When it comes to online business, platforms play a vital role in its success.
A platform is defined as “a system that allows for the exchange of information or services between parties” (Investopedia).
In other words, an online business platform connects you with your target audience so you can offer them your products and/or services. It also provides a space where customers can interact with you and each other.
Essentially, an online business platform in Kenya is the foundation of your entire operation—without one, you wouldn’t be able to reach your full potential as an entrepreneur.
Nowadays, there are endless options for choosing an online business platform.
With so many choices, it can be tough to decide which is right for you and your company.
To help make this process easier (and less overwhelming), we’ve put together a list of 10 different types of online business platforms that are sure to set you up for success:
1. Social Media Platforms:
If you want to connect with potential customers and build a strong online presence, social media platforms are a great option. These types of platforms allow you to share content, interact with other users, and organically promote your products or services.
Some popular social media platforms include:
a). Facebook:
With over 2.6 billion monthly active users, Facebook is by far the largest social media platform in the world. It’s great for building brand awareness and connecting with customers personally.
b). Instagram:
Instagram has rapidly grown in popularity over the past few years and now boasts over 1 billion monthly active users. This visual-based platform is perfect for businesses that rely heavily on visuals (e.g., fashion brands, restaurants, etc.).
c). Twitter:
With over 330 million monthly active users, Twitter is one of the most popular social media platforms. It’s known for its real-time updates and lets you connect with customers quickly and easily.
When used correctly, these tools can be extremely powerful for growing your business—just make sure not to overdo it on the self-promotion!
2. eCommerce Platforms:
An eCommerce platform is a must if you plan on selling products or services online.
These platforms provide everything you need to create an online store, including a shopping cart, payment processing, shipping options, and more.
Some popular eCommerce platforms include:
a). Shopify.
Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms available and powers over 1 million online stores. It’s great for businesses of all sizes and offers a wide range of features to help you grow your operation.
b). WooCommerce:
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that turns your website into an online store. It’s great for businesses with a strong online presence who want to add eCommerce capabilities to their site.
c). BigCommerce:
BigCommerce is another popular option for businesses of all sizes. It offers powerful features and integrations to help you grow your operation quickly and efficiently.
When choosing an eCommerce platform for your business in Kenya, consider your needs carefully—you don’t want to end up with something that’s too complex or doesn’t have all the features you need.
3. Crowdfunding Platforms:
Crowdfunding platforms are great for entrepreneurs looking to raise money for their businesses without giving away equity or taking out loans. With these types of platforms, users can donate money to support your venture in exchange for rewards like early access to products/services or exclusive experiences related to your business.
Some popular crowdfunding platforms include Kickstarter and Indiegogo.
a). Kickstarter:
Kickstarter is one of the most popular crowdfunding platforms and has helped entrepreneurs raise over $4 billion for their businesses. It’s great for companies that offer unique products or experiences as rewards to donors.
b). Indiegogo:
Indiegogo is another popular option that offers flexible funding options, which means you can keep whatever money you raise (even if it’s less than your goal). This makes it a great choice for businesses with lower-cost products/services or those who are just starting out.
c) Patreon:
Patreon is slightly different from other crowdfunding platforms because it focuses on supporting creators rather than businesses. However, many entrepreneurs use this platform to fund their ventures by offering exclusive content or experiences to patrons in exchange for monthly donations.
If you think this type of funding might be right for you, be sure to check out our guide on how crowdfunding.
4. App Development Platforms.
If you have an idea for an app but don’t know how to develop it yourself, consider using an app development platform. These platforms provide everything you need to create and launch your app, including experts templates, tools, and support.
Some popular app development platforms include:
a). Appy Pie:
Appy Pie is a great option for businesses that want to develop an app quickly and easily without coding experience. It offers a wide range of features and integrations to help you grow your operation quickly and efficiently.
b) BuildFire:
BuildFire is another popular platform that offers powerful features for creating custom apps without requiring coding. It’s perfect for businesses of all sizes who want complete control over their app’s design and functionality.
c) Bizness Apps:
Bizness Apps is a great choice for businesses that want to develop an app without any upfront costs. It offers a wide range of features and integrations to help you grow your operation quickly and efficiently.
5. Chatbots Platforms in Kenya
Chatbots are a great option if you’re looking for a way to automate customer service or sales.
These platforms allow you to create bots that can interact with customers via text or voice message to answer questions, provide support, or close sales deals.
Some popular chatbot platforms include:
a). ManyChat
ManyChat is one of the most popular chatbot platforms available and allows you to create custom bots for your business without any coding required. It’s perfect for businesses of all sizes who want complete control over their bot’s design and functionality.
b). Chatfuel:
Chatfuel is another popular chatbot platform that offers powerful features for creating custom bots without any coding required. It’s perfect for businesses of all sizes who want complete control over their bot’s design and functionality.
c) Motion AI:
Motion AI is a great choice for businesses that want to develop a chatbot without any upfront costs. It offers a wide range of features and integrations to help you grow your operation quickly and efficiently.
