boleh memaksa pengguna untuk mendaftar dahulu jika ingin membuka laman web Shopcoupons. Selain itu, Shopcoupons juga boleh mempromosikan apps dengan menawarkan ganjaran apabila pengguna install di gajet mereka dan apabila mereka mengajak kawan mereka untuk memasang aplikasi ini.
Shopcoupons perlu bekerjasama dengan lebih banyak syarikat yang menggunakan platform Internet kerana zaman sekarang terlalu banyak syarikat yang mempunyai platform itu. Hasil perniagaan yang dibantu oleh Shopcoupons, Shopcoupons akan mendapat komisen yang dipersetujui kerana membantu melariskan perniagaan mereka. Apabila nama Shopcoupons terkenal, maka nama syarikat-syarikat yang bekerjasama juga terkenal apabila perniagaan mereka dipromosikan.
Satu cara yang murah dan mudah untuk memberitahu orang ramai kewujudan Shopcoupons ialah dengan membuat satu perkara yang betul-betul berpotensi untuk menjadi viral di media sosial seperti seorang pelajar mendapat RM5000 Shopcoupons Scholarship. Akan tetapi perkara begini tidak boleh dibuat selalu kerana orang ramai akan merasakan syarikat sedang beriklan. Di saat ianya tular di media sosial, orang ramai akan berminat untuk tahu apa itu Shopcoupons dan apa servisnya.
Kesimpulannya, pemasaran digital melalui Internet memang mempunyai masa depan yang cerah dan saya menjangkakan lebih banyak peluang perniagaan secara digital yang akan wujud di masa hadapan. Inilah peluang Shopcoupons untuk menambah banyakkan syarikat ‘partnership’ yang ingin mempromosi dan menaikkan populariti syarikat mereka. Selain iklan yang bagus dan berterusan, membuat promosi juga salah satu strategi bisnes yang sangat berkesan untuk memancing pembeli dan meraih populariti.
#2 - Myra Nizami
Internet marketing is incredibly important because it is demonstrative of how quickly marketing has evolved with the advent of technology. It represents a new way of advertising, where consumers are given more freedom and choice and in return, companies strive to provide them products that are durable and reliable. Rather than relying on traditional methods where quantifiable success is difficult to measure, internet marketing is able to provide insightful data and valuable insights as to what efforts are successful. This information then directly feeds into overall content marketing strategy, driving further success.
E-commerce has seen a digital transformation like no other, and it has forced organizations to ramp up their digital capabilities and create an online marketing strategy that is niche enough to attract consumers. Internet marketing has opened channels for consumers to directly interact with their favorite brands, discover new ones and have a direct line of communication with the brands they are loyal to. Moreover, internet marketing has enabled both consumers and businesses to be more open and honest, raise accountability and transparency and generally create a more robust and active relationship between consumers and brands.
One of the strongest tools in Internet marketing strategy is the usage of product reviews. These are useful for many reasons. They establish authority and credibility for brands at no cost. Furthermore, because the reviews are usually written by independent parties, their veracity is authenticated and consumers are more likely to trust the opinions being written.
Furthermore, internet marketing and the subsequent analytics derived from it are vital to ensure long-term growth and success of any business. Using the data gathered from both customers and potential customers means that businesses have direct insight into how their products are perceived, and are able to tailor their strategies accordingly. Internet marketing offers an opportunity for personalization that no other form of marketing is really able to match.
Websites such as ShopCoupons are fundamental for internet marketing because it provides a method to save and find better deals for products, thereby making it more credible. Consumers can trust the information provided since it is unbiased, and brands are able to understand their products and how they are received in the market better. In fact, recent surveys have found that “81% of shoppers conduct online research before making big purchases.” This number is sure to grow as more consumers turn to online shopping rather than brick-and-mortar stores.
ShopCoupons is a fantastic example of how powerful of a concept value is for a business. By creating easy to find discount codes, such as the Lazada and Zalora they are able to amplify a brand’s visibility while creating incentives for consumers. This way, consumers and brands both have an opportunity for exposure. Consumers are able to research and discover brands, rather than being forced to choose between a few select brands. By giving consumers purchasing power, and more empowerment in their choices, businesses have a better chance of attracting new and loyal customers despite the competitive nature of the marketplace.
Similarly, brands are able to showcase their quality and have independent third party reviewers attest to it, and studies have consistently shown that word-of-mouth and third party reviews are strong marketing tools. According to surveys, “Consumer reviews are significantly more trusted (nearly 12 times more) than descriptions that come from manufacturers, according to a survey of US internet users by online video review site EXPO. (eMarketer, February 2010).”
This makes the work ShopCoupons does that much more pivotal in the internet marketing space. Reviews are an important aspect of the buying experience but is so price. Finding a resource which positions itself as a trusted source for many, and utilizing that is how many purchases are made. But in order for this to be successful, there needs be credible and trustworthy sources for consumers to access. By creating a venue for coupon and voucher codes, ShopCoupons is an integral force as it streamlines the buying process for the consumer.
