It's 2019... and you need to be more digital... 

Do I need a website?

The short answer is YES. Instagram is not enough. If your entire digital strategy is social media, then you need to rethink. How many times has Instagram been 'down' in recent times? If you don't have a website, then Facebook owns your customer. Facebook owns your content. You need your own website. That you own. That you control. That you get recognised for.

Why do I need a website?

Apart from the reasons above, here is why having 'owned media' is important.

1. Search. How do your customers find you? Some may find you through social media, but most will use Google.
2. Micro Moments. Your customers want to know, want to do, want to buy... you need to be able to satisfy each one of those needs at any given time. Only a website, perhaps with live chat built in can do that. Read more...
3. Maps. Customers are looking for businesses 'Near Me'. Your social media doesn't help customers find you.
4. Content. Whether it is UGC or as we call it XGC the most efficient and cost efficient marketing is content marketing.

Do I need Ecommerce or an Online Shop?

Absolutely. Just ask any Hotel or restaurant how much it costs to get a third party to sell on their platform? 20% 25%... Do you have enough margin in your business model to be able to afford those kinds of fees? The cost of an Ecommerce website may seem expensive, but it is an investment that reduces your costs in the long run and allows you to sell to a global market.

Bahrain is also perfectly placed to sell to Saudi Arabia. That's 30 Million customers who are all digital. All mobile. All looking to buy.

What do I need to Go Digital?

Will. You need to want to change. You also need to understand the fundamentals of your business. In order to create a digital strategy you need to know you buyer personas. You need to understand your unique value proposition. You need to have in depth knowledge of your numbers - your costs, your margins, the price elasticity of your products. Your business needs to stand on its own two feet - without Tamkeen.

Do I need to spend money on Ads?

Probably. Ecommerce in Bahrain is just like retail. Customers need to know where your shop is. You can use Instagram or Facebook or Google to promote your website and your content until you generate organic traffic from SEO. The good news is that not many companies are using Google Ads or Paid Search in Bahrain, so it's not expensive and not very competitive.

Here's a small story...

A delegate at the Advanced Digital Marketing Training Course as part of the Bahrain Ecommerce Academy had been spending money to promote his business at the Juffair Mall. He had spent thousands of Dinah. He had generated a lot of 'likes' but no business. We created a Google Ads campaign with a budget of $10 and within 20 minutes he had his first enquiry via his website. We have recreated this success across the Kingdom. 

Which Ecommerce Platform should I use?

It depends. Every business in Bahrain is different. A Hotel will need different website features to a family manufacturing business or a shop in a mall. If you want to have a website with Arabic and English, then you will need to use a solution like WooCommerce or Magento. If you want a singe language and a single currency, then a SaaS solution like Shopify might work for you.

Can I use Marketplaces and Drop-Shipping?

Maybe, but it's not as easy as the YouTube videos and Shopify Ads make it seem. Many marketplaces, like Amazon, do not allow Bahrain companies sell on their platform! So you may need a company registration, bank account and address outside of the Kingdom. This has implications for tax and other things, so it might not be the best strategy. Also keep in mind how long the shipping will take from places like China. This might not give your customers the best experience. It's possible to build an online business, but you will not become a millionaire overnight.

The regulatory systems in Bahrain and other countries in the GCC make it quite difficult for entrepreneurs to start a business. Nevertheless, we have worked with start-ups in Bahrain who have used ECWID and WooCommerce and Shopify to build websites to sell to customers all over the world.

Can you Help Me?

Yes. We help companies in Bahrain to build a digital strategy, create and implement websites and Ecommerce solutions. We drive traffic and sales using digital marketing. We provide training for your teams and work on larger digital transformation projects including ERP and other business critical IT solutions.