6. Email Marketing Platforms in Kenya.
Email marketing platforms are essential if you plan to use email to reach your target audience.
These platforms provide everything you need to create and send mass emails, including templates, tools, and support from experts.
Some popular email marketing platforms include:
a). MailChimp
MailChimp is one the most popular email marketing platforms available, with over 15 million users worldwide. It’s great for businesses of all sizes and offers a wide range of features to help you grow your operation.
b). Constant Contact:
Constant Contact is another popular email marketing platform that offers powerful features for creating and sending mass emails. It’s perfect for businesses of all sizes who want complete control over their email campaigns.
c) AWeber:
AWeber is a great choice for businesses that want to develop an email marketing campaign without any upfront costs.
It offers a wide range of features and integrations to help you grow your operation quickly and efficiently.
7. Website Building Platforms
If you want to build a professional website for your business, website-building platforms are the way to go. These types of platforms make it easy (and affordable) to create a high-quality site without any prior coding or design experience. Some popular website builders include:
a). WordPress
WordPress is one of the most popular website builders on the market and powers over 35% of all websites online. It’s great for businesses of all sizes and offers many features and plugins.
b). Wix
Wix is another popular website builder known for its ease of use and drag-and-drop interface. It’s perfect for businesses that want a beautiful site without any hassle.
c). Squarespace.
Squarespace is a slightly more premium website builder that’s perfect for businesses that are willing to invest a little bit more money into their online presence. It offers beautiful templates and powerful eCommerce features.
8. Content Management System (CMS) Platforms.
A CMS platform is essential if you use the content as a marketing strategy.
These platforms allow you to easily manage all aspects of your content in one place, including publishing, editing, organizing, etc.
Some popular CMS platforms include:
a). WordPress
WordPress is not only a popular website builder (as we mentioned before), but it’s also one of the world’s most widely used CMS platforms.
It offers a wide range of features and plugins to help you manage your content easily, including an intuitive editor, scheduling tools, etc.
b) Drupal
Drupal is another powerful CMS platform that large organizations often use due to its scalability and flexibility. It comes with many built-in features and thousands of add-ons to choose from.
c) Joomla!
This excellent open-source CMS option gives users much control over their website and content management process.
If you’re looking for a CMS platform that offers a high degree of flexibility, Joomla! is definitely worth considering.
9. Review Management Platforms.
These are important if word-of-mouth marketing is key to the success of your business model (which it should be).
With these types of formats, you can track all reviews about your company across multiple reviews sites online and respond to them in a relevant way quickly and successfully. The three most common review management platforms are:
a). Google My Business
Google My Business is a free platform offered by—you guessed it—Google. It allows you to track and respond to reviews about your business on Google Maps and Search.
b). Yelp for Business Owners
Yelp is one of the most popular review sites, so it’s important to have a presence on its platform. With Yelp for Business Owners, you can claim your business listing, add photos and information, respond to reviews, etc.
c). TripAdvisor Management Centre
TripAdvisor is another major player in the online review space (especially if you’re in the hospitality industry). Their Management Centre platform lets you monitor what people say about your business and respond accordingly.
10. Video Marketing Platforms in Kenya
Video is one of the most powerful forms of marketing available today—if done right, it can help you reach a larger audience more effectively than any other type of formatting.
Luckily, plenty of great video marketing platforms can help you promote your business and reach your target customers.
Some popular video marketing platforms include:
a). YouTube
YouTube is the largest video platform in the world, with over 2 billion monthly active users. It’s a great way to showcase your products or services in a visually appealing way and connect with customers on a more personal level.
b). Vimeo.
Vimeo is another popular video marketing platform that offers high-quality videos and creative editing tools. It’s perfect for businesses that want to produce professional-grade videos without breaking the bank.
c). Instagram TV
Instagram TV (or IGTV) is a newer video platform that allows you to upload longer-form videos directly onto your Instagram feed. This is perfect for businesses with a strong presence on Instagram and who want to take advantage of this powerful visual format.
11. Online Marketplaces
An online marketplace is a great option if you’re looking to sell products online.
These platforms allow businesses to list and sell their products to a wide audience of potential customers. Some popular online marketplaces include:
a). Amazon
As the largest online marketplace in the world, Amazon is a great option for businesses that want to reach a large audience. It’s perfect for businesses of all sizes and offers powerful tools to help you list and sell your products.
b). Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace specifically designed for selling handmade or vintage items. If your business falls into this category, Etsy is definitely worth considering. It has a large community of active buyers and offers plenty of marketing resources.
c). eBay
eBay is another popular online marketplace perfect for businesses that want to reach a global audience. It offers many features and tools to help you effectively list and sell your products.
In conclusion, the best online business platforms offer the most features and support for your success.
You can find the perfect platform for your business needs with so many options available.
By taking the time to research and compare the different platforms, you can find the one that best suits your business goals. With the right platform, you can succeed in your online business venture.