The HKTDC and Google have partnered to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) tap online marketing channels and raise their profile globally.
The HKTDC (Hong Kong Trade Development Council) and the online giant say the partnership will enable Hong Kong suppliers to use the council’s online marketplace to promote their products and services to international buyers, at the same time enhancing their ranking on Google search. It is a response to the growing practice among international buyers of sourcing goods online, says HKTDC director of publications and eCommerce Loretta Wan.
“The partnership with Google will help SMEs capture new business opportunities via its strong and popular search engine.”
Featuring more than 130,000 suppliers, more than 1.6 million online registered buyers and more than 700,000 trade-fair visitors, the HKTDC marketplace also provides third-party authentication of supplier information and international certification. Suppliers can place keyword advertisements on the Google search engine that will appear at the top of relevant search-result pages. By clicking on the advertisements, buyers will be linked directly to the suppliers’ web pages on the HKTDC marketplace.
“The collaboration offers suppliers a hassle-free, one-stop online marketing solution especially suited to SMEs with limited knowledge in search-engine marketing and resources to develop their own mobile-friendly websites,” says Wan.
Suppliers who place search-engine advertisements through the HKTDC will benefit from its 50 years’ experience in external trade promotion. Its specialists can advise on keywords, advertising copy and content that can help raise suppliers’ rankings in searches.
Smaller suppliers can also use the marketplace’s Small Orders transaction platform to build their online business and trade directly with buyers.
Through the government’s SME Export Marketing Fund, suppliers can apply for a subsidy of up to 50 per cent on their advertising fees.