5 tips for successfully selling on your e-commerce website in the Philippines

The Philippines has become one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia. With a population of over 117 million people, the country presents a significant opportunity for e-commerce businesses to grow and succeed. If you have a target to set up your own online store here in the Philippines, or if you already have an existing e-commerce website, here are five tips to help you succeed.

1. Set up your own e-commerce store

The very first step to succeeding in the e-commerce industry is first to have your own online store established. There are various platforms to choose from, including Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. These platforms provide easy-to-use templates that enable you to set up your e-commerce site in just a few steps. Here's an overview of the three:

1. Shopify

Shopify is a well-known e-commerce website that is recognized globally as one of the top platforms for creating an all-in-one online store. It allows you to set up your store, manage your inventory, and process orders from a single dashboard. Shopify's user-friendly interface is its key advantage, and it provides a variety of themes to choose from. In addition, it offers support and communities to help you get started.

2. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is one of the top e-commerce platforms. It's an open-source system that works as a WordPress plugin, enabling users to set up an online store within their WordPress site. WooCommerce is recognized as one of the most efficient e-commerce platforms, offering a range of features to customize and optimize your online stores. It's also a great option for businesses here in the Philippines looking to upgrade their existing e-commerce store.

3. Magento

Magento is another popular e-commerce system. Its extensive feature set makes it a suitable choice for those looking to set up their own advanced online stores. Magento is ideal for businesses in the Philippines who are looking for a robust and flexible platform to achieve their e-commerce goals.

2. Identify your target market

Everyone knows that when it comes to marketing, the identification of your target market is crucial, even more so for e-commerce businesses. As the Philippines is a diverse country with numerous ethnic groups across multiple regions, it's essential to research and understand the local culture and preferences of your target market to provide the right products and services. Another important target market you should consider is the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as they are a significant source of income for many families in the Philippines, and they often shop for products on online stores to send to their loved ones back home.

In addition, there’s an extra consideration that you would want to take note of, and that would be your online customers’ social media habits. It is essential to set up marketing strategies across different social media platforms that you own, and we will be touching more on this in the next point.

3. Marketing to customers

Marketing is essential for any e-commerce business to succeed. In the Philippines, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter are popular channels for marketing your products. Through social media advertising, businesses are able to target specific audiences based on interests, demographics, and behaviors. These come in the form of sponsored posts, influencer endorsements, and other online campaigns. In addition to social media marketing, email marketing can also be effective in promoting products and generating sales. Implementing customer lifecycle marketing strategies like welcome campaigns, abandoned cart reminders, and post-purchase follow-ups are also great moves to increase customer loyalty and drive repeat purchases. And further augmenting these with discounts, promotions, and loyalty programs provides further incentives for customers to stay faithful to your brand.

4. Shipping and fulfillment

For any e-commerce business, shipping and fulfillment are two critical components that can make or break its success. As the Philippines is an archipelago consisting of over 7,600 islands, it can be a challenge when it comes to logistics. However, with the right shipping and fulfillment partner, e-commerce businesses can ensure that their products are delivered to customers on time and in good condition, be they from the Philippines to international destinations or to the Philippines sent by OFWs working overseas.

5. Offer top-notch customer service

Providing excellent customer service is crucial for e-commerce businesses in the Philippines. It’s a given that whoever provides top-notch customer service will have a competitive edge over those who don’t. And customers are more likely to recommend a business to others if they have had a positive experience. This is why e-commerce businesses should ensure that they have a responsive customer service team that provides prompt and helpful responses to all enquiries and feedback, as well as offer after-sales services such as returns, refunds, and product advice.

It is also important that multiple channels of contact with the customer service team are made available. These would involve using emails, chatbots, call centers, and social media platforms to cater to different customer preferences. As mentioned in the earlier paragraph about after-sales services such as returns, it is also essential to have a clear return and exchange policy that is easy to understand and implement.

Maximizing your e-commerce success in the Philippines with DHL Express

With a well-thought-out and implemented website, the right marketing strategies, as well as top-notch customer service, your e-commerce store can thrive in the Philippines. And through a partnership with a reliable shipping partner such as DHL Express, you can ensure that your products are delivered to your customers in a timely fashion and in good condition. At DHL Express, we offer a range of shipping and logistics solutions to help your e-commerce set up and succeed. Register for a business account with us today to start maximizing the potential of your e-commerce business in the Philippines.