Instead of having to hunt through different sources, consumers are easily able to access a wealth of information on any product of their choosing. This enables them to make the best purchasing decisions possible, and thereby businesses create the foundation for a long-lasting and loyal relationship with consumers. In a market saturated with products, having a guide to navigate makes it much easier. Consumers are able to search for products they need and make decisions according to the guide, and brands establish a more credible authority since they are being recommended by a third party.
Personally, I am firmly entrenched in the idea that internet marketing is our future. Instead of running away from digitizing, organizations need to leverage their resources and harness the sheer power of internet marketing. In one fell swoop, businesses can reach out to consumers, market their product and showcase what makes them unique without needing a middleman.
#1 - Lim Jun Hong
Digital Marketing has been on the rise since the dawn of the internet and this has spurred a lot of new companies which rely on the internet to digitally promote and market their businesses. With an increasingly large online population around the world, digital marketing is poised to be the next big thing in the field of marketing, and in many ways it already is one. When one considers about the huge opportunities that lay ahead, it is clear why we should focus our efforts on digital marketing instead of relying on traditional leaflets and printed ads to do the job.
The technology of media transmission and consumption has progressed in leaps and bounds and recently, a lot of new technology (eg. VR and AR) has radically changed the way we consume media content. With this in mind, companies have to adapt to changing trends and keep themselves up to date in order to stay competitive. In the next page, I have proposed a few changes that ShopCoupons can use to improve their digital marketing strategies and thus, benefit from the increased usage of its service.
Improvement of presence and relevance in social media and blog posts
Create viral contests on Facebook to attract attention and hence, awareness and usage of the service. There could be monthly giveaways that requires users to purchase any item on Lazada or Zalora through your app in order to gain an entry to win a prize. [eg. “Purchase any item on Lazada/Zalora through our ShopCoupons app and stand a chance to win XXX” ]. Users are required to sign up and purchase an item using your app in order to be qualified to win. Prizes can range from mobile phones to items like skincare and beauty products, bags and cases, limited merchandise, travelling kits as well as exclusive cash vouchers from Lazada/Zalora or other merchants. Choose the winners at random and post the wins on all social media channels. Doing this consistently once a month (or every 2 months) will help to snowball the amount of attention that you get (which translates to more sales, and ultimately, profits).
Blog posts must be interesting and relevant, and in order to get as much traffic in as possible, links to the blog must be posted on Facebook, Twitter as well as Google+. Provide links to the discount coupons in said blogs.
Target existing customer base
Work wonders with the customer database that you currently have. Send them exclusive offers and weekly deals through email and give out exclusive discount/cash vouchers to users that bring in new users. [eg. “Share this link to your friends and families and earn cash vouchers when 5 or more friends install and use our app!” ]
Give incentives to encourage users to download & use the ShopCoupons app
Promote your app by giving out exclusive deals when a user first signs up and installs the app. After they sign up, users will receive the exclusive discount through email. Encouraging app usage is important because once people start using your app, there is a high chance that they will use it again if they find it to be useful and beneficial.
Any marketing action that requires work on the part of the user (eg. signing up and registering, voucher claiming, etc.) should be as simple as possible. Users will not subscribe to your contests, promotions or deals when there is too much hassle involved.
General improvements to the ShopCoupons app
When a user opens the app for the first time, there should be a popup that prompts them to login/register before they proceed to the coupons page. This helps ShopCoupons collect customer database (eg. email addresses, names, etc.) which can be used for promotional and marketing purposes in the future.
Ask for feedback after a user uses the app to purchase for the first time to ensure that they have a positive experience towards the app and service. Take this opportunity to gather information from users to understand better about what they are interested in and what their usage and buying patterns are. Also, take this opportunity to evaluate and improve the service and/or app.
Improvements in Instagram appearance and function app
Instagram is a good place to promote your services. Post attractive product pictures and link them to their coupon links respectively. Posts must be consistent, with a modern and stylish feel and look to it. The design and colours must not vary too much from post to post so as not to confuse viewers regarding the origin of the post. With consistent and clever use of colours and design elements, you can establish a ShopCoupons style that people can easily recognise.
There should be regular postings of at least one post per day. Show clearly the discounts of items/merchants that you are promoting and alternate between different types and categories of products between days. Promote different merchants from time to time so as to increase usage of the coupons evenly across the board.
The points listed out on the above are my suggestions for ShopCoupons to amplify the promotion of its clients (eg. Lazada/Zalora, etc.) as well as gain more traffic and public awareness regarding its services and app. With the right implementation and execution of said plans, ShopCoupons can potentially grow to become Malaysia and South East Asia’s premier smart saving community platform, enriching the lives of all shoppers from Malaysia and abroad.
