The Silent Killer of SA Businesses

“We lost 40% of our online orders during Stage 6 last month. Then we adapted.”
— Thando Nkosi, Johannesburg E-commerce Store Owner

Load shedding doesn’t just switch off lights—it switches off revenue streams. But the most resilient businesses use these 5 tactics to stay open for business:

Strategy 1: The Pre-Power Prep Routine

What to Do When the Power’s On:

1. Batch-create content (write 10 posts in one session)

2. Pre-schedule everything using:

   • Meta Business Suite (Facebook/Instagram)

   • Buffer (Twitter/LinkedIn)

   • Canva (for quick edits)

3. Download analytics reports to review offline

Pro Tip: “Treat power windows like military ops—every minute counts.”

Strategy 2: Mobile-First Marketing That Works Offline

Why This Works:

• 78% of SA internet users access via mobile (World Wide Worx)

• WhatsApp consumes 90% less data than websites

Action Steps:
✔ Set up a WhatsApp Business Profile (free)
✔ Create text-based ads with clear CTAs
✔ Use USSD codes for offline orders (*Example: *Dial 123# to order)

Strategy 3: The Old-School Channel That’s Back in Style

Community Radio Ads:

• Cost: R800–R2,500 per slot

• Reach: Hyper-local audiences who stay loyal

• Bonus: No electricity needed to listen

Best Stations for ROI:

• Jozi FM (Gauteng)

• Radio Zibonele (Western Cape)

• Umhlobo Wenene (Eastern Cape)

Strategy 4: Automation That Runs in the Background

Set It & Forget It Tools:

“Our WhatsApp bot recovered 22% of abandoned carts during outages.”
— Khutso Mabena, Durban Retailer

Strategy 5: Turn Load Shedding Into a Marketing Opportunity

Promotions That Work:

• “Dark Hours Discount”: 20% off when power’s out

• “Pre-Shedding Prep”: Order now, we deliver when power returns

• “Upskilling Hours”: Free webinar during outages (builds loyalty)

Your Action Plan

1. Today: Set up WhatsApp Business + pre-schedule 10 posts

2. This Week: Record a 30-sec radio ad for local stations

3. This Month: Implement 1 automation workflow

Need help implementing these?