PLDT Enterprise launches Online Thursdays to help MSMEs
PLDT Enterprise, through its micro, small, and medium business arm PLDT SME Nation, officially launched Online Thursdays in Metro Manila to enable entrepreneurs to build their brands in the digital space.
The first of its kind, Online Thursdays offers micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners free workshops and consultation with digital experts on how entrepreneurs can further increase market reach, customer base and revenue with the proper technology.
In an age where digital has become the new norm, business owners have the opportunity to engage with an increasingly mobile-first audience. With over 60 million Filipinos online and on social media, the potential for successful e-commerce stores grows as rapidly as the number of active internet users around the globe.
“Online Thursdays is a new platform that was established to help MSMEs continue to innovate their businesses by helping them build websites that will make them searchable to over 60 million Filipinos on the internet,” said PLDT First Vice-President and Head of SME Nation Mitch Locsin. “The digital space is a great enabler for a business to thrive and it is our goal to empower more local entrepreneurs to change the game and elevate the culture of e-commerce in the country.”
The first leg of Online Thursdays featured industry experts such as Facebook Philippines’ SME Business Development Lead Paolo Lacuna, PLDT VP and Head of Digital Marketing Strategy Carlo Ople, Voyager Innovations, Inc. Country Head for Digital Commerce Joel Cordova, and VYGR Digital Accounts Head Jason Tengco, all of whom urged business owners to go online and maximize the use of multi-channel advertising tools to reach a wider, more connected audience.
The event also brought in web developers from Online Filipino Freelancers and Horsepower.ph to help participants build their own website on the spot and show them how they can take control of their customized online store with ePLDT’s end-to-end Web Builder solution.
ePLDT Web Builder provides entrepreneurs with a comprehensive package that includes domain name registration, a vanity e-mail, 5GB of hosting space, a consultation session with experts, and 24/7 customer support. This tool also allows them to conveniently update and edit the content of their website without having to go through a third party supplier, saving their business both time and money.
Attendees also explored in-site analytics that would allow them to gather data on their customers’ profiles as well as the entry points at which they come across the site.
By the end of the whole-day event, MSMEs left with a website created by freelancers, marking their first step in their commitment to go digital. These personalized websites can be easily integrated with TackThis!, a multiplatform virtual storefront that allows them to efficiently accept, process, and deliver orders, delivering quality customer experience to their clients.