The global economic shutdown caused by the COVID-19 virus struck the world unexpectedly leaving many professional service providers and artisans out of work.
A failing economy, unemployment, reduced spending, pandemic and the subsequent lockdown posed a devastating impact on the private sector of which service businesses represent a large segment.
This made life difficult for those in that sector as the financial crunch was experienced in the different spheres of society and raised the need for immediate intervention. According to Digital 2021 Nigeria report, statistics show that Nigeria has the largest internet using population in Africa. However, it is worrisome that a very significant proportion of Small and Medium scale enterprises have not taken advantage of this economic opportunity.
The present global economic meltdown has again emphasised the need for online visibility for every business that intends to make impact and wants to be taken serious in the dynamic economic space in Nigeria.
The events in the past year and a half have made having an online presence even more imperative. Human movement and socialising have been hugely affected by the stay at home and social distancing rules making it almost impossible to do business without an online presence.
Epolongo.com, an online business directory for service businesses is out to help give online visibility to service businesses that were not online hitherto and to help amplify online visibility for those who previously had some online presence.
Epolongo helps bring customers in need of different services closer to those rendering such services by being an aggregate spot for different service businesses across the Nigeria.
The platform which began operations in late 2020 has grown and attracted many verified service business owners offering them the opportunity to be easily accessed by the ever-growing internet savvy population who want such services at their convenience.
Featured service businesses on the website also get to be advertised on Epolongo’s pages on different social media platforms.
Customers now want and appreciate businesses that can be accessed easily and hence Epolongo is offering this service to ensure easy access by eliminating the distance barrier between service providers and their prospective customers with the use of the internet.
The platform also provides a unique referral feature where anyone can earn based on paid referrals introduced to the site. This website has helped customers to interact better with service businesses as it allows them to leave ratings and reviews after the use of such services.
More so, businesses featured on epolongo.com are verified before they are featured on the website making it a safe business space for both intending and regular customers who now want and appreciate businesses that can be easily accessed from the comfort of their homes or wherever they are located.
In a bid to ensure the safety of its users, Epolongo verifies the identity of business owners and also tracks down their physical location where applicable before listing such on its platform while documents submitted by them would be verified and updated annually as long as they are on the platform.
To further enhance easy access by customers, Epolongo will also introduce its mobile app soon to enable potential customers send notifications to service providers directly and get spontaneous responses.
Epolongo features service businesses on its website as well as its social media platforms on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter while it will upload videos of annual subscribers on its YouTube channel where such service businesses would be able to showcase their services extensively.
Another promotional strategy used by the platform is email marketing which involves sending reminders to visitors on the website reminding them of the need to have their services handled by verified service businesses.
It also has a 24-hour customer representative for immediate chat or calls. In addition, there is the Epolongo Tribe which is a group of service businesses featured on the website.
Business information, tips and knowledge are shared within the group. It is also an avenue to access and network with other service business owners who can come together to fulfil complimentary services.
With time and growth, the Epolongo Tribe will be having its trade shows where service businesses can have face to face interactions with potential customers.
Registration on the site is free to help service businesses through this difficult period as they endeavour to recover from the impact of the lockdown period.
With these initiatives and economic boosting intervention brought to birth by epolongo.com, business service providers can improve their economic returns and showcase their skills and expertise beyond bounds and also relieve customers of the stress of searching endlessly to get their desired services.
