Finding customers online as an African service provider can be more difficult than actually providing the service itself.
Perhaps you’re a graphic designer, photographer, web designer, consultant, real estate agent, tutor, repair technician, fashion vendor, or something else entirely. If nobody can find you online, it doesn’t matter how skilled you are at what you do.
Classified submission websites can help African businesses gain more online visibility without spending money on advertising. But today’s landscape isn’t as simple as choosing the website with the highest authority.
In this article, we reveal how to choose the best platform for your service-based business and share tips to get the most out of your classified submissions. Let’s go!
The concept of classified websites has changed a lot over the years.
In the past, classifieds were typically websites where users would go to post advertisements about products they wanted to sell. Used cars, apartments, jobs and houses were common.
Classified websites have evolved into broader marketplaces where businesses can reach new customers. And just like the shift from print newspapers to digital publications, classified websites give you the ability to reach an audience that is already looking for something.
As a service provider, that could be you.
Instead of hoping someone will stumble across your website through a Google search, you can add your service to a marketplace where people are actively searching.
The problem is not all classified submission sites are created equal.
Unlike traditional model websites, many online marketplaces focus on paid promotion. For example, companies like Facebook and OLX allow free classified submissions, but provide higher visibility to advertisements that pay for promotional packages.
Then there are platforms like ClassifiedAfrica that restrict free postings altogether.
So how do you find the right marketplace to reach your customers? Let’s start by examining how classified websites work today.
Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) are SEO metrics developed by Moz that predict how well a website will rank on Google.
SEO algorithms are complex and ever-changing, but DA and PA offer a simplified view of “authority.” Websites with high DA and PA typically have:
Many backlinks
A long-standing domain age
High search visibility
Large numbers of indexed pages
Many incoming links from other websites
Put simply, DA represents how “authoritative” a website appears to Google’s search algorithm. A high DA website is typically better at ranking on Google than a website with a low DA score.
PA is measured individually for each page on a domain. So if you’re posting your service on a classified website, PA matters too.
Here’s why.
Lets say you choose a classified website with a strong DA, but the individual page where your listing will appear has a low PA.
Does that automatically mean your advertisement will rank poorly on Google?
It might.
You could be posting your service on page with very little authority and visibility. Remember, if Google deems the page “unworthy,” your advertisement may never show up in search results at all.
Today, many African business owners make decisions based solely on domain metrics. They find the highest DA website and start submitting their services.
That’s a problem. Here’s why.
Ignoring niche, customer quality, accessibility and actual visibility, domain authority only tells part of the story.
Submitting your service to a website with a high DA will not automatically drive traffic to your listing. For all you know, it could be a directory that few people visit.
When visiting a new website, think about the questions you have before submitting your service:
How many people in my target market visit this site every month?
Will my posting be easy to find?
Does the website target my desired location?
Are people able to contact sellers?
Is the website popular in my niche?
Do they allow free submissions?
Is the posting free?
While domain metrics can be useful, business owners need to dig deeper than surface-level SEO scores.
Africa has more than 1.3 billion people across 54 countries. That’s a lot of potential customers. But how can you ensure they can find you?
Some marketplaces have hundreds of millions of monthly visitors. Yet if the marketplace doesn’t target your desired customers or location, visits mean little.
A website may have a high DA and lots of traffic from Spain. But if you’re a Kenyan graphic designer looking for local clients, how useful is that traffic?
Small businesses often struggle to compete with large companies who spend money on advertising every month. Yet even if you had a large advertising budget, would people in your target country even visit the website?
Visibility is difficult. If you’re a small business trying to compete with larger companies, or a service provider trying to reach clients in Africa, you need platforms that allow you to reach your customers directly.
Localized marketplaces can help bridge the gap. Especially when they allow you to post your services for free.
ZoneClassifieds allows anyone to create free classified advertisements across multiple categories and locations. Reach customers in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa or diaspora marketplaces.
But should you ignore high DA submission sites altogether? Of course not. Here’s what you need to know.
Posting your service on a marketplace that requires no payment might seem attractive. But before signing up, ask yourself these questions:
Does the site limit the number of postings you can have?
Do they rank paid advertisements above free ones?
Are there categories I need to pay to post in?
Are there restrictions on where my ad can show up?
Are there upgrades I need to pay for to access important features?
