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Outsourcing Guide
Why Is the Philippines Known as the Call Center Capital?
July 25, 2023
The Philippines has earned its reputation as the world's call center capital due to factors like steady BPO industry growth, superior English proficiency, robust government support, and competitive pricing, attracting foreign businesses seeking cost-effective, high-quality services and a skilled workforce.

In terms of worldwide appeal, the Philippines has come a long way. Not only is the Philippines known for being the world's selfie capital, but it is also regarded as the capital of the world's call center industry. How can a developing country with a small population of 110 million manage to outperform other countries with better contact center infrastructure?

Top Reasons Why the Philippines Remains the Call Center Capital of the World

If you review the history of BPO industry in the Philippines, the country has been the capital of the world's call center industry since 2010. India, the Philippines' arch-rival, has sought but failed to dethrone the Philippines over the years. Despite the expanding number of promising outsourcing hubs worldwide, the Philippines continues to lead the pack. The following are the main reasons why the Philippines dominates the call center industry.

Steady Growth of BPO Companies

PEZA-BPO-statistics

The world has seen how the pandemic affected various industries in recent years—and the Indian IT-BPO industry is no exception. When the pandemic happened, India struggled to serve its large customer bases in the UK and the US. As a result, some foreign companies routed their operations to the Philippines that have pieced together work-from-home solutions and other business-continuity plans.

Do you have any idea how many call centers are there in the Philippines? Roughly, there are 788 BPO companies in the Philippines, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). Even as the economy struggles to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippine BPO industry remains one of the country's most resilient sectors.

The sector reached US$26.7B in 2020 and is poised to hit US$29B by 2022.Furthermore, BPO firms employed 1.8 percent more workers in 2020, bringing the total number of direct jobs in the Philippines to 1.32 million. That said, foreign companies have a large pool of professionals to hire. It's just a matter of finding the best people to work for them.

Superior English Proficiency

BPO-filipino-english-proficiency

If you ask companies that hire a call center in the Philippines why they choose to do business there, one common response is that the English standard is excellent!

The Philippines is one of the most English-fluent countries globally, making it an excellent place to do business. Since 2016, the Philippines have received a "high proficiency" rating from the Global English Proficiency Ranking. The Philippines came in 18th overall and second in Asia last year.

There are two key reasons why English is so deeply ingrained in Filipino culture. First, since American colonization, English has been the primary medium of teaching in Philippine schools. Filipinos are exposed to the language from a young age through education and even the media. Indeed, the English language has given the country an advantage in maintaining its title.

Second, the Philippines has a solid affinity for Western culture. The Philippines is likely the only country in Asia closely associated with the West, adopting American food and their preferences in movies, music, and sports. Filipinos' familiarity with Western culture allows them to bridge the cultural gap between them and the rest of the world.

Clearly, India has lost a lot of call center seats to the Philippines due to its accent-related woes. American customers dislike the thick accents of Indian call centers and thus, prefer Filipino agents for their neutral accents. While India is still the world's top outsourcing destination, the Philippines is rapidly upstaging India in customer support services—cementing itself as the capital of the world's call center industry.

Robust Support from the Government

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Since its inception in 1992, the Philippines' call center industry has progressed significantly. Thanks to a supportive government that enforces laws and regulations to ensure the Philippines would remain on its title. The Philippine government has formed a partnership between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) to further its aim of retooling the workforce for IT-BPO jobs.

From 2001 to 2010, the government under the Arroyo administration committed Php500,000.00 to train 100,000 entry-level call center agents. The government allocated $500 million in 2011 to execute the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP). Within six months of completing the course, the program promised to hire at least 70% of the total graduates.

Moreover, The Data Privacy Act of 2012 was enacted to strengthen the Philippines' status as one of the world's top outsourcing destinations. With the passage of the Act, all BPO providers are now required to secure personal data, increasing foreign investors' confidence in growing their business operations in the country. The National Cybersecurity Plan and Digital Transformation Strategy for 2022 were also created by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). With the implementation of this plan, companies will have trust and confidence in the Philippines when using ICT facilities. Simultaneously, it formalizes the administration of cybersecurity governance among investors and businesses in the BPO sector.

Competitive Pricing and Incentives

One of the key reasons why businesses continue to outsource to the Philippines is that the country provides cost-effective services. Hiring a Shopify developer from a Western country, for example, could cost you $100-150 per hour.

On the other hand, outsourcing to the Philippines might cost as little as $30-60 per hour. The good news is that the quality is equal to its international counterparts. In addition, outsourcing to the Philippines might save you up to 70% on operational expenditures. You don't have to worry about equipment, utilities, or rent as a client. All you have to do is pay their service costs, and you'll be on your way to having your in-house call center in the Philippines.

Furthermore, BPO companies provide enticing compensation to their outsourced workers to keep them motivated. The following benefits are available to BPO workers in the Philippines:

  • Government-mandated benefits (SSS, PAG-IBIG, PhilHealth)
  • 13th Month Pay
  • Night Differential
  • Life Insurance
  • Premium Health Benefits
  • Scholarship programs
  • Paid leaves
  • Monthly allowances

Moreover, foreign companies registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) may be eligible for tax breaks lasting four, six, or eight years. Foreign businesses will be subject to a 5% tax on gross income after the expired validity period. These fiscal incentives are one of the reasons why BPO is the fastest-growing industry in the Philippines.

Call Center Outsourcing Philippines: Where to Outsource?

The Philippines houses numerous outsourcing service providers you can work with—and our company is excited to bring results to your business, all while building a long-term partnership.

KDCI Outsourcing, a leading offshore staffing service provider based in the Philippines, offers top-notch services ranging from customer support to marketing and design. We've worked in a variety of industries and provided scalable solutions to some of the world's most well-known brands. Our area of expertise is eCommerce outsourcing. So if you're looking for a partner for eCommerce customer service and product information management, you may benefit from our ten years of industry experience working with a variety of clients worldwide.

Are you interested to know more about our services? Then, click the button below to get your FREE consultation with one of our client success managers today! Contact Us

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Outsourcing Guide
Where to Outsource: Top Outsourcing Countries to Consider in Asia
July 13, 2023
Asia offers top outsourcing countries, including the Philippines for customer support and India for software development, providing cost-effective solutions and a skilled workforce.

When you hear 'Asia,' you might think of anime, Kpop culture, and people who look younger than their age (probably Japanese people). But do you know that Asia also has a long list of prominent outsourcing countries around the world? Well, we listed them down in this article so you can assess the best outsourcing countries to consider in the future. The only caveat to keep in mind is that all of them could be a good choice. Hopefully, you can find the best country that gives you value for your money.  

Top Outsourcing Countries to Offshore in Asia

No doubt that some of the top outsourcing countries in the world can be found in Asia. In fact, many foreign countries prefer to outsource in Asia for many reasons. One of them is the labor cost, which is far lower than in Western countries.

If you're planning to move some of your business operations to Asia, here's a list of leading outsourcing countries to choose from.

Philippines

philippines

First on the list of the top outsourcing countries in Asia is Philippines. The Philippines has carved out a name in the BPO industry as the call center capital of the world, mostly as a result of the country's success in providing high-quality contact center solutions.

Outsourcing companies in the Philippines provide cost-effective, top-notch, round-the-clock services that yield good outcomes. They take the lead in handling services in design and marketing, as well as customer support, accounting, and eCommerce.

The Philippines continuously impresses global leaders as one of the best outsourcing countries because of its educated workforce. The country's youth literacy rate is 97.94 %, and English proficiency is 94 %, with 70 % of the population speaking the language fluently.

Apart from its strategic location and efficient labor practices, its government supports the industry by facilitating infrastructural and policy growth. This includes collaborating with institutions to develop a BPO-specific curriculum and establishing the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to help foreign investors conduct business in the country.

Due to its competitiveness, major companies that outsource to the Philippines include Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Samsung.

