Kenya is known for its beautiful scenic environment, its vibrant cities, and of course, its stunning people. The country enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in Africa, with many businesses thriving due to its favorable business environment and a particularly welcoming populace. If you’re thinking about doing business there, then congrats! You’re in the right place. The following overview will guide you through the various options available for online marketing platforms in Kenya, so you can choose the right one for your business needs.
MailChimp
MailChimp is one of the most popular email marketing platforms used by businesses worldwide. Its popularity is evident in the number of successful businesses that have grown through leveraging this tool. Created in 2002, MailChimp is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in the UK, Canada, and the United States. It is trusted by over 2.5 million businesses and organizations worldwide, including Twitter, GoDaddy, HP, and Wix.com.
The service offers a free tier for individuals, which allows you to send up to 2000 emails per month to people who have signed up for your list. The paid plans start at US$15 per month for individuals and go up according to the amount of subscribers you have. You can try out the service for free for 30 days, after which you’ll be required to make a payment. Even then, you can use most of the service free of charge.
MailChimp is a fantastic option for businesses seeking to build a list of subscribers who can then be contacted via email for marketing material or offers. The service allows you to build a database of clients who are interested in your products or services, and you can use tools like automation and email marketing to nurture and grow that list.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a social media management platform designed to make it easier for businesses to stay connected with customers and gain credibility online. Launched in 2007, the company is based in Calgary, Canada, with offices around the world. It is best known for its platform, which allows users to connect with over 500 million users online through its own network of blogs, websites, social media accounts, and apps.
Hootsuite’s blog network and Facebook page are particularly popular, boasting hundreds of thousands of monthly readers and hundreds of thousands of engaged followers. The company’s own social media accounts have over a million followers on Twitter, over 400,000 on Instagram, and over 200,000 on Pinterest.
Hootsuite offers a free tier for individuals, with paid plans starting at US$5 per month for individuals and going up according to how many users you have. While the service allows you to set up automated social media posts from your website, you can also utilize the tools manually. You can try out the service for free for the first three months, after which you’ll be required to make a payment. Even then, you can use most of the service for free.
Hootsuite is a fantastic option for businesses seeking to increase their reach to a global audience through social media. Through connecting with over 500 million of its users, you’ll be able to gain credibility online and increase brand awareness for your business.
Buffer
Buffer is yet another online tool that helps businesses grow their reach on social media. Launched in 2010, the service is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in London and Sydney.
Buffer offers a free option for individuals, with paid plans starting at US$5 per month for individuals and going up according to your storage needs and how many users you have. To get started, simply head to the website and create a free account. You can then download the Buffer app for iOS and Android, which gives you access to your storage space. From there, you can click to create content, set up automated social media posts, or tweet to get content published.
Buffer’s blog network and social media accounts are popular throughout the web, with the blog network boasting over a million monthly readers and the social media accounts attracting thousands of active followers. Due to its success, the service is now available in over 200 countries, with over 40 million users globally using the platform to reach hundreds of millions of people.
Buffer is ideal for individuals or small businesses who are seeking to grow their online presence through social media channels. The service provides tools to connect with over 500 million users and allows you to effortlessly spread your content to the right audience.
Shopify
Shopify is a popular eCommerce tool that allows business owners to create an online store, without the need for any technical knowledge. Launched in 2010, the company is based in Ottawa, Canada and has offices in London, Singapore, and New York City.
Shopify’s interface is incredibly easy to use, with no previous eCommerce experience needed to get up and running. In the simplest terms, you can choose from various online store templates and add your own products. If you choose the basic plan, you’ll get a free domain for your store and can use the Shopify platform to manage all your online sales and inventory. You can then choose to either host your website or use Shopify’s own secure and encrypted servers to save and host your online files. All of this for free.
While Shopify is a fantastic option for those seeking to establish an online store, the platform is also suitable for those seeking to simply generate online sales. The service provides all the tools necessary to launch a store, blog, or social media accounts through its platform, and you can connect all these tools to create the perfect marketing machine.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one platform that can handle your website building, online store, and social media marketing, then Shopify is the best option for you.
Wix
Wix is the popular web design tool loved by over 2.5 million businesses around the world for its clean, easy-to-use interface. It was founded in Germany in 1994 and is now one of the world’s largest independent web design companies. Wix offers a free option for individuals, with paid plans starting at US$15 per month for individuals and going up according to your storage needs and how many users you have. To get started, simply create a free account and browse the various templates available for your website or online store.
Wix’s blog network and social media accounts are popular throughout the web, with the blog network boasting over a million monthly readers and the social media accounts attracting thousands of followers. Due to its popularity, Wix is the default choice for those seeking to build a website or online store.
HubSpot
HubSpot is a popular marketing tool designed to make it easier for businesses to stay connected with prospects, customers, and other relevant parties through social media. The product is owned by the global marketing software company Adobe and is now available in over 200 countries with over 40 million users worldwide using the platform to manage their connections.
The HubSpot platform integrates seamlessly with your email marketing software, allowing you to manage your social media from one place. You can then follow the step-by-step tutorials to get up and running quickly and effortlessly manage all your social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest).
If you’re looking for an all-in-one platform that can handle your email marketing, website building, and social media marketing, then HubSpot is the best option for you.
Periscope
Periscope is yet another app that helps businesses grow their reach on social media. Launched in 2014, the app is owned by Twitter and can be used to create live video streams that can be shared across all social media platforms. Users can follow, watch, or listen to your live videos, which can be used to engage with your audience and encourage them to take an action (like making a purchase or signing up for your email list).
The beauty of Periscope is that it can be used for free, with the service offering basic features for free and additional packages starting at US$5 per month for individuals and going up according to your storage needs and how many users you have.
Periscope is the perfect option for businesses who are looking to increase their reach to an international audience through live videos. By connecting with over 300 million users, you’ll be able to gain credibility online and increase brand awareness for your business.
Mattermark
Mattermark is a free tool similar to Wix that allows businesses to create fully functioning websites and online stores without the need for any previous web design knowledge. The service is a collaborative effort between software companies Statamic and Blue Fountain Media and was founded in 2012.