The pandemic has not only hit the lives and health of many people. Quarantine is a real threat to business. Here are some tips on how to minimize losses during this difficult time.
Keep constant communication
The most useful thing that any company can do now is to provide the community with relevant information.
Here are three options to do this:
Google my business
A simple way is through company cards. I must say that now the service works at half strength. Sometimes it takes several days to be checked by a moderator.
Name – Google allows you to edit the company name. It can reflect some restrictions on work, for example, when the restaurant is open only.
Phone number – If you have switched to a remote site, but you can still receive calls, do not forget to change the office number to your current one.
Opening hours – On March 25, the “Temporarily Closed” button appeared. This means that the company is still on vacation. When the mode is on, the card ceases to get into the issue.
COVID-19 is a new type of message. You can use it to talk more about your working conditions during a pandemic.
Online
Everything is completely up to you here. Here is the minimum checklist that needs to be done:
– Through banner in a conspicuous place. Reflect key information – for example, “Temporarily Closed”, “Delivery from 9:00 to 17:00” or “The store is closed, but we still ship with couriers.”
– Provide the most complete information on how COVID-19 affected your business and what services are still available to customers.
– Change the opening hours on the commercial pages to reflect the new work schedule.
– Check the correctness of the information about the hours of operation throughout the site, where they can be mentioned – on the pages “About the company”, on the main page, etc.
– If the contact phone number has changed, you must also replace it everywhere. Do not miss the site header and footer.
– If you have a blog, use it to keep your audience informed about what products and services are currently available.
– Make sure that the site has visible and clickable links to your social networks.
Social networks and email newsletters
Use social networks to strengthen the community around your brand. Ask followers to share tips that will help make life easier for other people, for example.
And, of course, mailings. This is the best tool at your disposal right now. The best advice I can give you is to give in the mails only what is really necessary.
Work as fully as possible
Explore all the support options that the state offers. Use them to keep working during a crisis.
1. The basics
If you fall into the category of companies that are allowed to conduct business now, here are a couple of tips.
More and more stores offer home delivery. If you do not have your own delivery service, you can use third-party couriers.
2. E-commerce
If you have at least the simplest option for ordering goods through the site – you are already halfway to solving problems. If not, you will have to work on it. If the site is on WordPress, you’re in luck – there are many ready-made solutions to this problem. For example, the WooCommerce plugin, which can be easily integrated into the site.
There are separate services that help you enter goods by barcode into the catalogue of the online store. For example, Pointy.
3. Virtual communication
Virtual “meetings” are the next things that can be improved. They are able to support many business models, despite the remote work mode in self-isolation. I think everyone knows about Zoom or Skype.
4. Time for training
If you are unlucky and the coronavirus has forced to suspend the business, do not be discouraged so much. You have free time that you can devote to self-education.
Now is the time to be creative, to establish contacts with other representatives of local companies and to begin planning a more realistic and acceptable future.
The goal is to overcome the crisis with the determination to make life better. Take care of yourself.