India

india

No one can rule India out when it comes to developing software solutions. India, being of the the strongest outsourcing countries, known as the world leader in software outsourcing, has the biggest number of technology specialists of any country in the world.

The Indian software industry has the necessary specialized knowledge and qualified software developers. They have IT clusters in Bangalore, Gurgaon, and Hyderabad. Technical support, software development, and website & mobile app development are some of the most often outsourced services in this country. Companies that outsource to India include Ford Motors, CISCO, and IBM.

The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) estimates that India's IT industry will generate $350 billion in revenue by 2025, making it one of the world's best outsourcing countries, fastest-growing economies, and a desirable investment location.

If you're thinking of where to outsource IT-related services, India could be one of the best options.

China

china

China has one of the world's largest pools of highly skilled workers that's why they are one of the outsourcing countries that businesses can consider. Over the years, China has become a manufacturing hub for several global companies due to its robust business environment, lack of regulatory compliance, minimal taxes, and attractive currency practices.

For labor-intensive sectors, China's cheap labor costs are a big selling feature. The average monthly wage in China is 29,300 Chinese Yuan (CNY), which is nearly half of what it is in the United States (roughly $7,900).

According to industry analysts, businesses that outsource to China can save anywhere from 30 to 80 percent on labor expenditures, depending on the product's labor intensity. To sum up, American companies that outsource to China include Amazon, Apple, and Pfizer.

If you're wondering where to outsource low-cost product manufacturing, China is one of the top choice outsourcing countries. This country can produce low-cost products at a significantly faster rate than its competitors.

Vietnam

vietnam

Vietnam has started to enter the outsourcing market, competing alongside other outsourcing hubs in Asia. In fact, Vietnam has recently gained a reputation as a new outsourcing paradise for software development, making it one of the best outsourcing countries that businesses can consider.

It may not be on par with the Philippines and India, but Vietnam holds a lot of promise as one of the optimistic outsourcing countries in Asia. With its growing number of IT engineers and competitive IT talent pool, this country could be the next center of software development in Southeast Asia.

In 2017, Vietnam moved up five places in the Global Services Location Index, from 11th to 5th, putting it in the top 55 most promising nations for Global Outsourcing Services. In addition, many IT businesses from other industrialized countries, such as Japan and Australia, have already established offices in Vietnam and hired software professionals to work on their projects.

While it is home to some of the world's greatest software developers, Vietnam's economy is still in its early stages and lagging behind other developed countries. However, it's one of the top picks outsourcing countries of foreign companies eyeing high-quality IT works at a reasonable price.

Certainly, companies that outsource IT services to Vietnam are US tech giants like Intel, IBM, and Microsoft.

Thailand

thailand

Known as the largest automotive exporter in Southeast Asia, Thailand is also one of the promising outsourcing countries and players in the outsourcing industry. Apart from manufacturing, it's succeeding in the IT industry despite its infrastructure and ICT research facilities challenges.

Companies that have successfully outsourced to Thailand include Samsung and Ford. In addition, because of Thailand's generous incentives to stimulate private investment, an increasing number of companies in the automation industry are relocating their operations there.

Being one of the contending outsourcing countries in Asia, Thailand promises foreign companies incentives such as a 50% reduction in corporate income tax and additional tax allowance on net profit within ten years. In other words, Thailand is indeed committed to making its outsourcing industry attractive to foreign investors and manufacturers.

Moreover, Thailand makes it easier for new business partners to register their companies. As a result, Thailand has a higher ease of doing business than other offshore outsourcing leaders like Taiwan and Hong Kong.

However, Thailand has long been far behind many of its Asian neighbors in terms of English proficiency. Thus, Thailand barely penetrates the call center industry and competes against traditional outsourcing heavyweights like the Philippines and India.

Indonesia

indonesia

Finally, Indonesia—the world's fourth most populated country also made it on the list of the best outsourcing countries. While considered Southeast Asia's largest economy, Indonesia had a rocky start when it came to outsourcing.

Outsourcing has long been a contentious subject among Indonesian labor groups. Thousands of workers came to the streets around the country in 2013 to demand that businesses cease employing outsourcing companies and ensure that all of their employees receive benefits.

Furthermore, Indonesia used to have complex labor laws that prohibited corporations from outsourcing core jobs and only allowed them to outsource five types of non-core work: cleaning, security, driving, catering, and mining support services.

In 2019, the Indonesian Minister of Manpower amended the regulation on The Requirements for Outsourcing. Instead of putting restrictions on outsourcing certain types of work, the new labor law requires companies to have a proper business license to carry out outsourcing activities.

To date, Indonesia is an attractive and one of the best picks outsourcing countries  for companies that outsource jobs related to HR functions. In addition, some PEO providers in Indonesia offer comprehensive back-office services such as accounting, health insurance, and benefits administration.

Where to Outsource: KDCI Outsourcing

Aside from being one of the best outsourcing countries globally, you probably heard that Filipinos are also respected for their hard work and work ethics. Do you want to experience working with Filipino professionals? You can consider working with us to start hitting the ground running.

KDCI is a leading offshore staffing company based in the Philippines with a growing client base. We offer scalable outsourcing services in creative design, digital marketing, and eCommerce. We have delivered unparalleled services across various industries and have worked with some of the big brands out there, such as Apple, Canon, and Dell.

Are you interested to learn more about our services? Then, click the button below to have a FREE consultation with one of our client success managers today!

Contact Us

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Design & Marketing
What Are the Best IG Hashtag Strategies for Engagement?
July 25, 2023
An Instagram hashtag strategy is a carefully planned approach to maximize your content's reach and discoverability. By using the right mix of hashtags, you can engage your audience effectively and even create your own branded hashtags for user-generated content.

There’s a strategy behind every viral Instagram content you see online. Are you wondering why other brands are getting thousands of hearts while you are barely getting enough attention? You’re probably missing out on the secret sauce of successful Instagram marketing—the Instagram hashtag strategy!

What is an Instagram Hashtag Strategy?

An Instagram hashtag strategy is a well-thought-out approach for using hashtags to increase the number of people who see your posts. Rather than randomly putting a handful of hashtags on, creating a strategy allows users to find your content.The proper use of hashtags does more than just bring in new followers to a specific niche. To stay up to date on a particular topic or trend, you can also follow and engage with particular hashtags. Ultimately, you can make your own hashtag to promote your new product or service.Hashtags should make sense inside a post. However, some businesses continue to utilize irrelevant hashtags in their posts simply because they are popular. The result: irritated audience who will click the unfollow button.Experts say hashtags are basically SEO components of social media marketing. So, how can you use it to increase your online visibility?

Instagram Hashtag Strategy and Tips that Marketing Experts Swear By

Instagram's hashtag strategy keeps on evolving rapidly due to system updates. But the best practices that stand the test of time will always stay. Learn this expert advice on using Instagram hashtags so you won’t come back to constantly using the same hashtags.

1. Use the ideal number of hashtags

The most common mistake that businesses make in their hashtag strategy is to come up with a long list of hashtags. Unfortunately, just because Instagram allows you to use hashtags profusely doesn’t mean you should.Notice that when you go beyond 30 hashtags, your comment or caption won’t post. This is because Instagram limits users to only using 30 hashtags on a regular post and up to 10 hashtags on a story.Using many hashtags could help you increase your reach. But be careful not to be detected by Instagram’s security systems. Instagram often detects spam posts from accounts that overdo their hashtags.The ideal length for IG hashtags can be tricky. But experts recommend finding the sweet spot between what’s relevant to your community and which hashtags have a high number of posts.If your business is just starting out, it’s ideal for you to begin with 10-15 hashtags. Although these numbers are too generous, be smart enough only to include what’s relevant.Before jumping into popular hashtags, make sure you have first added your product/service hashtags, niche hashtags, and other phrases related to your brand.

