Image Credit: Mohamed Ahmed Soliman / Dreamstime.com

By Katlyn Eriksen

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Increased online visibility helps Kamloops businesses profit from demand for local brands

Mar 12, 2025 | 6:00 AM

CANADIAN CUSTOMERS LOOKING TO SUPPORT LOCAL BRANDS after the recent introduction of new US import tariffs will soon be able to buy products sold by domestic businesses through the e-commerce platform Temu. While the site has been available in Canada for the past two years, this expansion marks the first time that businesses registered and operating in the country will be able to capitalize on its rapid growth and widespread use. As well as helping shoppers keen to purchase more homegrown goods, the collaboration could help to improve the online visibility of local businesses. A strong internet presence enables potential customers to find online businesses easily and drives more website traffic, leading to increased sales and growth. With an attractive and user-friendly website, effective search engine optimization and favourable reviews, ecommerce in Kamloops could profit more successfully from the trend towards buying local.

Encourage Customer Engagement with User-Friendly Websites

While AI chatbots, augmented reality and virtual try-ons are commonly used to enhance the online shopping experience, more than two-thirds of Canadians are indifferent to adopting the new retail technologies used in e-commerce and are more interested in user-friendly platforms and apps. As consumers are happy with traditional technology, local online businesses are better off focusing their attention on simply improving the appearance and accessibility of websites that customers are already using. Research from the Society of Digital Agencies reveals that 38 per cent of internet users will leave a site if the content is unattractive. With user-friendly digital applications, it’s easy for a small business to build a dynamic and well-designed website that will help to entice new customers to their online store. Complementary colour schemes, high quality images and a clear and simple layout that works equally well on a phone app can all enhance the appeal of an e-commerce website.

Attract Local Clients with Quality Online Content

Without visitors to the site, even the most appealing web pages will not help to generate sales. SEO is particularly useful for businesses targeting local customers as it increases their visibility and ranking in local online directories and search results. This, in turn, attracts potential customers and drives traffic to a website. One of the most important ways in which a business can influence their search engine ranking is to create quality content on their website. As well as achieving higher rankings, by including interesting, informative and unique information tailored to a local audience, a business can increase its engagement with users and set itself apart from its competitors. Pages that include target keywords, authoritative external links and positive reviews will also improve online searches and signal a credible and trustworthy business.

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Encourage Positive Online Reviews with Good Customer Service

An altercation over an unpaid bill recently led to a negative online review for a Kamloops company, highlighting the importance of clear communication and adherence to commitments in ensuring customer satisfaction. A recommendation from a friend, a good online rating or a constructive writeup is often a potential customer’s first point of contact with a business. While a positive review can help to attract and retain customers, a negative review can damage a company’s reputation and lower its search engine ranking. In fact, one report found that 68 per cent of Canadian consumers avoid a company with negative reviews. Businesses can’t remove a negative review from an online platform or dedicated review site, but the comments can be reported if they are obviously fake or violate the platform’s policies. For other unfavourable reviews, responding promptly and professionally in order to address the issue raised will help to defuse a situation before it negatively impacts sales. To encourage only positive online reviews, businesses should focus on providing good overall customer service, accurately describing products, shipping goods on time, listening to feedback from clients and providing good overall customer service.

While businesses in Kamloops may benefit from the increasing demand for local brands and homegrown products, increasing their online visibility further can really help them to stand out from the competition. This can be achieved with an attractive and user-friendly website, high search engine rankings and good online reviews, all which increase customer engagement and drive growth.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.