Reach shoppers while they are browsing
Advertisements give your store another opportunity to appear in Soko’s customer browsing experience. They are useful when the store, stock and delivery team are ready for attention. Package access gives you the available ad tools; approval, scheduling and the platform’s placements still determine display.
Choose the ad type
Scroll sideways to compare all columns.
| Type | Content | Customer experience |
|---|---|---|
| Store promotion | Title, description, profile image and cover image, with optional rating/review display controls. | A store-focused promotion in the available advertising area, leading customers towards the store. |
| Video promotion | Title, description and video attachment for the selected period. | A video promotion in the available ad area. Show a recognisable store/product and a clear reason to visit. |
Soko’s customer home/browsing surfaces include advertisement areas. Exact position and visibility can vary by device, category, zone and active ads. Selecting an ad type is not a guarantee of a permanent first position or a fixed number of impressions.
Submit an advertisement
- Open Advertisement → Create/Add new for the correct store.
- Enter a clear title and description, using translations if useful.
- Choose Store promotion or Video promotion.
- Set the date range and upload the requested image/video assets.
- For store promotions, choose whether the available rating/review information should be shown. These controls use real store information; they do not create reviews.
- Submit the ad request. New submissions start pending.
- Follow the request in the advertisement list. Resolve any denial reason and check approval and dates before expecting it to run.
Understand the ad list
Pending means awaiting review. Approved means accepted but may still be waiting for its period. Running means within the active display conditions. Expired means the period has ended. Denied means it was not approved; read the reason. Paused ads require resuming through the available action before they can run again.
Editing an already approved ad can create an update request. Check the request outcome instead of assuming the new creative appeared immediately. Use the available pause/resume and renewal actions deliberately.
Check the ad before telling customers it is live
- Find the submitted ad in your advertisement list and open its details.
- Check the review status, start date and end date. Pending is still waiting for review; it is not a running advertisement.
- If it was denied, read the reason and correct the relevant text or file through the available edit/request action.
- Once approved and within its dates, check the customer browsing view for the relevant category and location. Ad display can vary, so one refresh does not establish how often it is being shown.
- If an approved, in-date ad appears to have a problem, contact support with its reference, store and dates. Avoid submitting several copies of the same request.
Example message for an ad: “Weekly groceries from [store name] in [area]. Browse pack sizes and prices, then order for delivery.” Replace the brackets with your details. Add a coupon only when it is active and its conditions can be stated clearly.
Write a useful ad
Say what you sell and why the offer matters: an available range, a convenient local store, or a clearly defined coupon. Keep prices, pack sizes and dates consistent with the catalogue. A good reason to visit is more useful than “best shop in Tanzania”.
Use coupons when the ad needs a controlled discount, and reports to review completed orders and promotional cost. Check any terms shown for the ad before submission; package access does not establish a performance guarantee.