IG

2. Consider Instagram hashtags density2.

Using a good amount of hashtags is not enough. So do you want to get the best out of your Instagram hashtag strategies? First, you need to learn how to classify them in terms of density.The total number of posts linked to a hashtag is known as hashtag density. Therefore, the level of competition for a specific hashtag is determined by hashtag density, which is similar to SEO keyword rankings.Instagram hashtags are classified into high,medium, and low density. Here’s your guide for Instagram hashtags density.

High-density hashtags

These are popular hashtags with over one million posts. You’ll be in the right category if you use this hashtag. However, because these hashtags are constantly added to new posts, it’s far more difficult to rank them.

Medium-density hashtags

These are popular hashtags with over one million posts. You’ll be in the right category if you use this hashtag. However, because these hashtags are constantly added to new posts, it’s far more difficult to rank them.

Low-density hashtags

On the other hand, low-density hashtags are hashtags with less than 50,000 posts. Since it’s too niche and specific, it doesn’t have a high number of posts. But ranking for it at the top posts is much easier.To reach a wider audience, marketers recommend using a mix of high, medium, and low-density hashtags. You can find how many posts a hashtag has by typing a keyword in the search bar.

3. Check if a hashtag is banned on Instagram

Have you ever had trouble finding your post on hashtag searches and explore pages? There’s a good chance you happened to use a banned hashtag.Hashtags that Instagram users have reported for violating some of Instagram’s community guidelines are known as banned hashtags. The result is that every post containing that hashtag will be hidden from view, limiting your organic reach and growth efforts.If you use too many banned hashtags, Instagram will not just hide your post. They may also flag your account, which might result in a “shadowban” or even the removal of your account.Some of the hashtags that have been banned include those that are blatantly seeking likes and followers. #followme, #like4like, #follow4follow, #tagsforlikes, and so on are only a few examples.You may check this page to learn more about banned Instagram hashtags to avoid this in 2022.

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4. Look over the hashtags that your audience is using

Are you struggling to find hashtags relevant to your brand? Your audience may help you with that!Check the profile of the people who follow you or have interacted with you. You’ll get an idea of what hashtags they are using and what they care about. By doing this, you’ll find community-oriented hashtags that can be useful for your brand.Community-oriented hashtags allow you to engage with people in a focused, active community. Using these hashtags will help people find more of your content. At the same time, you’ll be able to reach out to those who are most likely to be interested in your business.

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5. Build your own branded hashtag

On Instagram, over 100 million photographs and videos are shared every day. As a result, it’s challenging for branded content to stand out among the crowd. To get their content seen, businesses use branded hashtags.A branded hashtag is a custom hashtag associated with a specific brand used on social media. Also, they range from words to slogans that motivate individuals to get a brand involved in conversations.Some of the great branded hashtags are #ShareACoke, #MyCalvins, and #BeyondFiveStars, which made a successful hashtag campaigns for big brands like Coke, Calvin Klein, and Uber.Whatever hashtag you create for your brand, always keep your audience in mind. Remember that your goal is to earn the attention and engagement of your customers. If you make them use your brand hashtag, it would be easy for you to collect user-generated content.For small businesses, it’s hard to crack on branded hashtags because most users only interact with big brands. But this shouldn’t dampen your spirit. If you want to turn the tables, you may start by announcing offers, discounts, or freebies.This is exactly what Sephora did upon reaching their 200K fan-following milestone. They decided to honor the occasion by presenting a special offer.Sephora urged their followers to take part by posting images of themselves with the hashtag #SephoramyFans and tagging their friends who needed to repost their content with comments. Today, Sephora is among the esteemed brands with a staggering 20 million followers.

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Outsource Your Instagram Marketing Needs to KDCI

It can take months before you start to see meaningful results from your Instagram hashtag strategies. But you can expedite it with a dedicated team who will assist you from content development to analyzing relevant metrics. Get the highest quality of service at a fraction of the cost by partnering with us!Our company, KDCI, is a full-service digital outsourcing company that caters to SMEs hiring professionals from the Philippines. We offer scalable digital marketing solutions to help organizations keep up with their business demand. We have marketing strategists, social media managers, content writers, and graphic designers capable of ramping up your marketing efforts.Do you want to know more about our services? Then, click the button below to get your FREE consultation with one of our account managers today!

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Outsourcing Guide
A Timeline of the History of Outsourcing in the Philippines
August 3, 2023
The history of outsourcing traces back to the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s when companies began seeking lower labor costs. It evolved into a strategic business approach, officially recognized in 1989, leading to the growth of the outsourcing industry, as exemplified by the Philippines' remarkable journey from its inception in the 1990s to becoming a global outsourcing leader today.

Certainly, you've heard how the Philippines became the world's call center capital and why it is the most preferred country to outsource to. But have you ever thought of looking into the history of outsourcing in the Philippines?  

If you want to feed your curiosity, this is the right place to do that. In this article, we put together all the important events to chronicle the early stages of outsourcing in the Philippine BPO industry. But let's find out first where outsourcing originated and how it was introduced to the world of business.

Evolution and History of Outsourcing: Where Did Outsourcing Originate?

The concept and history of outsourcing can be traced back to the 1700s Industrial Revolution when companies began shifting production to countries with lower labor costs. However, it was not viewed as a business strategy at that time.

Large corporations were not completely self-sufficient in the 1970s, so they looked for ways to focus more on their core competencies to improve their performance. Moreover, many companies were hampered by a lack of agility caused by bloated management structures.

Many large corporations developed a new strategy of focusing on their core business. This strategy is what we know today as outsourcing. Through this new approach, companies can identify critical processes and decide which could be outsourced to increase their flexibility and creativity.

Outsourcing was officially recognized as a business strategy when Eastman Kodak announced in 1989 that it was outsourcing its information systems to companies such as IBM, DEC, and Businessland. After the inception, many companies followed to focus on forging strategic partnerships and less on ownership.

At present, outsourcing is seen as a new way for businesses to increase their market share, reduce risk, and improve their value proposition. Over the last few years, more and more companies have been rethinking and rearranging their outsourcing contracts.

A Brief History of Outsourcing in the Philippines

We've created a timeline on the history of outsourcing in the Philippines. Take a look at how the Philippine BPO industry has evolved from a single contact center to the world's leading outsourcing hub it is today.

1990s: A Decade of Where It All Began

1992: Outsourcing began in the Philippines when Frank Holz founded the country's very first contact center, Accenture Global Resource Center. The first few contact centers provided basic services such as email response and service management.

1995: The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) was instituted during the presidency of former President Fidel V. Ramos. The agency focuses on assisting foreign investors in facilitating their business operations in some regions of the country.

1997: Sykes Asia established itself as the first multinational BPO company in the Philippines.

1999: Former employees of a multinational management consulting firm, Jim Franke and Derek Holley founded eTelecare, better known as the country's first call center.

2000s: A Decade of Growth and Development

2000: A total of 0.075% of the country's GDP was contributed by the BPO industry.

2001: The Contact Center of the Philippines was established by former Trade Secretary Mar Roxas. The organization's objective was to raise awareness and encourage members of the contact center industry to share ideas.

2003: Convergys Corp. has opened two call centers in the country. As part of the company's global expansion and revenue generation plan, the Philippines and India were chosen by the company's then-president, Jack Freker.

2005: The Philippine BPO industry increased its share of the global BPO market to 3%, accounting for 2.4% of the country's GDP.

2006: The Philippine BPO industry began to grow at a rate of 46% per year.

2010s: A Decade of Taking the Lead

2010: The Philippines was named the world's BPO capital after it employed 525,000 people and generated $8.9 billion in revenue.

2011: The Philippine BPO industry has employed a total of 638,000 Filipinos, with 400,000 of them working in call centers, making it the largest and fastest-growing private-sector job market in the country. In addition, the industry contributed 4.9 percent of the country's total GDP and generated $11 billion in revenue.

2012: The Philippine BPO industry's revenue accounted for 5.4 percent of the country's total GDP. Over 700,000 Filipinos were employed in the BPO sector at that time.

2013: The industry's generated revenue rises to $15.5 billion, and 900,000 Filipinos are employed full-time.

