Business

How a Strong Online Presence can Help a Business Grow

Published

7 years ago

April 12, 2019

Having a poor or no online presence is a wake-up call for businesses in this world where a third of us come online on regular basis either to collect useful information or to buy stuff online. Simple to say that getting a business or brand out across the internet is a key success factor in this virtual world and online presence means more than creating a simple website with basic business details and contact info. A successful online presence means setting up a comprehensive virtual version of a brand by having a responsive website, social media profiles and availability on different local directories etc. Ignoring this amazing and fertile marketing platform is similar to saying that if a brand or business is not online, customers cannot find it on the web.

As a small business owner if you have no or minimal presence on the web, then you are missing a bunch of opportunities to grow your business. in order to help you make sure you are not missing any opportunity to grow your business online, we have highlighted following points to help you understand how a strong online presence can help a business grow.

Online Presence MakesIt Easier for Potential Customers Come to YouWhen it comes to gather more details or information about a business, people usually search online by using their mobile devices. For instance, either someone is searching for your watch company or another option to buy racing watches at reasonable rates, having a successful online presence will give your business a competitive edge by appearing in the search results. In simple words, there will be no need to put extra efforts to finding your business online because a single Google search can bring your business in front of the potential customers if optimized accordingly.

Build Strong Relationships with Customers
Customers can easily find essential business details and news by visiting the official website of a business or brand. Moreover, availability on social media also helps a brand or company to interact with potential and existing customers in real time. It helps a business build strong relationships and trust as well. Customers can also visit social media profiles and other online communities to check the reviews and customer feedback for their favorite brands before making purchases.

Cost-effective and ExtensiveMarketing Approach
Digital marketing is inexpensive to produce and distribute than traditional marketing approaches and limitless as well. A single advertisement shared on social media can reach to a wider audience as people usually share content within their social circles when found useful and informative as well. In this way, your corporate message can reach to millions even in short span of time and without spending extra bucks. A highly responsive website loaded with problem solving and informative content can also be a great marketing tool for a business these days to secure more leads and sales too.

Increases Credibility
People these days are tech savvy and they do inclusive search on the web before purchasing something even from their favorite brands. They read customer testimonials on website, check social media platforms for reviews and moreover they ask others for recommendations to influence buying decisions. And a strong online presence shows that the business or brand is serious about its online repute and provide customers withany possible information and details that customers need before making purchases. It increases the credibility of a business in return and attract more customers.

Reputation Management
Either a business is accessible on the web or not, customers are always online and possibly they could be talking about the business or its products within their social circles or in some online communities. If you are not online, you will not be able to know and understand what people are talking about you. At the end, you will not be able to manage your repute online. That is the reason, you must be there on the internet to listen your customers and to make necessary changes in your business operations and processes accordingly in order to build and manage strong repute in online the market. Signing up on social media platforms will enable you to find and resolve customer problems accordingly in real time to let them know that you really value your repute and customers as well.

Business

Agency Gives Insight Into Its Inspection, Monitoring Operations

Published

5 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Director, South South Zone National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmacist Chujwuma P.Oligbu has said its thorough implementation of its core mandate of monitoring has no link with witch-hunting or fault finding as perceived at some quarters.

Oligbu, made this known when he spoke as as guest at the maiden Rivers state Supermarkets stakeholders’ Seminar/Workshop in Port Harcourt recently.

Rather, he said they were mere opportunities for education, correction and continuous improvement.

The Agency’s South South Boss, noted that Supermarket operators who maintain transparent records, cooperate during inspections, and promptly address identified gaps demonstrate professionalism and commitment to public health standard.

He listed the deserving essence of supermarket operation to include the key aspects of supermarket operation that deserves emphasis is product sourcing.

“Supermarkets must ensure that all regulated products stocked on their shelves are duly registered with NAFDAC and sourced from legitimate manufacturers or distributors”, he said .

According to him, the presence of unregistered, expired, counterfeit, or improper labelled products undermines consumer confidence and poses serious health risks.

He pointed out that such has the likelihood of exposeing supermarket operators to legal sanctions that could damage their reputation and financial stability.

The NAFDAC Operator, further enlightened the participants that mere registration of a particular product with the Federal agency do not guarantee absolute consumption safety.

“Temperature control, cleanliness, pest control, stock rotation, and proper shelving are not optional practice; they are essential components of compliance”, he said.

The South South zonal director also told the operators of supermarket that their employees rotine training on the basis of the product they display for sale is of utmost importance.

In her presentation a Breast Milk Nutrition Expert , Professor Alice Nte of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), was against the body’s prime attention to breast milk substitute or baby milk in supermarkets as well as its advertisement or promotion.

