How to leverage digital platforms

Youth entrepreneurs are encouraged to continue amplifying their presence in the digital world.

Following the success of the recent Youth Digital Skills Forum, hosted by Digify Africa and Facebook South Africa, the panellists have shared their tips on how young marketers and entrepreneurs can leverage digital platforms to build sustainable livelihoods or grow their business.

Read more: Bridging the digital gap among youth

1. Be ready to pivot

Young digital marketer and alumni of the Digify Pro programme, Aviwe Komsana, noted that it was important to remain open to shifting to new roles and opportunities in this fast-paced and ever-changing world.

“As a former film student, I have found new ways to use my content creation expertise by upskilling in digital marketing,” she said.

2. Be open to learning

Komsana added that it was important to continue learning and absorbing knowledge.

There is a variety of free learning content that can help anyone build strong digital skills. Facebook Blueprint, for example, has courses for beginner, intermediate and advanced digital skills.

[hyperlink Facebook Blueprint: https://web.facebook.com/business/learn?_rdc=1&_rdr]

3. Strive for consistency

Personal stylist and shopper Lebohang Letsapa noted that one of the keys to successful digital marketing was to remain consistent.

Entrepreneurs are encouraged to make time each day to create content even if they don’t post every day.

“This is a good way to build a stockpile of content and to get into the discipline of using your social channels every day,” said Letsapa.

4. Recognise that social channels are about community

According to Instagram micro-influencer Akhona Kom, it is important to engage authentically with your social media audience and hear the voices of the people on your channels – it is a community.

5. Find your niche

Kom added that she initially started her Instagram account to promote her modelling career but her engagement and following only started to grow at a rapid pace once she began focusing more on showcasing her dreadlocks.

She knew then that she had found a community and viable target market that shared her passions.

Similarly, Letsapa started off in clothing retail and found her niche as she started building closer relationships with her customers.

Her business transformed into a personal shopping and stylist service.

Related articles:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/296368/city-launches-drive-for-youth-entrepreneurship/