2016: The Philippine BPO industry was expected to generate 1.3 million jobs and grow at a 17% annual rate.

2017: The annual growth rate of the BPO industry decreased. The battle of Marawi, which took place in Mindanao, terrified a lot of foreign investors in placing their investments in the country.

2018: BPO companies in the Philippines added 70000 jobs and generated $1 billion in revenue. After a slight slowdown in 2017, the industry has recovered.

2019: According to the World Bank, the Philippines rose from 124th to 95th place and improved its score from 60.9 to 62.9 out of 190 countries ranked for ease of doing business.

2020s: A Decade of Transformation

2020: According to data from the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), the Philippine BPO industry saw revenues rise 1.4 percent in 2020, even though the health pandemic had a significant impact on the economy.

2021: This was a watershed moment in the Philippine BPO industry. It now employs 1.3 million people and generates $30 billion in revenue for the economy.

2022: There was a global move towards digital transformation and remote work, and Philippine outsourcing began these adaptations in IT, software development, and digital marketing. They also started investing in AI and automation, marking a year of significant adaptation and innovation.

2023: The Philippine BPO sector focused on sustainability and inclusivity. Outsourcing companies began integrating green technologies and sustainable practices into their operations. They also placed a greater emphasis on inclusive hiring, aiming for broader demographic participation.

Three dedicated Asian outsourcing staff members, deeply engrossed in their work, collaborate harmoniously in a modern, bustling office setting.

The Future of Outsourcing in the Philippines

Despite the economic contraction caused by the pandemic, the Philippine BPO industry's steady growth trajectory continues to attract many foreign investors looking to set up or expand their operations in the country.

According to the US analytics firm IHS Global Insight, the Philippines' economy will be worth $1 trillion by 2030. Rajiv Biswas, IHS's Asia-Pacific chief economist, predicts that the Philippines will be a $695 billion economy by 2025 and a $1 trillion economy by 2030, thanks to a growing IT-BPO (information technology and business process outsourcing) sector and strong OFW remittances.

In the coming years, experts expect to see an increase in the use of outsourced services. For starters, companies that have previously outsourced plans to increase their efforts, especially in IT services, to increase their efforts.

More services are expected to increase demand, such as:

Design and marketing services

Designing and marketing strategies have seen a massive increase in the last decade. An update on the design industry and the trends that drive it was recently published by Forrester.

According to Forrester, the global design industry is estimated to be worth $162 billion, and the use of design is expected to grow by more than 20% in the next five years.

Accounting services

With a focus on billing services, accounts payables, and accounts receivables, there is a growing demand for outsourced accounting services in the country.

Meanwhile, between 2017 and 2022, the accounting services industry in the United States grew at a rate of 1.3 percent per year on average.

Ecommerce and customer support services

During the pandemic, eCommerce and customer support outsourcing have become more popular. People are more likely to go online due to the lockdown and quarantine measures, which increased demand for outsourced eCommerce and customer support services. In May 2020, eCommerce transactions totaled $82.5 billion, up from $77 billion in 2019.  

Outsource Your Business Needs to KDCI

Are you looking for a trusted outsourcing company in the Philippine BPO industry? If you want scalable offshore staffing solutions and work with the top 1% of the world's best talents, then we are the best partner to grow your business!

Our company, KDCI, has been in the Philippine BPO industry for over ten years, servicing various SMEs worldwide. We are experts in digital marketing services and eCommerce outsourcing. If you're seeking professional service at a competitive price, click the button below to get your FREE consultation with one of our dedicated success managers.

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Offshore Staffing
5 Key Roles for a Successful Digital Marketing Team
July 24, 2023
A well-structured digital marketing team is crucial for online success. Roles like Social Media Manager, Content Writer, SEO Specialist, and PPC Specialist are key to enhancing brand visibility and driving results.

A digital marketing team should comprise team members working together to define clear marketing goals. However, in many organizations, some people wear many hats.In many cases, these are business owners who don’t hire employees as a cost-cutting measure. While cost-effective at first, the repercussions of being understaffed are too hard to ignore in the long run—not to mention the elevated stress and long work hours due to endless multitasking.In this blog post, we’ll help you design your digital marketing team structure by endorsing experts to bring to your team. These experts will help you stay at the forefront of the rapidly changing marketing landscape while beating your competition.So, let’s define the critical roles you should be looking out for in building a digital marketing team.

A dedicated outsourcing digital marketing team, comprised of five diligent Asian staff members, working diligently inside the office. With their laptops open and dedicated and professional smile in the camera, they collaborate seamlessly, harnessing their expertise to drive successful online campaigns for clients worldwide.

Here are the Experts You Need for a Powerhouse Digital Marketing Team

Long before, when traditional marketing was reigning supreme, marketing teams were only composed of a few people. However, when the competition shifted online, it gave birth to a host of digital marketing team roles to meet emerging online marketing platforms.Do you want to create effective marketing strategies and attract more leads? Then, hire these marketing experts and increase your sales exponentially.

1. Social Media Manager

Half of the battle in today’s marketing lies in getting in front of your customers. And what’s the best way of getting closer to them? Taking advantage of social media platforms—the place where they spend a good amount of time.Social media has been a staple part of every marketer’s marketing strategy. It is proven to build brand awareness and enables businesses to respond to their customers’ concerns in real time. In fact, 54% of social browsers use social media to research products, according to Buffer.That said, there’s no reason not to hire and add a Social Media Manager in your digital marketing team. Do you want to stay on top of all global market trends, changes, and opportunities on social media? Then, hire a dedicated Social Media Manager who can establish your business as an expert in your industry.You might stereotype Social Media Managers as people behind the viral memes you see online. Although this is mostly true, they also perform various tasks to give a brand a human voice. Apart from growing an authentic follower base on social media, the following tasks are also their strongest suits:

  • Create, implement, and manage social media strategies
  • Publish and share engaging content regularly
  • Communicate with leads, followers, and respond to customer inquiries
  • Determine the most critical social media KPIs
  • Foster relationships with industry professionals and influencers to build a strong network

2. Content Writer

Do you want to know the outcome of not having a Content Writer on your digital makreting team? Your tendency to commit typos and poor writing is too high. This is not good because it would harm your engagement and damage your brand reputation.Furthermore, it’s not enough that you write with impeccable grammar. You also need to consider what content is relevant to your customers. Without this understanding, you’re susceptible to writing pointless content that adds noise in the digital space.Instead of doing your content alone, why don’t you consider hiring Content Writers in your digital marketing team? These experts understand what content types to produce in every stage of the marketing funnel. They’re adaptable and flexible, too. Whatever content format it is—blog articles, ad copy, lead magnets, scripts, product descriptions—they can create it without breaking a sweat.The duties of a Content Writer are quite extensive. And too often, their tasks are often confused with Copywriters. That’s why below, we highlighted a precise job description of a Content Writer:

  • Research industry-related topics for content creation
  • Create concise marketing copy to promote products/services
  • Perform rounds of editing before publishing a blog post
  • Conduct simple keyword research and follow SEO guidelines
  • Promote content through a variety of social media channels
  • Determine the needs of customers and gaps in content, and then recommend new topics

3. SEO Specialist

Yes, you have good content that resonates well with your audience. But if it’s not visible on search engine results pages (SERPS), your potential customers won’t find you. That said, you need the help of a skilled SEO specialist to rank your web pages higher on SERPS.SEO specialists execute organic strategies to optimize your site and drive more traffic for your business. They are knowledgeable of tried-and-true, search engine-approved methods. Without SEO specialists, you’re more likely to perform bad strategies that can penalize you with lower search rankings.Having a great SEO specialist in your digital marketing team can push your pages to the top 10 of the SERPS. And if you reach the top position, you can generate 33% of all search traffic for a given query. With more traffic coming to your website, your chances of getting quality leads are higher.Moreover, Google updates its search algorithm 500 to 600 times per year. So if you’ve been doing DIY SEO, you’re definitely using old SEO rules. Below are SEO activities that a good SEO specialist can help you with:

