4 Strategic Ways To Grow A Successful Interstate Transporting Company In Nigeria
Emmanuel Nnaemeka
The transportation industry in Nigeria is a multi-billion dollar industry. Everyday, Nigerians travelling from one state to another, are either transporting goods and services, in pursuit of one business venture or the other, or simply travelling for the sake of leisure. However, running a successful interstate transporting company requires strategic ideas and top-notch execution. In Nigeria, there are several interstate transporting businesses that perform below expectations. I have had a series of firsthand experiences of underperforming interstate transporting companies. Many Nigerian interstate companies have caused grief to their numerous customers. Read more about BusinessThese days, customers are becoming smarter in their choices and looking at better options that can offer them a wonderful experience regardless of the cost. It is now common to see commuters share their experiences on social media, especially on Twitter and Facebook. One of the biggest secrets of successful interstate transportation businesses is how they make their customers feel. The article shares five powerful strategies for growing a successful interstate transportation business in Nigeria.1. Transform Motorparks Into TerminalsOne of the things that piss customers off these days when it comes to boarding a private-public interstate transport, is the rowdiness they experience in most parks in Nigeria. Most interstate transportation parks in Nigeria are extremely disorganized with street urchins and motor park touts hanging around, intimidating and harassing customers. Further, these parks are littered with all manner of dirt. However, few interstate transporting companies have changed the narrative by upping their games and transforming their parks into terminals where the organization is top-notch. Rather than having customers queue in uncomfortable long lines, they now have a reception where customers can seat, watch DSTV while waiting to receive their tickets. An ideal terminal generally has four divisions:
Landside operations
Maintenance operations
Billing and invoicing
Information management
2. Invest In Comfy Automobiles To succeed as an interstate transportation company, especially if you are new or you’re experiencing a decline, you must invest in the comfort of your customers by acquiring comfortable vehicles. Many Nigerians have shared their experiences on how uncomfortable they were throughout a long journey, simply because a transporting company carried more than enough passengers and goods, which led to micromanaging of space and jam-packing. An ideal comfortable vehicle should be neat, well aired, spacious and well lighted. Companies that invest in the comfort of their customers will have continous patronage. 3. Online Bookings Is The TrendStill, in creating comfort and convenience for your customers, online booking is one of the best strategies you can apply to stay relevant and ahead in the transportation industry. Today’s travellers want to search, choose and book their tours, tickets, and services online, from the comfort of their own homes. That is convenient for them, because they can read reviews, compare prices, etc. without leaving their homes. With a credit card at hand, they can finalize their travel plans within minutes. Therefore, you need an online booking system. To build a basic online booking software, you need the following requirements:
Sign up to the Connect Nigeria daily newsletter4. Start Or Polish Up Your Facebook Business PageHaving a Facebook Business profile for your transport company is essential in today’s business world. Your Facebook Business profile makes your company more findable online. It’s another avenue where potential customers can find your business address, email, phone number, and other vital information. A business profile is another medium of getting more subscribers to your email list.
Grow With Your Website
Having a website for your transport business is one of the fastest ways to grow. Your website serves as the centre for all of your digital marketing. Through social media posts or Google ads, you are possibly redirecting people to your website. There are diverse ways of generating leads and increasing business engagements through a website via Google search. The secret to increasing engagement is hinged on the fact that over 1 billion people use the Google search engine daily. Every day, people are seeking information through Google. Google looks for the sites that provide the best, most authoritative answers to users’ questions, so you have to know what people are searching for. The best way to optimize your company’s Search Engine Optimization is through keywords. Fortunately, keyword research is simpler than you think. Start by reviewing a list of phrases that people might use to find a business like yours. For example, if you provide transportation services in Lagos, your potential keyword list could be:
“Best transporters in Lagos”.
“Transport companies in Lagos”.
“Best long-distance transporters in Lagos”.
Once you’ve come up with a few, plug them into Google and see what other phrases autocomplete suggest. A search for “best transporters in Lagos,” for instance, comes up with searches like: “Best transporters in Lagos area”. You can choose to narrow your search by being specific, such as using specific locations. For example, you can use keywords such as “best transport company in Surulere”. Featured image source: Interstate moving, Relocation & LogisticsGot a suggestion? Contact us: editor@connectnigeria.com