Whether your business is considered essential or not, the coronavirus pandemic is hitting every local business hard. With business hours and offerings changing and social distancing in full swing, people are looking online for answers before they head out of their homes. They don't want to risk an extra trip or have to wear their mask in vain and you don't want to create a negative or frustrating relationship with your valued customers.
You can strengthen your business relationship with the community and improve your income during this pandemic by incorporating these two big tips for your local business:
#1 Be Accessible Online
It's not about being available 24/7, but active online. Updating your social profiles with the latest information around your business, getting involved in helping your community in whatever way you can, and just, in general, being transparent with your customers and potential customers.
A fantastic example of this is from my own community, Taylor Buckoff from
T.Beautique, has been active on Instagram throughout the pandemic. She keeps her followers and clients updated through Instagram posts and stories, including an update on appointments shared below.
It's not just about her client's appointments, Taylor also shares what she is doing to improve her business during the time she is closed (continuing her education), what she looks forward to when she gets back to work, and how people can support her during the pandemic (through gift cards).
Social media is not enough, that's where some of your community will turn, but you also want to make sure your
Google My Business listing is updated with your current hours. Most people will end up searching your business on Google, if your hours are not updated during this time they won't head out and chance that your business will be open, they won't try and contact you - they will simply move on.
Make sure they know if your business is open or not, update your listing!
Lastly (or maybe first!) people are going to turn directly to your website for more information. If you do not have a website for your local business yet, we've created an
easy to update template paired with a 5-step jumpstart to get your business online
fast! Using Wavoto for your local business website is not only a simple way to customize and update your business's online presence, but be able to collect customer's email addresses and mass email them with the click of a button.
If you already have a website, make sure you're updating it regularly with what's going on with your business as well as directly reaching out to customers about how they can support your business throughout the pandemic. Whether it's a simple email updating your hours or a call to action to grab a gift card or place an online order, people want to be informed without having to do all the research.
#2 Allow For Easy Online Sales
Whether it's purchasing a gift card, subscribing for online Zoom classes, setting your pick-up time for a dairy order, or being able to purchase your top products online and have them shipped to customer's front doors - you need to be pivoting your business online to not only stop the revenue bleed but adapt to a changing business climate.
This pandemic will not last forever, but, as you know, the weeks we've already been in it have been detrimental to local small businesses. Being online allows you to serve the community and keep your business running while social distancing it in effect and even after social distancing has ended (whenever that may be for your local community). Allowing for online sales can be as simple as having gift card purchases or thinking outside the box of how you can pivot your business online.
If you already have a website, see how easy it is to update it to include e-commerce options, or put it on hold during the pandemic, and make the easy move over to Wavoto where you can have a website free for two months. We're giving you an easy to update template to start, along with the 5-step jumpstart so moving information or pictures over can be simple and you can have a web store providing what your business needs to "pivot" online.
Start thriving online using Wavoto - sign-up today to stop the bleed during the pandemic and provide another avenue for growth for your small business,
sign-up to get started for free here.
Transitioning, or pivoting, your business online can feel like a challenge, but we're here to help you! Drop a comment below if you want to chat with us to figure out your individual businesses options!