Local entrepreneurs are encouraged to actively use social media and marketing to promote their products domestically and in export markets.

Mikee Morado, sales coach and co-founder of Cebu Innovation Network (CIN), said they should have digital marketing strategy, and have the skills and capabilities to executive such strategy to ensure rapid growth.

She pointed out digital marketing involves the promotion of products or brands through one or more forms of electronic media “like promoting through internet, mobile, SMS, email, etc.”

In the Philippines, Morado said the essential headline data needed to understand mobile, internet, and social media use include total population, mobile subscriptions, internet users, active social media users, and mobile social media users.

“Internet and social media penetration increased +8 percent since 2018,” she said.

Citing data, Morado noted that 3.2 billion people use social media networks across the world.

She said millennials comprise the bulk of online consumers, followed by Gen-X, baby boomers, and seniors.

To shop online, Morado said B2B (business-to-business) consumers search on social media, and mobile access to seller’s e-commerce platform.

She further said companies can execute digital strategy through outsourcing, hiring, and training.

Morado cited digital paths, including digital marketing, information technology service and architecture, big data analytics, mobile app development, and cloud computing.