In today’s fast moving digital environment and with ecommerce becoming more popular, shoppers now expect a faster, easier and more intuitive online experience. A recent report by Klarna (https://apo-opa.co/3QMpXmK) found that 57% of Gen Z and Millennials reported that they want an even more personalised shopping experience.

In a crowded digital economy with busy online markets, customer personalisation can help to make a big difference and help businesses stay more connected with their customers and help to stand out amongst their competitors.

Personalisation can be used to the advantage of small business owners as they have greater flexibility to understand their customers’ needs and provide a more personalised approach to their digital experiences. By listening to customers and learning from them, small business owners can position their business in a way that exceeds customer expectations while reflecting positively on the business and help drive future growth.

Learning how to use personalization is key because it can prevent audiences from seeing and receiving content that is irrelevant to them. It makes it so customers only see messages they can find useful, interesting or engaging, which is helpful for both shoppers and businesses. Personalization isn’t just a sales driver; it’s a customer experience enhancer.

While personalization can be as simple as using a reader’s first name in an email, there are a variety of ways to personalize content for your audience. Here are some tips to help stay engaged with your customers through increased personalization.

Ask your customers directly

Engage with customers directly through feedback mechanisms, to help foster a sense of involvement and engagement with the business, as well as helping to ensure that their voices are heard. This could include, engaging with customers on social media channels, sharing feedback based on their comments and by including issues they said they care about in a blog article on how your business can provide solutions to issues they are raising.

Listen to your customers

The growth of your business is directly related to customer satisfaction. Listen to your customers and pay attention to the needs of your target market. Identify their problems and pain points. How can your offerings act as a solution? Is it possible to develop new products to help solve these problems? Engage by listening to customer feedback and keep an eye on customer behaviour changes and audience interests. Small businesses can use empathy to build relationships with their customers which can lead to heightened loyalty.

Personalize your content

Some ways to consider to personalize your content could include: greet the customer `by name in an email or on the home page of the website; show a list of suggested items that a customer might want to consider based on items they have purchased before; send email to customers sharing new updates to your business and your online presence; use email marketing to alert a customer when there is a special promotion or discount offer; use a personalized subject line in email communications; or remind a customer about an item they might have looked at but decided not to buy at that time. By using personalization, a business can effectively break through the noise in the inbox and connect directly with a reader, whether they are just getting to know your brand or is already a loyal customer. Personalized email marketing consists of a targeted, subject-specific message sent to a relevant segment of your audience list.

Thank your customers

It is important to thank your customers for their feedback and consequently show them how it is making an impact. One way to do so is to fold the sentiment into your marketing messages. For instance, saying “back by popular demand” can be a simple and effective way to communicate to customers that a business is listening and taking action. Small business owners can include gestures of thanks such as individual thank you notes which can help small business owners connect with their customers on a deeper level. Another way to say thank you is to share special offers and discounts for customers during holiday shopping periods, and other opportunities that seem natural for your business.

Look for inspiration

And finally, if you see a business that is great at connecting with its customers online, learn from them, draw inspiration and then find ways to incorporate these learnings into your own, authentic strategies. Identify where your target audience is spending their time, including on social media channels. You can get inspiration from seeing what your audience is doing online and what your competitors are doing well.

Our message to entrepreneurs is that a little bit of customer personalisation can take you far. By using personalization, you are effectively breaking through the noise in the inbox and connecting directly with your reader, whether they are just getting to know your brand or already a loyal customer. Think about what would help the customer and improve their experience. Then, design personalization strategies around those goals. Small businesses have the human touch that helps to connect us all.

For more information on how GoDaddy Website Builder can help your small business stay connected with customers, visit: GoDaddy Domain Names, Websites, Hosting&Online Marketing Tools (https://apo-opa.co/4dRuRZU).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GoDaddy.

