How To Make Your Service provider or Freelancer Business Stand Out in Nigeria

As a small business, service provider, or freelancer in Nigeria, it can be tough carving a niche and getting enough attention in a crowded market.

We know how this feels… and it’s part of what inspired us to start Workstedi. Asides from this, we believe you can still make your business stand out with a little creativity and some smart marketing strategies, even on a tight budget.

Here are some ways to help you get the word out about your business:

1. Utilize social media – Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are free to use (well… there is the data and time spent, but you get the point), and they’re a great way to connect with potential customers. Some of these websites have dedicated groups for professionals in your industry where you can connect with fellow professionals and even potential customers. Also, creating regular content about your business will help you put your brand in the minds of customers who see your brand name often. And when they need your services–or products– guess who they contact first? Yes, you. So, using these platforms to share updates about your business, special promotions, and interesting content is a great way to market on a tight budget.
2. Collaborate with other businesses – The best and strongest businesses are built with other complementary businesses working in tandem. So, team up with other businesses, service providers, or freelancers to cross-promote each other’s services. This can be a great way to reach new markets–and countries even.
3. Offer discounts and promotions – I know this is tricky and can make your business look like a “charity organization”, but only when it is poorly done. When it is well done, you can attract customers who will go from one-time buyers to lifelong customers. So we recommend your offers and promos are well-spaced (say once in 4 to 5 months depending on the nature of your business), targeted towards customer retention and acquisition, and of course, give them something they like in these promos and discounts.
4. Get involved in the community – Remember point no.2? Well, people will only be willing to collaborate with you when you are actively involved in the community (or you have a ton of money to give them). So, participate in community events and sponsor local charities–if you can afford to. This will help to improve your brand perception and build your reputation as a business that cares about the community.
5. Build a website– Having a website is crucial for any business, service provider, or freelancer in Nigeria–especially with everyone owning an internet-enabled smartphone. It’s a great way to showcase your products and services, and it gives potential customers a way to learn more about your business. Make sure your website is easy to navigate, and that it’s mobile-friendly. But we know websites can be expensive… and remember, we’re working with a tight budget, so what do we do? You can create a Workstedi account which provides a great way to showcase all your products and services–without needing a website. While also creating social credibility for you through your reviews amongst other services. 
6. Use Influencer marketing – Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your products or services, it’s a great way to reach a larger audience in a more targeted way. If you have an interesting business, reach out to us. We love to celebrate small and upcoming businesses.
7. Content marketing – Create valuable and informative content that your target audience would be interested in. This can be blog posts, videos, infographics, etc. Share them on your website and social media platforms.
8. Email marketing – An underrated method of building a community and marketing to it, an email list is a powerful tool in the hands of any business owner. An email list helps you keep current customers engaged and up to date about your business and any special offers, it helps you attract new customers and share your ideas and offers with them and is a great way to receive real feedback from customers about your business. And the best part… It is not expensive! In fact, some Email service providers provide free services (like Gmail) so you don’t need any money to get this up and running.
9. Leverage word-of-mouth – In the age before social media, radio, and TV communications… We had Town Criers. These guys traditionally went about with a large metallic gong and a loud, clear voice, bringing the townspeople up to speed on current happenings. While we don’t expect you to do the same in 2023 (you’d probably get arrested for disturbing the peace anyway), we know that word of mouth–especially from other satisfied customers– is a great way to market. Encourage your satisfied customers to leave reviews and spread the word about your business.
10. Be consistent – Bruce Lee once said “I don’t fear the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but rather, I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times”. This wise saying points to the importance of consistency.

The fact is, not all these strategies will work for your business. In fact, it may be just 3 of these that’ll produce great results for you. So pick a few strategies that fit your business scale and stick to them. Consistency is key to building a successful marketing plan.

In conclusion, you don’t need to break the bank (or perform online giveaways every day) to market your business in Nigeria. 

By utilizing social media, collaborating with other businesses, offering discounts and promotions, getting involved in the community, building a website, leveraging influencer marketing, content marketing, email marketing, word of mouth, and being consistent, you can make your business stand out and attract new customers. 

So, what are you waiting for? Try your hands on one (or some) of these strategies and start reaching more customers.

Happy marketing!