Rural women exploit digital platforms to spread local specialties

In the era of strong digital technology development, the image of rural women is no longer limited to fields and rural markets, but increasingly appears on social networking platforms. They livestream, introduce products and communicate with customers all over the country.

Ms. Cao Thi Thanh livestreams to introduce her hometown's specialty nem chua product on the TikTok platform.

Previously, Ms. Cao Thi Thanh in Hoang Chau commune specialized in selling agricultural and seafood products of the locality and neighboring areas through small retail trading at markets. At that time, Ms. Thanh only used her phone to make calls and was completely unfamiliar with the concepts of e-commerce platforms, online sales or livestreaming. However, as e-commerce platforms grew, she was determined to learn with the desire to innovate sales methods to increase revenue.

"For people in rural areas like me, accessing technology is a big challenge, I also don't know where to start. Then, my son guided me on how to set up a TikTok channel, how to record videos , post, interact with customers, and I also learned more from others on social networks. From there, I gradually got used to it and started livestreaming to sell products on social networking platforms more," Ms. Thanh shared.

After doing business on Facebook for many years, she became more familiar with the TikTok platform. With her smartphone, she filmed simple culinary clips such as spring rolls, grilled meat or warm family meals. Each video is rustic, genuine and contains love for the homeland, making viewers feel close and trustful. After those efforts, social networking platforms such as Facebook and TikTok have now become familiar "online markets" for Ms. Thanh. With just one livestream or one post, she can sell out all the items in just a few minutes.

According to Ms. Thanh, her sales on TikTok are currently 2 to 3 times higher than when she sold goods at the market in the traditional way. Thanks to that, she no longer has to wake up early to go to the market for hours, but can flexibly arrange time for her family. Customers have more convenience, just order online and receive the goods at home. Not only stopping at selling, Ms. Thanh also actively shares her experiences with members of the Women's Union of the commune. During the association's activities, she guides women on how to post, introduce products and communicate with customers on Facebook.

"What I learn, I share and teach to everyone, hoping that other women will boldly try so we can develop together," said Ms. Thanh.

Also realizing the potential of e-commerce, Ms. Phan Thi Dong, owner of Trong Dong Nem Chua production facility in Trieu Son commune, boldly brought her Nem Chua products to major online platforms such as Shopee, Tiki, Lazada, and especially TikTok Shop - a platform that is booming with livestream sales. To make an impression, she and her daughter invested carefully in designing beautiful packaging, taking professional product photos, and filming short videos introducing the Nem making process. All of these are posted regularly on social networks, helping consumers gain more confidence in the quality of traditional products.

Not stopping there, each livestream of Ms. Dong is not only a time to promote goods, but also becomes a conversation with viewers. Here, she tells stories about her hometown Thanh Hoa , about the hard-working people making nem, about the pride of Thanh in each piece of famous nem chua. It is that sincerity that has helped the number of interactions increase rapidly, orders continuously flow in, bringing a stable income for the family and creating jobs for local workers.

"Previously, we only knew how to sell goods at the countryside market, which was both hard work and not much income. Since switching to digital sales, our revenue has increased 3 times compared to before. Not only that, our nem chua has spread to many regions across the country, so more people know about our production facility than before," Ms. Dong shared.

In the era of increasingly developing digital technology, digital transformation is not only a story of machines, software or high technology, but also a journey to change the thinking of each person. For rural women like Ms. Thanh and Ms. Dong, the smartphone is not simply a trading tool, but a "door to a new world" - where they can introduce their hometown specialties, connect with customers everywhere and affirm the role of rural women in the digital age.

Article and photos: Phuong Do

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phu-nu-nong-thon-khai-thac-nen-tang-so-lan-toa-dac-san-dia-phuong-268466.htm