  • Performs a website SEO audit and recommends a comprehensive SEO campaign
  • Conducts keyword research and analysis to find relevant keywords that rank higher
  • Track, report, and analyze website analytics to increase the visibility of your site
  • Create and implement a link-building strategy
  • Provide suggestions for on-page and off-page SEO optimization

4. PPC Specialist

The downside of doing only organic strategies like SEO is that it takes months to see results. In addition, you have to compete against companies with higher domain authorities.It’s normal that you have exhausted all your resources yet can’t see a decent ROI from your SEO efforts. To address this, companies hire PPC specialists and leverage paid ads.If you have PPC specialists in your digital marketing team, these experts can manage pay-per-click campaigns to boost the amount of qualified traffic that reaches your site. These experts pay search engines like Google to display your ads at the top of organic search results.The good thing about PPC is that you only pay when a user clicks on your ad. So here, you’re in complete control of your budget.Also, PPC provides instant traffic. Unlike SEO, you don’t need to take months to climb the organic search rankings. In addition, you can target your audience based on demographics such as location, language, and device.Running paid ads could sometimes be expensive. You can’t make mistakes on a high-volume PPC strategy, or else, you’ll lose your money. That’s why it’s smart to hand this function to a PPC specialist in your digital marketing team who can perform the following:

  • Participate in the selection of keywords and audience targeting
  • Implement PPC campaigns across a variety of platforms
  • Decide on campaign budgets and objectives while following SEO best practices
  • Examine key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify issues
  • Taking care of existing campaigns and making suggestions on how to improve them

5. SEM Specialist

Do you want to work with an expert skilled at website and search optimization as well as paid internet marketing methods? Then maybe, you’re looking for an SEM specialist to add in your digital marketing team.If you want to utilize both organic and paid strategies, an SEM specialist is the right expert for you. You don’t have to get confused about whether you need an SEO expert or a paid ads specialist. With an SEM specialist, your paid advertising efforts and SEO initiatives are well taken care of.An SEM specialist usually works hand in hand with SEO specialists and PPC experts. But if you want to simplify your digital marketing team structure, you may only hire an SEM specialist. These experts have a thorough understanding of creating strategies with search engines and managing PPC campaigns. Also, they are adept with internet marketing, web design, and data analytics.Here’s the detailed job summary of a qualified SEM specialist:

  • Conduct keyword research, consumer trends, and competitor analysis
  • Monitor SEM analytics such as redirects, click rates, and customer acquisition rates
  • Creating heatmaps to analyze website visitor behavior
  • Collaborate with web developers and online marketing team to properly implement SEO
  • Keeping up with new advertising trends and PPC strategies

Build Your Digital Marketing Team with KDCI

Are you planning to hire full-time employees for the above-mentioned marketing roles and complete your successful digital marketing team? Well, you must be willing to provide benefits and training to make these employees stay. If you’ll ask us, it’s smart to outsource these critical functions to a service provider. Not only are you guaranteed quality service, but you can also scale up according to your business needs.  KDCI, an offshore staffing company, offers a full-service digital marketing solution perfect for SMEs that need a dedicated digital marketing team. The company also offers design and creative services to transform your ideas into high-converting graphics. We also have extensive experience working with eCommerce businesses. So if you’re an online merchant, we are the perfect business partner for you!  Do you want to know more about our services? Then, hit the button below to get your FREE consultation with our experts today!Contact Us

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Outsourcing Guide
Hiring Freelancers: Understanding the Pros & Cons
July 14, 2023
In the era of remote work accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, hiring a freelancer has become a cost-effective solution for businesses. Freelancers offer flexibility, lower compensation costs, and minimal supervision while allowing businesses to access a wide range of skills and expertise.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw an exponential rise in freelancing as remote work became the norm to minimize physical movements. As a result, many business owners are scratching their heads, asking, "What is freelancing?" and "Why is it becoming a new trend nowadays?"

To clarify, freelancing is different from outsourcing and definitely far unrelated to hiring full-time employees. So, if you're planning to hire a freelancer, you may spare some time reading this article to make up your mind. Above all, what you need is to be educated to make sound decisions. So, let's start with "What is freelancing and how does it work?"

What is freelancing and how does it work?

Are you wondering what freelancing means in the business world? We'll try to answer the question "What is freelancing?" in a way you can easily understand.

Freelancing is the practice of working as an independent contractor rather than being employed by a company.

In other words, independent contractors use their skills, education, and experience to work with various clients and take on multiple assignments without being tied to a single employer. The number of projects or tasks they can take depends solely on their ability to complete them as requested.

People who do contract work are often called freelancers. Too often, they work in the comfort of their homes. But there are also instances where they may be required to work at their client's office.

What is a freelancer: A quick look at how a freelancer works

Saying that the freelancing world is cutthroat is already an understatement. Many successful freelancers out there would agree on how difficult it is to build a freelance career from the ground up.

Now that you have learned more about "what is freelancing?". It's time to uncover how these independent contractors begin before scouting clients online.

It requires a lot of work to make it in the freelancing industry. Freelancers always have to update their skills according to the needs of the industry. In short, they spend a lot of time and money taking online courses and attending webinars.

The competition to stand out does not end up with upskilling. Freelancers should also build a stunning portfolio that wins clients.

After getting these things done, these freelancers flock to popular gig sites like Upwork and Fiverr to find clients. From there, they submit proposals in the hopes of landing legitimate remote jobs that pay well.

In terms of payment methods, freelancers usually get paid either through hourly contracts or fixed-price contracts.

In hourly contracts, clients only pay for the hours that the contractor works. Meanwhile, fixed-price contracts give clients a sense of security in knowing how much money will be spent. Here, freelancers are paid all at once or by milestone, a contract amount paid by the client which is deposited to the freelancer's account.

What is an example of a freelancer?

Anyone who can fulfill a short-term or part-time contract is eligible to become a freelancer. But to give you an idea of who most likely dominate the freelancing world, we listed here the top 10 best and highest paying freelance jobs in 2022 according to Invoice2go:

  1. Web designer or web developer
  2. Graphic designer
  3. Teacher
  4. Virtual Assistant
  5. Freelance Writer
  6. Editor
  7. Accountant/financial consultant
  8. Social media specialist
  9. App Developer
  10. Content Creator
freelancer using her laptop and working

Pros and Cons of Hiring Freelancers

Anyone who can fulfill a short-term or part-time contract is eligible to become a freelancer. But to give you an idea of who most likely dominate the freelancing world, we listed here the top 10 best and highest paying freelance jobs in 2022 according to Invoice2go.

Pros

Lower compensation costs

Yes! Hiring a freelancer will help you reduce costs. Also, there are many reasons why compensation costs are lower when you hire freelancers.

First, you're not responsible for a host of benefits on behalf of your freelancers. Unlike hiring full-time employees, you're not required to provide benefits like Medicare, Social Security, health insurance, retirement benefits, and more.

Second, you don't have to shell out for renting office spaces. Freelancers usually have modern home offices and can work from anywhere.

And lastly, businesses get to cut traditional costs by 60% since freelancers charge less compared to full-time employees.

If you're on a shoestring budget, hiring an entry-level freelancer might be good for you. But don't expect a professional service. Take note that you'll get what you only pay for.

Minimal supervision

If you're a busy business owner and have no time to manage a team of employees, maybe hiring a freelancer can help you.

Freelancers usually require minimal supervision. Clearly, they've worked with hundreds of projects before, and they know how to approach tasks quickly with little to no guidance.

Moreover, freelancers operate their services, which thrive on repeat business and repeat clients. Therefore, they strive to submit their best work every time to keep the relationship.

Also, you only pay them for the work they complete, so you don't waste money on downtime.

Flexibility and availability

Freelancers are frequently available on short notice to meet an unexpected demand that your in-house team may be unable to meet. Also, you can hire them by the job, the day or hour.

