The Beginning of an E-Commerce Journey: A Q&A with Diana Barbosa, Owner of Diana B Coaching and Consulting
Q: What is the story of your business? Tell us about your experience(s) as a business owner.
Diana B Coaching and Consulting is a platform dedicated to empowering women over 40 to achieve their goals and foster personal growth. The owner, Diana Barbosa, made a courageous decision to leave her traditional corporate role of 20 years in search of her true calling. It was during a volunteer gig for career coaching that she had an epiphany. Barbosa shared:
“I noticed that what people truly needed was confidence coaching, not just career coaching.”
This realization inspired her to launch her own business, which has since supported countless women in embracing body positivity and self-love.
Q: What brought you to the ShopHERE program? Did you see any opportunities or have any business challenges that inspired you to participate in the program.
Barbosa started her business by promoting it on Instagram and Facebook, but she soon realized the need for a professional website.
“(I) knew I needed a website but with all my other demands just had not had the time to invest in it.”
As a small business owner, she found herself stretched thin and lacked the time to learn website development on her own. It was then that she found the AchatsICI propulsé par Google, which offers personalized support in online store development and digital marketing training.
Q: How was your experience with the ShopHERE program?
“With the help of my e-Commerce Coordinator, [the process of setting up an online store] was super easy!”
Barbosa expressed her gratitude for having an e-Commerce Coordinator who was knowledgeable, patient, and responsive. She describes her ShopHERE experience, sharing that:
“With flexible scheduling, the process of setting up my site was educational, fun, and productive.”
Q: How will your new online store help your business? Have you seen any changes so far?
“Within days of launching my website, I made my first three sales! I owe a huge thank you to [my e-Commerce Coordinator] and the ShopHERE powered by Google team.”
In today’s digital landscape, having an online presence has allowed Barbosa to establish brand credibility with her customers. Her new website enables her to professionally showcase her business and effectively communicate her brand values. She can also redirect her social media followers to her new website.
Q: What was the most valuable piece of digital marketing knowledge you learned during your time in the ShopHERE program?
Barbosa found the most value in learning about “website SEO and best practices in web design.” This digital marketing knowledge has helped drive traffic to her website and offer a seamless user experience to her online customers, ultimately contributing to her business’ profitability.
Q: What advice would you give to other small business owners, or artists, looking to navigate the e-Commerce world?
“Don’t be intimidated to seek help. This experience has been transformative for me, and I’m so happy I reached out for support.”
Barbosa encourages others to embrace the benefits of developing an e-Commerce site with the ShopHERE program. Barbosa highlights that, “this exceptional consulting service is free, making the return on investment of a website through ShopHERE a no-brainer.”
If you’re interested in Diana B Coaching and Consulting’s services, please visit their website. To receive support in launching or improving your e-commerce store, sign up for the ShopHERE program.
Digital Main Street a été créé par la Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) avec le soutien direct de la Ville de Toronto. DMS est également soutenu par un groupe de partenaires commerciaux stratégiques, dont Google, Mastercard, Shopify, Meta, Intuit QuickBooks, Square, Lightspeed, Ebay et Postes Canada.
L'investissement continu de la province de l'Ontario, par l'intermédiaire du Ministère du Développement économique, de la Création d’emplois et du Commerce (MEDJCT), a permis l'expansion continue de la plateforme numérique de la rue principale afin de soutenir davantage d'entreprises qui passent au numérique dans tout l'Ontario.