Some sites are better than others, but free doesn’t always mean accessible. That paid checkbox could be hiding in the terms of service.
When evaluating online marketplaces, don’t assume free means equal visibility.
Instead, dig deeper. How much can you realistically accomplish on the site without paying? Submitting your service is meaningless if no one can find your advertisement.
Classified websites should compliment your overall online visibility strategy. Think about where your target customers spend their time and what websites best help you reach them.
Posting on Craigslist might drive traffic from the United States, but probably not Nigeria.
Posting on Jiji might connect you with customers in Kenya, but not Italy.
Website selection is important, especially if you’re looking for targeted customers in specific regions.
So where should you start? Let’s look at an example.
Ready to create your free ZoneClassifieds account? Click here to get started.
Visit almost any marketplace today and you’ll notice paid submissions.
Websites like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and Jiji all offer options to pay for promotion. In most cases, that means your free listing will be buried beneath thousands of other results.
ZoneClassifieds does not limit free postings and does not pay for placement. Individual advertisements are sorted by relevancy and date. The goal is to allow business owners to reach customers for free.
Plus, ZoneClassifieds focuses on Africa and includes diaspora categories so users from around the world can reach African customers.
Not sure how to start? Don’t worry. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to submit your service.
The success of a particular service depends on many factors. For example, a local Houston plumber likely won’t see the same benefits in Toronto.
Instead of making broad claims, here are five examples of services that could potentially see increased exposure by posting on ZoneClassifieds.
Each of the services above could benefit from being discovered based on service and location. And thanks to ZoneClassifieds location targeting, these businesses can reach customers in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and more.
Create your ZoneClassifieds account and take advantage of free classified postings today!
Remember these services are just examples. Don’t expect to “10x your traffic” by simply posting on one website.
But if you have a service that targets African customers or someone overseas looking for African goods, a localized platform could serve as a powerful channel to reach prospective clients.
Don’t know where to start?
As mentioned earlier, zone classifieds focuses on Africa and includes diaspora marketplaces for users around the world. Service categories include:
Services
Real Estate
Classes & Training
Community
Jobs
And more!
Ready to create your free listing? Follow these 8 steps to reach African customers and hit the ground running.
Your title is important.
Don’t make your title “Interior Designer Available”. Tell customers where you’re located, what you offer, and who you serve.
Here’s an example:
In your description, you should clearly explain:
What your service is
Who you serve
Your experience
Why you’re unique
Your location
How to contact you
Don’t spam keywords, but use terms that match what your customer might search for. If you’re a graphic designer, you may include terms like:
Graphic Design
Website Design
Logo Design
If you’re a photographer, you might include phrases like:
Lagos Photographer
Wedding Photography Lagos
Nigerian Photographer
Once you’ve entered your text, it’s time to upload images.
Images help grab attention. Here are some ideas for what you can include:
Portfolio images
Screenshots
Product photos
Before/after pics
Map of your service area
Brand graphics
Company logo
Getting into the correct category will help people discover your posting. Make sure you select a category that best matches your service.
Are you based in Lagos? Select the closest major city or region where you provide your service.
Provide additional details if you serve customers remotely or outside of your primary location.
Instead of creating a generic listing for “Digital Services,” create separate postings for each service you offer.
For example:
Web Design
Graphic Design Services
Logo Design
Photography Services
This helps individual services have their own discovery path. Someone searching for graphic designers might not search for Web designers and vice versa.
When posting your service, make sure the business name, phone number, website and email address match your Google Business profile and other online platforms.
Doing this allows customers to easily find your business across the web. Inconsistent business information can damage your credibility.
These eight steps should help you quickly create a service listing on ZoneClassifieds. But remember, classified postings are just one part of your overall online presence.
Use classified websites in addition to your website, social media, online directories, and other channels to help customers find you online.
Try ZoneClassifieds free today!
Finding customers online takes time, patience and effort. Don’t expect to throw up a classified ad and watch the sales roll in.
By following the steps above and spending a little extra time on your posting, you’re giving yourself a better chance to stand out online.
ZoneClassifieds is free to join and allows you to create unlimited free postings in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and diaspora marketplaces. Best of all, submissions are easy to create and you can post in multiple categories.
Create your free ZoneClassifieds listing today and reach African customers looking for your service online.
Start your free ZoneClassifieds listing
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