About GoDaddy
GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and accept payments online. GoDaddy’s easy-to-use tools help microbusiness owners manage everything in one place and its expert guides are available to provide assistance 24/7.  To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

Multinational energy company Chevron has joined the Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) 2024 conference (https://apo-opa.co/3UF9Rg5) – Angola’s premier oil and gas event, scheduled for 2-3 October in Luanda – as a platinum sponsor. The company has been active in Angola for over 70 years, and with stakes in various strategic oil and gas projects, remains committed to increasing production and sustainable oil and gas development for the long-term.

Chevron currently holds a 26% market share in Angola. The company has interests in offshore Blocks 0 and 14 – boasting a daily production capacity of 70,000 barrels of liquids and 259 million cubic feet of natural gas – as well as a non-operated interest in the Angola LNG project – the country’s pioneer LNG facility. Angola LNG processes natural gas from offshore fields and celebrated its 400th cargo delivery in 2023. During the AOG 2024 conference, Chevron is expected to provide insight into the company’s current project portfolio while unpacking new investments in low-carbon projects.  

Organized by Energy Capital&Power. AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the African Energy Chamber; and the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute, the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

With interests in several deepwater blocks, Chevron’s expertise in such acreage is expected to support production growth in Angola. In 2023, the company – through its Angolan subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Limited (CABGOC) – signed a Production Sharing Agreement to manage operations within the Block 14/23 concession area, situated in the Zone of Common Interest shared by Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s maritime territory. Under the agreement – inked with the governments of both countries – CABGOC will act as the operator of the concession, holding a 31% stake in the block.

Chevron’s initiatives in Angola extend to infrastructure projects such as the Sanha Lean Gas Connection Project (SLGC) – valued at $300 million. This endeavor – which reached FID in 2021 – involves the development of a platform that ties into the existing Sanha Condensate complex, as well as new pipelines connecting Block 0 and Block 14 to Angola LNG. The SLGC project is vital for Chevron as it addresses a projected supply gap at the Angola LNG facility. Through collaboration with service companies, Chevron demonstrates its commitment to advancing energy infrastructure in Angola and supporting the growth of the nation’s oil and gas sector, while upholding operational excellence and environmental sustainability.

Meanwhile, Chevron is spearheading low-carbon oil and gas solutions in Angola. CABGOC signed an MoU with the government last October to explore low carbon business opportunities. The company’s goal is to utilize nature-based and technological carbon offsets, as well as lower-carbon intensity biofuels like hydrogen, to enhance Angola’s energy production in conjunction with oil and gas initiatives. Additionally, Chevron and the Angolan government intend to assess various projects related to carbon capture and storage, alongside the establishment of a regional center of excellence aimed at attracting lower carbon investments.

Under the theme Driving Exploration and Development Towards Increased Production in Angola, AOG 2024 will explore innovative approaches, cultivate collaboration among industry players and showcase technological advancements aimed at boosting exploration and development activities. As Chevron consolidates its presence in Angola’s oil and gas sector, its sponsorship of the AOG 2024 conference highlights a commitment to supporting initiatives that pave the way for growth in the country’s oil and gas industry.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

The Invest in African Energy 2024 forum awarded Benoît de la Fouchardiere, former Group General Manager of Perenco and current CEO of multi-service company Dixstone, with the Legendary Service to Africa Award on Tuesday.

Uniting African oil and gas industry giants, the award was presented by Marcel Abéké, Minister of Petroleum of Gabon; NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber; Armel Simondin, CEO of Perenco; Tim O’Hanlon, Senior Advisor to Panoro Energy; and Jean Michel-Jacoulot, CEO of Trident Energy.

“The energy industry has always been composed of champions who serve so much. Benoît took Perenco to bigger places. We thank you for showing that it’s not about the company – it’s about the people,” said Ayuk.

Under the leadership of de la Fouchardiere, Perenco has evolved into a regional leader in integrated oil and gas development, with operations spanning the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Gabon, Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. In Gabon, the company is spearheading the $1-billion Cap Lopez LNG terminal – set to transform the country into an LNG exporter – as well as the re-development of mature and marginal assets.

“Today, we are able to reinvent the future of mature fields in Gabon, to take gas resources and utilize them for the good of the people and of Africa. We are now moving forward with this gas project in Gabon – this is your vision,” said Simondin. 