For example, if you need someone who can instantly produce artwork for your social media; you can hire a freelance graphic designer. To sum up, they can accomplish the task in a fast turnaround time and pay them only for the service they rendered.

If you have short-term tasks that can be done in hours, it's wise to have freelancers you can contact whenever you need their expertise.

Cons

Accountability issues

While freelancers are reliable for many reasons, there are also instances where they disappear or let go of a project they can no longer handle.

Remember that these freelancers juggle multiple tasks from many clients. That said, be reasonable in giving tasks and deadlines they can work on. It's not good to lose an accountability buddy when a deadline is fast approaching.

To sum up, you can't rely on a freelancer if you have no long-term commitments. This is true, especially for those you only meet on freelancing platforms.

Security threats

Moreover, hiring a freelancer can pose a security threat to your company. Keep in mind that freelancers can use all of your data for whatever it may serve them. For example, they can use it for their portfolio or, worse, steal your company's ideas.

Hence, requiring a freelancer to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is important. By doing so, you give them insight into what they can and cannot share about the project they are working on.

Subpar quality of work

Clearly, the main reason why freelancers can potentially give you a below-average quality of work is that they have a lower investment in your company.

What does it mean? Their loyalty to your brand is probably lower than your full-time employees. Since they work on short-term projects, they don't understand the brand identity and core values of the company they work for.

As a result, brand inconsistency happens across all outputs. Hence, it will need more than two rounds of revision to get it right.

Outsource Your Business Needs to KDCI

Hiring freelancers and full-time employees are both viable options for getting the best talent out there. But there is a better alternative that offsets the downsides of the two. That's outsourcing to a reliable service provider with extensive industry experience handling offshore projects.

Our company, KDCI, has been in the industry of outsourcing for over ten years. We have delivered scalable offshore staffing solutions to various SMEs that needed help in their eCommerce, digital marketing, and even customer support.

Also, we have worked with some of the top brands in the world like Apple, Dell, and Canon. So, we can guarantee you professional services at a competitive price.

Do you want to get started with outsourcing? Talk to our experts by clicking the button below

Contact Us

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Design & Marketing
Types of Email Marketing Campaigns for Brand Awareness
July 24, 2023
In email marketing campaigns, welcome emails are pivotal for setting a positive first impression and fostering subscriber engagement. To optimize your email marketing campaigns, prioritize crafting compelling welcome emails that resonate with your audience.

If you’re new to email marketing, you are probably stuck in a pit of a one-way conversation with your potential leads. It means sending a message and receiving no feedback of any kind from the recipient. The outright disregard for which types of email to send screams amateur—and this needs to stop right now!In this blog article, we will reveal the three types of emails to send to raise brand awareness so you won’t come back to that old-fashioned, linear communication that all newbies out there do.

email marketing for brand awareness, hands on laptop

3 Types of Email Marketing Campaigns and the First Stage of the Marketing Funnel

There’s a step-by-step procedure to closing that deal. And it all starts with identifying different types of emails to send in each stage of the marketing funnel.The marketing funnel has various stages: awareness, interest, consideration, intent, evaluation, and purchase. As a small business owner, everyone starts at the awareness stage. Here, your job is to raise brand awareness until your leads are knowledgeable enough about your business and move to the next stage.Do you want to nail the first stage of the marketing funnel? You need different types of emails to have a good start. So, what are the different types of emails to send at the awareness stage? Here are our top recommendations for you.

Welcome emails

Suppose you already have your email list. Your first big task is about to begin. That’s initiating the first contact with your leads who voluntarily submitted their emails on your website.We understand that having a bulk list of new email subscribers could feel overwhelming. But don’t let this prompt you to make rookie mistakes. That’s sending random emails without clear intention.How can you get off to a good start? Well, why don’t you begin with welcome emails to delight your new email subscribers?One of the most important emails you’ll ever send to subscribers is a welcome email. After all, it’s the email that either makes or breaks their first impression of your brand.Take note that 74% of new subscribers expect to receive a welcome email. That said, failing to send a welcome email means losing a potential customer.Sometimes, visiting your website is not enough for prospects to understand your business. Hence, you need to introduce yourself through a series of welcome emails.

How to get started with welcome emails?

Introducing yourself is absolutely essential to the success of your email marketing strategy. But bear in mind that introducing yourself is not enough. You also need to get your leads engaged.Similar to dating, saying your name won’t get you date invites. Do you want to date your long-time crush? Make them contact you with the number you provided.We know this will be a tough start, especially if you’re wooing someone with divided attention. But here are tips we can share to help you start with welcome emails:

Start with saying thank you

Send a thank you message within 48 hours of your new subscribers signing up. The more immediate your response is, the better engagement you’ll get.Try using first-name personalization to thank your new subscriber. Using a subscriber’s first name can help you get their attention and boost engagement.

Introduce your business

This is an excellent opportunity to explain to subscribers what your brand is all about. Remember, by signing up, they’ve already indicated that they’re interested in your company.Pique their interest by telling them your story, sharing your company values, and emphasizing your brand’s personality.

Set the right expectations

Your welcome email is an opportunity to show your new subscribers what’s coming up in the future. Make it clear to them that you intend to send emails at weekly, biweekly, or monthly intervals.Moreover, take a moment to remind new subscribers why they signed up in the first place. Also, inform them of the benefits of being on your mailing list.

Start with saying thank you

The term “whitelisting” refers to the process of asking a subscriber to add an email address to their trusted sender’s list, contacts list, or address book. Whitelisting ensures that your emails to subscribers don’t get filtered to spam.So, how will you do this? First, provide instructions on how your subscriber can whitelist you in your welcome email. Also, emphasize the benefit of doing so. For example, your subscribers will not miss an important email or special offer from your business.

Here’s an example of a good welcome email. Huckberry’s welcome email provided information about the community that new users have just joined, as well as a mix of product promotions and engaging email content.

Behavioral emails

Now that you can get your subscribers engaged with your business, it’s time to differentiate your marketing emails.Unlike in welcome emails, you’ll not be sending duplicate emails to all your subscribers. Instead, you’re now going to create emails specific to the action or behavior of your subscribers.How will you do that? Let behavioral emails do the work for you. But what are behavioral emails?Behavioral emails refer to the practice of sending automated, targeted emails to your subscribers based on their interactions with your business across multiple channels, such as social media, email, and your website.

Why is it important for you to send behavioral emails?

Well, this type of email helps you understand your customers’ preferences by examining user behavior. You can also gain valuable insights into improving your product and customer service.For example, you learn that a customer has a product left in the shopping cart, you can send an email prompting them to check it out. Or better, try to send a limited-time discount for them to purchase it.Remember always to align your emails to your user’s behavior. You’ll never target the general audience. So, take advantage of behavior emails to get closer to the right audience.

How to get started with behavioral emails?

Among all the types of email content out there, behavioral emails are something you have to take seriously. Don’t sleep on the user’s behavior which you can use as a stepping stone to nurture your leads.Do you want to have a crack on writing good behavioral emails? Here are tips for you to get started.

Track user’s behavior

Among all the types of email content out there, behavioral emails are something you have to take seriously. Don’t sleep on the user’s behavior which you can use as a stepping stone to nurture your leads.Do you want to have a crack on writing good behavioral emails? Here are tips for you to get started.

Track user’s behavior

First, study the activities of your potential customers on your website or social media channels. Take note that you can’t send great behavioral emails if you’re unfamiliar with the various behaviors that can be used as triggers.

Send a targeted email

Learned that a user has been viewing your service pages multiple times? Then, send them a reminder that you have, for example, a free service trial. Make sure to include a strong CTA to get them started.

Ask for feedback

Learned that a user has been viewing your service pages multiple times? Then, send them a reminder that you have, for example, a free service trial. Make sure to include a strong CTA to get them started.

example of a behavioral email

Here’s a good example of a behavioral email. Patagonia determined the crucial actions a user might take. They remind users via email to purchase a product that has been left in their shopping cart. It’s a fantastic opportunity to boost sales and customer loyalty.

