Finding it hard to market your business and keep things running smoothly these days? You’re definitely not alone in your struggles. With so many restrictions and concerns still floating around due to COVID-19, businesses everywhere are adapting their marketing and sales strategies. If you need to do the same, these essentials can make the process easier:
1. Financial Resources
While the rest of the tips in this guide will help you keep those expenses to a minimum, it can also help to have a few financial resources in mind. If your business has been affected by the pandemic, you may be able to use grants and other funding sources to make the changes needed to stay afloat.
Although the application process for the ZenBusiness grant is closed for 2020, you may still be able to apply for grants from federal or state resources. Several corporations, including GoFundMe, are also still offering grants and other forms of financial support.
2. Social Media Content
Harnessing the power of social media could be your best bet for keeping yourself in business through this crisis. That’s because now more than ever before, people are relying on social media to stay connected to friends, loved ones, and the community. Folks are also turning to social media to find local and online businesses to support, so you should seriously consider taking advantage of this uptick in traffic. Schedule regular social media posts, but be sure to keep your content empathetic and useful.
A great way to do this is by mixing in a few personal posts with strictly business posts. Promoting digital content from your website is also a great way to use social media. Digital content can include videos, blog posts, and even podcasts! Don’t have a podcast yet? Online Tools Expert offers a great step-by-step guide if you’re ready to take the leap.
3. User-Friendly Websites
If you don’t have a website to link to your social media accounts, you could be missing out on a huge revenue stream for your business. Having a website helps consumers learn more about your business and also helps establish trust with those consumers. You can also save yourself some time, and perhaps even save a few customers, by listing basic business information on your website.
Information to cover can include your business hours, location, and any COVID-related changes to your operations. If you don’t already have a website, you can use a free website builder to get one started for your business. Aside from being affordable, these tools make it easy to establish your domain and set up a user-friendly site that will attract more customers. Also, look out for SEO tools to ensure your website reaches even more people.
4. COVID-Safe Practices
Expanding your online options is an effective way to keep your business open during a crisis, but at some point, you may be ready to reopen your actual store. When that day comes, be prepared with the latest guidelines and recommendations that will protect your staff, your customers, and you, and it can also protect the future of your business.
Consumers will feel safer in your business if they know that you are taking the proper precautions, like requiring masks and practicing social distancing. Be sure to advertise these policies on your website and social media accounts, so that customers don’t get caught off-guard by the new rules. You should also post requirements around your store. You can use these free templates to print new signage.
If you want to stay in business over the coming months, it’s important to narrow your focus on how to better connect with your customers. Expanding your online presence can boost your sales while your doors are closed, but these marketing strategies can continue to benefit your business even if you are allowed to reopen. So, combine online marketing with safe practices, and you should be able to sustain some profits and your business.
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