Nye jerked up the importance of mothers breast milk to the newborn baby and added that it help in fighting against childhood diseases, infections and combating cancer in breastfeeding mothers.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC Deputy Director, South – South Zone , Mrs. Riter Chujwuma educated the participants on the guidelines for global listing, and the need to adhere strictly to rules guiding global listing to avoid confiscation of their imported products.

By: King Onunwor

Business

BVN Enrolments Rise 6% To 67.8m In 2025 — NIBSS

Published

5 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has said that Bank Verification Number (BVN) enrolments rose by 6.8 per cent year-on-year to 67.8 million as at December 2025, up from 63.5 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

In a statement published on its website, NIBSS attributed the growth to stronger policy enforcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the expansion of diaspora enrolment initiatives.

According to the data, more than 4.3 million new BVNs were issued within the one-year period, underscoring the growing adoption of biometric identification as a prerequisite for accessing financial services in Nigeria.

NIBSS noted that the expansion reinforces the BVN system’s central role in Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive and digital identity framework.

Analysts linked the growth largely to regulatory measures by the CBN, particularly the directive to restrict or freeze bank accounts without both a BVN and National Identification Number (NIN), which took effect from April 2024.

The policy compelled many customers to regularise their biometric records to retain access to banking services.

Another major driver, the statement said, was the rollout of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative, which allows Nigerians in the diaspora to obtain a BVN remotely without physical presence in the country.

The programme has been widely regarded as a milestone in integrating the diaspora into Nigeria’s formal financial system.

A five-year analysis by NIBSS showed consistent growth in BVN enrolments, rising from 51.9 million in 2021 to 56.0 million in 2022, 60.1 million in 2023, 63.5 million in 2024 and 67.8 million by December 2025. The steady increase reflects stronger compliance with biometric identity requirements and improved coverage of the national banking identity system.

However, NIBSS noted that BVN enrolments still lag the total number of active bank accounts, which exceeded 320 million as of March 2025.

The gap, it explained, is largely due to multiple bank accounts linked to single BVNs, as well as customers yet to complete enrolment, despite the progress recorded.

Business

AFAN Unveils Plans To Boost Food Production In 2026

Published

1 week ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The leadership of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has set the tone for the new year with a renewed focus on food security, unity and long-term growth of the agricultural sector.

The association announced that its General Assembly of Farmers Congress will take place from January 15 to 17, 2026 at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industries, along Lugbe Airport Road, in the Federal Capital Territory.

The gathering is expected to bring together farmers, policymakers, investors and development partners to shape a fresh direction for Nigerian agriculture.

In a New Year address to members and stakeholders, AFAN president, Dr Farouk Rabiu Mudi, said the congress would provide a strategic forum for reviewing past challenges and outlining practical solutions for the future.

He explained that the event would serve as a rallying point for innovation, collaboration and economic renewal within the sector.

Mudi commended farmers across the country for their determination and hard work, despite years of insecurity, climate-related pressures and economic uncertainty.

According to him, their resilience has kept food production alive and positioned agriculture as a stabilising force in the national economy.

He noted that AFAN intends to build on this strength by resetting agribusiness operations to improve productivity and sustainability.

The AFAN leader appealed to government institutions, private investors and development organisations to deepen their engagement with the association.

He stressed the need for collective action to confront persistent issues such as insecurity in farming communities, climate impacts and market instability.

He also urged members to put aside internal disputes and personal interests, encouraging cooperation and shared responsibility in pursuit of national development.

Mudi outlined key priorities that include increasing food output, expanding support for farmers at the grassroots and strengthening local manufacturing through partnerships with both domestic and international investors adding that reducing dependence on imports remains critical to protecting the economy and creating jobs.

He stated that the upcoming congress will feature the launch of AFAN’s twenty-five-year agricultural mechanisation roadmap, alongside the announcement of new partnerships designed to accelerate growth across the value chain.

Participants, he said wi also have opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange aimed at transforming agriculture into a more competitive and technology-driven sector.

As part of its modernisation drive, AFAN is further encouraging members nationwide to enrol for the newly introduced Digital ID Card.

Mudi said the initiative will improve transparency, ensure proper farmer identification and make it easier to access support programmes and services.

Reaffirming the association’s long-term goal, he said the vision of national food sufficiency by 2030 remains achievable if unity and collaboration are sustained.

He expressed optimism that with collective effort, Nigeria’s agricultural sector can overcome its challenges and deliver a more secure and prosperous future.

Lady Usendi