Relational emails

It’s enough that you only communicate with the people who have interacted with you. What if no one’s visiting your website? That said, you should also try to reach out to your subscribers who have yet to respond to your emails.The easiest way to encourage subscribers to start a conversation with you is to provide value. You can do this through the help of sending relational emails. But wait, what are relational emails?Relational emails add value to your subscribers by sending them free content and information such as newsletters, blog articles, surveys, social updates, and more.Everyone loves to be in a win-win situation. Give your potential customers valuable content, and for sure, you will get them into your sales pipeline.

How to get started with relational emails?

Again, you’re reaching out to people who are not responding or, worse, not interested in your business. Don’t worry! A relational email offering valuable information can move the needle. Here’s what you need to get started.

Determine the right value

Begin by asking yourself, “How am I going to meet the needs of my subscribers?” This will assist you in developing content that your customers will find helpful.Is it email newsletters, blog articles, e-books, free webinars? Decide on which is more useful and which one will yield the highest ROI.

Send your most valuable content

Once you have already made up your mind with your valuable content, send it to your email list. Remember that your content must offer insights and solutions to address your customer pain points.Also, your goal here is not only to get a response. Your main goal is to nudge leads to research more about your business. When they have accumulated enough information about your product or service, there’s a huge chance they will move into the consideration stage.

Get them involved

Is your strategy not working? Perhaps it’s not on you to decide which content is more valuable to your audience.That said, ask your subscribers about the types of email content they find useful, as well as any questions they have about your business. Then, make use of those responses in your email content.

example of a relational email

Here’s a good example of an email with great value from Sephora. They sent customers a video tutorial that teaches them how to achieve a specific makeup look. Simultaneously, they also promoted a new line that is featured throughout the video tutorial.

Outsource Email Marketing Services with KDCI

Are you now confused about which types of emails to send to your new email subscribers? Or maybe you want to kick-start your email marketing campaign today? A lot of help from experts like us would be good for you!Our company, KDCI, offers full-service digital marketing solutions perfect for SMEs. In addition, we have email marketing experts ready to help you run email marketing campaigns and convert cold leads into buying customers.Get your FREE consultation today with our experts by clicking the button below!Contact Us

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Design & Marketing
How to Make Effective Video Testimonials To Boost Marketing
August 3, 2023
Video testimonials, acclaimed by 78% of businesses in 2022, offer a 95% content retention rate, outshining written reviews. Effective ones are brief, genuine, and centered on success stories. Their potency in marketing is undeniable, making them indispensable for contemporary brands.

Video testimonials are a powerful marketing tool to watch out for this 2022. In fact, 78% of businesses see an ROI in testimonial videos of 100 percent or higher.

However, many businesses are still stuck with written and audio testimonials. Also, they don't consider that modern-day users have an attention span shorter than a goldfish.

This kind of content has a 95% retention rate, while written materials only have a 12% retention rate. So, it doesn’t make sense if you’re still sleeping on it.

Since this kind of testimonials are quite underrated, we decided to provide you with an in-depth discussion of how this video content can boost your marketing strategy.

What are video testimonials?

It features a customer or a client sharing their experiences with a brand in video format. Instead of writing a typical review, the reviewer produces a video of themselves conveying their thoughts. In most cases, they talk about how the brand helped them solve an issue or how it affected their lives.

These testimonials may come in either customer or business testimonials in video marketing. These two are the most effective content marketing tactic today, according to 89% of marketers.

A customer testimonial video is a tried and tested B2C marketing tool. Here, real-life customers convincingly inform people how excellent a product is.

Meanwhile, a business testimonial video fits into the B2B customer lifecycle. Instead of customers, it highlights a client’s experiences after receiving a professional service.

Two dedicated Asian outsourcing staff, immersed in their work, are actively filming a compelling video testimonial in the bustling office environment, using high-tech camera equipment to showcase business success stories.

How long should a testimonial video be?

It should be long enough to deliver your message. But not so long that your audience loses interest.

The rule of thumb is to keep most videos under two minutes for most marketers. Like any other video, it has an intro, body, strong CTA, and outro.

To sum up, you may cover the following in no over 30 seconds in your intro. Otherwise, you run the danger of lulling the audience to sleep.

  • What is the brand/product/service all about?
  • What does the brand/product/service offer?
  • What does the brand/product/service aim to achieve?

As you go through the body, keep in mind to highlight results and benefits. Also, avoid generic scripts such as “It’s nice!” and “It’s great!”. Instead, you need something that is cut above the rest.

That said, you may double down on capturing your audience’s interest. You can do this by letting a customer or client talk about specific details like:

  • How does the brand/product/service fulfill their needs?
  • What did they accomplish because of that brand/product/service?

This section should run in less than one minute. Also, the reviewer must be enthusiastic and genuine throughout the entire video.

After fleshing out the winning experience, finish your video with a strong CTA. Your CTA could be a verbal call out—‘download, subscribe, shop, order, buy, learn more’. Whatever it is, make sure you do it persuasively in less than 30 seconds.

Moreover, don’t forget to provide more information about your brand. For example, wrap up your testimonial video content by incorporating where they can follow you online. Also, add how to address any common questions or concerns about your product/service.

How to get video testimonials from customers or clients?

Not everyone likes to face the camera to video themselves. Let alone speak for their experience with enthusiasm and professionalism. That said, getting great testimonials is not a walk in the park.

But don’t worry! You can follow easy steps to ensure you get them to say yes even if they are not paid to do it.

Choose the right subject

Finding the right people to speak for your brand is not easy. Therefore, you need to ask each of your clients/customers personally to move the needle.

You can start by sending them an email or a personalized video. Also, keep in mind to choose only those who have used your product or service for a long time and have experienced incredible results.

Initiate to write the script

Assuming you already have the subject, volunteer to write the script. Clearly, your main job is to make the pre-production as easy as possible. Hence, the reviewer will appreciate it if you guide them throughout the process.

A script should not make your reviewer sound rehearsed. Instead, encourage your reviewer to build an emotional connection with your brand by being sincere and authentic.

Emphasize the importance of their experience

Communicate to your reviewer why their story is valuable to your brand’s success. In addition, remind them how they can convince others to trust your brand from time to time.

For someone who speaks on behalf of a brand, they need to get motivated. Also, they need to feel credible enough to advocate for your brand.

Give perks if needed

Your reviewer would appreciate it if you give perks as compensation for their time. For example, you can give them discounts, free trials, or gift cards as a token of appreciation.

After all, they are not just a subject for your content. Moreover, they are part of your customer/client base that needs to get nurtured.

How to create great video testimonials?

Do you want to know the secret sauce to high-converting video testimonials?

We compiled here the best examples of video feedbacks from great brands out there. Learn how to get it right so you can start working on that video testimonial of yours!

Focus on big success stories

Success stories can evoke strong emotions. And that’s precisely what Salesforce did in their video “My Trailblazer Story: Stephanie Herrera.”

Herrera narrates her fair share of adversities in the video to get to where she is today, and Salesforce is part of the story.

Give someone a success story, and they’ll break out into a huge smile. Above all, everyone wants to hear success stories. Clearly, we all want to have someone we can identify with and get encouraged to take the first step.

So if you have these big, powerful stories to tell, go for it. The world wants to see people conquer their obstacles and overcome the impossible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tx5pK_emV4

Compilation videos work

Amazon made one of the best business video testimonials out there! The ‘Seller Testimonial - Spring 2016’ is among the best to take inspiration from.

In this video, Amazon showcased these customer endorsements to build brand credibility. As a result, many people have spoken about how the company has changed their lives.

In conclusion, it’s not easy to pull off this type of testimonial advertising. But if you have an ample amount of resources, do the work. In short, make a compilation video of your clients and transform it into a lead magnet!

https://youtu.be/Ah6SE7JFgFg

Don’t forget to add humor

While there’s a tension that comes with perfecting a video testimonial, you shouldn’t forget to have fun!