“Moving into very challenging sectors of the gas business is a credit to you,” noted O’Hanlon. 

Julius Rone, Group Managing Director and CEO of UTM Offshore, was also honored with the Changemaker for Pioneering Gas Monetization by FLNG Award. UTM Offshore is currently driving Nigeria’s energy transition through the development of a floating LNG plant – the first of its kind to be developed in the country by an indigenous company – aiming to reduce the country’s carbon footprint and monetize its 200+ trillion cubic feet of natural gas. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

While remaining underexplored, South Sudan is considered to hold significant commercial quantities of mineral resources. A nascent gold mining sector in the country offers established producers the opportunity to partner with the government on frontier prospects and leverage their expertise to spearhead mineral exploration, extraction and development activities.

For the first time in its eight-year history, this year’s South Sudan Oil&Power (SSOP) conference and exhibition has expanded to four days to include a concurrent Mining Forum, which will explore and promote South Sudan’s untapped mining potential. The forum invites international investors and private companies to participate in the forum and engage directly with South Sudan’s Ministry of Mining to explore emerging opportunities in the sector.

Geological Surveying and Mineral Occurrences

Despite holding similar known geological frameworks as neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and northern Uganda, reliable information on the potentiality of South Sudan’s mineral reserves is not yet readily accessible. The DRC serves as the world’s 16th largest gold producer, accounting for 2% of global production. The Kibali gold mine serves as one of the largest gold mines of its kind in Africa, producing 343,000 ounces of gold in 2023 and showcasing a high potential for similar gold deposits in South Sudan.

In 2022, exploration surveys in Uganda led to the discovery of approximately 31 million tons of gold ore deposits, from which an estimated 320,158 tons of refined gold could potentially be extracted, valued at $12.8 trillion. The geological framework in South Sudan comprises three main units, two of which show regionally correlated gold sequences with northern Uganda.

Known gold deposits mainly occur in the central and eastern Equatoria region in South Sudan, which is home to a number of small-scale artisanal mining activities. In these states, gold is mined across the Kawokono area, with reported activity located near the areas of Nyangea, Lauro, Buno, Napotpot and Namurunyan, where gold is extracted by local miners. Meanwhile, over 50 alluvial sites located near the Luri river – approximately 40 km southwest of Juba – have reported gold discoveries, which have been estimated to contain a concentration as high as 4 grams per m3. Other important alluvial gold concentrations have been reported from the Kinyeti river, the city of Nimule and northeast Karpeto.

International Collaboration in the Sector

Last February, South Sudan’s Ministry of Mining and South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy signed an MOU for collaboration in the mining sector, providing for increased cooperation in exploration, knowledge transfer and capacity building. As part of the signing ceremony, South Sudan’s Minister of Mining Martin Abucha called on international investors to participate in the country’s mining industry, inviting private sector players to engage with the Ministry in exploring newfound opportunities.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s state-owned African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation announced last June that it is actively seeking partnerships with South Sudanese mining companies. South Africa’s Council for Geoscience has also expressed interest in geothermal activities in East Africa, with a focus on South Sudan. Furthermore, an exploration pact between U.S.-based mining firm REE-Magnesium and Canada’s CVMR Inc. signed in September 2019 enabled the two companies to conduct satellite imaging to map South Sudan’s mineral resources. The exploration pact has also positioned the South Sudanese Government in a space where it is able to explore its own mineral resources and productively develop the sector.

Further announcements to the country’s mining sector – which include development of a geological laboratory and the establishment of a mining chamber – will be made later this year during the seventh edition of the SSOP conference and its satellite Mining Forum. The Forum, which will take place on June 27, will showcase new project developments and facilitate partnerships and investment between local and foreign mining firms, while exploring the intersection of mining and energy and how South Sudan can leverage its existing infrastructure to support mining sector growth.

SSOP 2024 positions South Sudan at the center of investments and partnerships in the East African energy landscape. Taking place in Juba on June 25-28, 2024, the conference and exhibition invites investors to explore and engage with opportunities across the hydrocarbons, renewable energy and power sectors. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.