SMEs, freelancers can earn extra income from the Internet

Two companies advocating the use of e-commerce in the country, Platform2u.com Phils. Inc. and Catalyst Interactive, signed a Memorandum of Agreement in which they will help small to medium entrepreneurs, even consumers, start their business on the Internet.

Platform2u.com Phils.Inc. is the developer of SMilDS.com, a fourth generation e-commerce platform while Catalyst Interactive is an Internet branding and promotions agency providing services for online campaigns.

The MOA signing preceded the “Make Money 2.0” seminar that began on February 13. Two more seminars will take place until March at the Astoria Plaza Hotel, Ortigas central business district. Organized by Catalyst Interactive CEO Carlo Ople and with SMilDS.com as Gold sponsor, the seminars are being held to teach practical money-making tips on the Internet to students, freelancers and micro-entrepreneurs.  

Photo shows SMilDS.com COO Edgar Canlas (right) and Catalyst Interactive CEO Carlo Ople (left) signing the MOA that sealed their collaboration in promoting e-commerce in the country. Witnessing the signing is Edward Ling (center), CEO of Platform2u.com Phils. Inc.

Speakers invited to the first seminar were Edgar Canlas (SMilDS.com COO), e-commerce maven Janette Toral, Abe Olandres, Jayvee Fernandez and Kevin Codamon, who have all become successful Internet entrepreneurs. They discussed the merits of generating income from the Internet through online selling, blogging, writing, web designing, community building.

In his welcome speech, Platform2u.com Phils. CEO Edward Ling described the partnership as meaningful and strategic because both companies will promote entrepreneurship among Filipinos by drawing from their respective expertise in deploying businesses on the Internet. 

The development of the SMilDS.com e-commerce platform,in particular, was meant to help bring small and medium businesses to a more organized manner into the world of enterprise. He said SMilDS.com will help bridge the e-commerce divide in the country. In 2009, it was reported that only four percent of the 25 million Internet users in the Philippines buy online.

Edgar Canlas explained that online selling, having a complete e-commerce solution, and having an e-shopping mall to promote websites present limitless earning opportunities for online retailers because the Internet is the biggest market.

User-friendly, SMilDS.com’s merchant back-office is equipped with a customer relationship management system, e-payment and e-logistics processing, and content management system whose do-it-yourself features makes it easy for owners to embed flash animation and YouTube videos, put up contests and other promotions on their sites. The software has unique features that are firsts of its kind in the global market -- the seven-day escrow payment model and the cross-selling trading engine that allows a webstore owner to sell products of other merchants and earn commissions.

Since its launch in July 2009, SMilDS.com online mall now has 160 merchants selling 1,931 products.

SMilDS.com has three packs – Lite, Full and Enterprise. Interested self-starting capitalists can call 836-1329 or 217-7289 for additional information.