Learn it from Slack. They created a funny testimonial video with Sandwich Video Inc. Here, Sandwich Video Inc. tells how they found a new way of organizing their teams by using Slack. So, they executed it in such a lighthearted manner that you'll nearly forget it's a staged testimonial example.

What can you learn from this? Humor sells. So, if you want to get your audience to finish your video, make them entertained right from the start until the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6zVzWU95Sw

Use the right animation

You can make your videos even more engaging with the right animation. Omada does this technique perfectly! For instance, they keep viewers focused on the benefits by emphasizing important key terms.

In this video, they don't just display words on the screen. To make it more fascinating, they employed animation, used various typefaces, and added visual illustrations.

If you want to have this kind of video testimonial, you should have a trusted motion graphic designer.

https://youtu.be/KNG-OqNe5PU

Show tangible results

A great way to show tangible results is to use before and after photos. 

Clearly, before and after photographs are common in marketing. Because they work, they're everywhere. Consider this Elite dental patient testimonial that successfully exemplified how to use this technique wisely. 

We soon recognize the worth of the service owing to the customer outcomes when we use before and after images of the patient's teeth prior to their dental operation. Therefore, the emphasis is fully on their happiness–and their lovely smiles.

Outsource your video editing needs to KDCI

Suppose you already have the videos of your customers/clients. So, the next step is to hire the best people out there to produce high-converting video testimonials. Well, that’s something we can help you with! 

KDCI offers a full-service digital marketing solution to help you with your marketing needs. In addition, we have the manpower everyone could ask for. Our marketing specialists, video editors, and vetted writers can work hand in hand to help you launch a video testimonial that makes your brand a success story. 

Would you like to talk to us for a free consultation? Then, click the button below to get started! 

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Offshore Staffing
What To Look For a Data Entry Specialist When Hiring
July 25, 2023
Data entry specialists are crucial in managing and refining the vast amounts of data generated daily. Hiring the right expert ensures accuracy, efficiency, and streamlined operations for businesses in the era of big data.

Data entry specialist jobs are in high demand in the era of big data. With roughly 2.5 quintillion bytes of data being generated every day, there must be experts who ensure these data are of sufficiently high quality before they’re used. However, data entry jobs only demand minimal requirements. As a result, freelancers dominate today’s job market for data entry. So how does this affect you? Well, your chances of having a bad hire are too high. In this blog article, we give you insights into the function of data entry specialists and what skills to look for in a promising candidate. Let’s begin by defining what a data entry specialist is.

What is a data entry specialist?

If there are people out there who enjoy compiling data, that’s data entry specialists. Yes! They can do it all day and all night without losing their cool. In general, data entry specialists work under administrative departments. Their tasks are primarily concentrated on converting a range of physical records from many sources into digital form. They look for information in databases and update data in computer programs on a typical day. But when the going gets tough, they also perform critical roles to meet strict deadlines. The following are the key functions of a data entry specialist:

  • Examining data for errors and identifying irrelevant information
  • Checking and updating data into relevant database
  • Conducting research and obtaining further information for incomplete documents
  • Creating spreadsheets with a high number of figures that are error-free
  • Responding to requests for information and access to pertinent files
  • Keeping tangible copies of data arranged to make retrieval easier

How much does it cost to hire a data entry specialist?

Most data entry specialist jobs are entry-level. So you’ve got nothing to lose even if you choose to hire today. Hourly salaries for data entry positions range from $10 to $17 per hour, according to PayScale. Meanwhile, the average hourly wage is $12.92.However, if these figures don’t sit well with you, you may want to outsource to a country with low labor costs. For example, consider the Philippines, the leading outsourcing destination globally. You can get premium support at half the price compared to many other countries. If you have all the luck in this world, you can get a decent data entry service for as low as $2-9 per hour. The Philippines houses the best outsourcing companies in the world. You just need to look for a trusted service provider to get the best service package.

In the heart of the office, an Asian boss and his newly hired data entry specialist is beaming with joy, engaging in a warm handshake following a successful hiring process. Their smiles radiate satisfaction, indicating the beginning of a fruitful professional journey together.

What makes a good data entry specialist, and how to hire the best?

Data entry jobs can be found in part-time, freelance, temporary, and full-time roles across various fields. And since it doesn’t require college degrees, the market is becoming saturated. There are over 142,242 data entry specialists currently employed in the US alone. With the growing number of professionals offering this service, how can you find the right fit for you? Below, we rounded up the data entry specialist skills to look for when hiring for data entry jobs.

Proficient typing skills

Speed is of utmost importance in data entry jobs. So it is no wonder why it is the number one skill businesses consider in hiring data entry professionals. Data is changing at a rate faster than ever before. Hence, data entry specialists must pick up the pace to deliver fast and accurate data entry. A skilled data entry expert should be able to type at a rate of 50-70 words per minute to get the job done in no time. Take note that typing speed is crucial, but so is precision. It’s pointless to type quicker if accuracy is lost. Before considering an applicant, make sure they pass a data entry typing test to measure their speed and accuracy. There are free tools out there that can help you with this. You just need to select what fits your requirements.

Knowledge of computer technology

Data entry tasks include using many computer software programs. That said, your applicant must be at least familiar with word processors, spreadsheets, and other record management software. Using database software is also a part of data entry functions. A data entry specialist may be expected to learn and utilize various types of software, such as a CRM system. However, this depends on your company’s business industry. Moreover, the data entry specialist should be competent to work with computer hardware. To do the work, the data entry specialist may be required to use printers, scanners, and other forms of computer hardware.

Exceptional communication skills

You don’t need a grammar nazi to perfect your data entry. But you can’t afford to have bad data due to spelling mistakes and sloppy grammar. Data entry specialists work with text and numbers. Therefore, literacy and numeracy skills have become essential in accurate data entry. Communication skills may be critical for some who work within teams. For example, data entry jobs entail answering customer calls and delivering information in most cases. Hence, verbal communication skills should be exceptional in this scenario. When selecting a candidate, you may include grammar tests in your assessment. It will help you evaluate the quality of their written skills, including spelling and grammar.

Basic research and data collection

Many organizations value research abilities in their employees. It is true, particularly in research-oriented professions like analysis and data management. Data may not always be available sometimes. And as data entry specialists, they must know where to look for it. For example, should they look into message boards? Is there a particular community where they can get information? Alternatively, certain Google search tactics could be useful. Whatever sort of research it is, a data entry specialist needs fundamental data collection skills and knowledge. The following data collection skills may be necessary for data entry tasks:

  • data analysis
  • obtaining pertinent information
  • determining the appropriate research problem
  • using data collecting technologies and methods
  • the capacity to recognize which sources of data are trustworthy

Time management and organization skills

While data entry is straightforward to accomplish, it needs a high level of time management and organization skills in repetitive operations. Data entry specialists come to work every day and spend many hours going over large amounts of data. However, their focus may fluctuate without time management and organization skills and eventually diminish. Aside from these attributes, some soft skills to also look for are attitude, patience, and teamwork skills. Bear in mind that nobody can maximize their hard skills without tapping into their soft skills. However, it requires a deliberate strategy to find the proper hard and soft skills mix. That said, you may need the help of a service provider to find the best talent for you!

Three dedicated Asian data entry specialists, nestled in a vibrant Philippine office setting, exude cheerfulness as they attentively work on their laptops, poised to deliver exemplary services to businesses.

Offshore Data Entry Services to KDCI

Are you still looking for a data entry specialist yet don’t know where to start? Then, you may consider hiring from our roster of data entry experts! Our company, KDCI, has been in this industry for over ten years. We have delivered detailed, fast, and accurate data entry services to many retailers and eCommerce stores worldwide. Let our scalable data entry services help you reduce labor costs and improve turnaround times. Get your FREE consultation today with our experts by clicking the button below! Contact Us

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