This is the digital era where you either embrace digital or go home. Digital skills enable online users find, evaluate, analyze, utilize, share and create content using information technologies in the presence of Internet. Digital technology connects people on a global scale in the presence of internet and enables them to share information and experiences which were far beyond our reach decades ago.

In this era, at least each individual needs to be equipped with digital skills starting from students to entrepreneurs. In this article, l’ll share on which skills entrepreneurs need to position their brands digitally. 

1. Communication

To start with, communication is the core of any relation and understanding of people you connect with. Entrepreneurship involves a lot of negotiations hence the need for great communication skills. To be one of the best entrepreneurs, communication is the sole skill one must have. Good communication fosters great feedback from customers, analyzing of results and knowing one’s strengths and weakness.

Digital Communication is arguably the most important skill to master to be successful entrepreneurs. For instance, by explaining how your products and services work clearly using different ways helps customers understand how they are used and their prices.

Whether it’s to pitch to an investor, a potential co-founder or your customer, digital communication on a personal and professional level undoubtedly saves time and stress. Entrepreneurs should be able to professionally communicate via digital channels like email and Skype and other social media channels accessible by a larger population.

2. Branding

Different businesses vary in identity. It is possible for an entrepreneur to build a strong business enterprise with few people having the knowledge about it. How you tell your story, respond to customers, introduce your products and services and communicate at large represents your brand. From an individual angle, you are part of the branding to your business. Make the branding work.

A strong brand is more than just a logo. It is reflected in everything from your customer service style, staff uniforms, business cards, your physical premises and most importantly your voice, themes and stories you share on your digital platforms. To emerge the best in building a sustainable digital brand as an entrepreneur, you will need a guide.

3. Marketing

Marketing is one of the most important aspects of business growth. Digital marketing helps you attract more customers. Digital platforms enable you to reach out to your potential customers who are now spending their time on the platforms. Social media users are ever-increasing in number and the amount of time they spend scrolling the posts. Having digital skills will allow you to plan your marketing strategy, execute it effectively and increase your chances of business success.

Dear Marketer,

Don’t give up if you fail. Marketing is about experimentation and not everything you try will work the first time.

— Janet Machuka (@janetmachuka_) March 15, 2020

Effective digital marketing disciplines such as search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, pay-per-click (PPC), conversion optimization, content marketing and email marketing boost businesses.

Digital marketing skills can help you in the following ways; 

Identify your Target Audience: This is achieved by performing cheap market research online to identify the target market. Studying market trends will help you identify gaps and opportunities which when maximized they give positive impact to the business. Note that, not all business trends affect you directly.

Dear Small Business Owners,

Be aware that not every business trend impacts you equally, but it's important to remember they're still influencing your customers' expectations. Watch them and choose the one(s) that will best fit your brand. #AfricaTwetChat

— Janet Machuka (@janetmachuka_) January 7, 2020

Undertake Cost Effective Advertising Channels: Well-designed digital adverts have a very high return on investment. They also make it possible for cash-strapped entrepreneurs to fight with big companies in their niche. For your business operations to be successful, you have to outshine your competitors in terms of advertisements. This is by using channels that are more superior and reaching more target audience than that they are using. You can also use influencer marketing as a paid media strategy. Influencers to reach more people and in an organically engaged manner.

Enable entrepreneur Drive Traffic to Your Website and Physical Location: Appropriate digital skills attract more visitors to your website. With regular visits, you can see gaps and address them. Data will also allow you to plan ahead and respond faster to changes. Without digital skills, your decision making will be crippled and this will reduce your likelihood of success as an entrepreneur.

Interact and form Relationships with your Customers: Digital skills allow you to have conversations with your customers on digital platforms. Social media is especially important since people spend most of their time there. Digital connection with customers builds trust and warm relationships which in turn, increases the likelihood of repeat business and word of mouth recommendations; which is very powerful and essential in business growth.

4. Networking

Your network is your net worth. Digital skills allow you to build wholesome and symbiotic relationships. The ties you make with customers and other business companions determine your businesses’ development and growth.

An Entrepreneur Networking on Skype Call

Form a group of well-chosen entrepreneur friends who are visionaries, executors and champions. Create a good network that can help you cut off toxic people who are there to demoralize and take advantage of your mistakes.

While building a strong network, connect with people on the social networks. Put in mind that not all interactions will be fruitful at the start, but over time you will be making connections that matter.

5. Analysis

Find digital analytics tools you need to analyze data from all touch points in one place. Analytics will give you a deeper understanding of the customer experience and measure your success.

A laptop showing digital analytics: Unsplash.com

As an entrepreneur, you need to learn to analyze everything and every data you have. Courses on big data, economics, behavioral psychology, and statistics can help you identify trends and predict the future hence good decision making.

Conclusion

Digital skills greatly reduce your operating costs and improve your chances of success as an entrepreneur. Additionally, they make it possible for you to compete with larger businesses and improve the efficiency of your business. If you don’t have social media profiles, create them. Share your entrepreneurial story, connect with people and ask for help from your networks and connections if you need it.

Dear Entrepreneur,
Social media isn't a one and done deal. It takes time and patience to cultivate a reliable presence. You can use right automation tools but even still it will require at least 15 minutes a day to monitor your channels and respond to questions & conversations.

— Janet Machuka (@janetmachuka_) April 3, 2020

In the current era, lack of digital skills may make your business stagnate. Digital platforms offer a bigger target audience reach and a chance to grow faster by using a less budget.