The outbreak of the coronavirus in the United States has left businesses whirling and scrambling to try to stay afloat. We understand all the uncertainty and stress that you are feeling right now. We wanted to take some time to offer a few ideas on how to keep things moving in your business while it feels like the world is falling apart. 

 

Check on your clients or customers 

 

Check in with genuine concern. Don’t call to mention the “pandemic specials” your business is offering unless they ask. Just see how they’re doing, and lend an ear to any challenges they are facing. People don’t deal with businesses, people deal with people. Even if there is nothing they need from you now, later when they do need your services or products, they will remember to come to you because you reached out in their time of need.

 

Seek counsel and do make rash decisions 

 

You have to be quick on your feet during a crisis. Normally, rash decisions are bad decisions. However, there is no time for that in a crisis. Now is the time to apply the saying, “Think long, think wrong.” 

 

Call up a couple people who are also business owners you trust for sound advice. Run ideas by them and listen to their opinions. You may be able to strategize and collaborate your efforts in a way to offer the community a product or service that is desperately needed right now. 

 

Think outside the box

 

Begin by rethinking your marketing. Are there changes you need to make in light of the coronavirus situation? Screen time is always up during a crisis. Now is a good time to invest in or increase your digital marketing efforts. Many digital marketing options such as social media ads are very affordable too. 

 

Is there a way you can reach out to your community and also help your business by spreading brand awareness? Our business decided to use our marketing skills to create a Facebook page for local restaurants to use to let consumers know about their ordering options while dining-in is not an option. 

 

We’ve seen some restaurants offering crisis kits which include ingredients to make a meal as well as essentials like toilet paper. 

 

Not only do these efforts help them generate sales in a unique way when sales are lower, but the uniqueness of their efforts gains a lot of attention and effectively makes their business a name you remember. 

 

Go online or don’t survive 

 

We know many businesses, especially those that have been around for some time, are fortunate to have done well while never investing much in marketing. Your business may be suffering this week because you were forced to close your doors or simply because most are practicing social isolation. 

 

Now is the time to get moving on the internet. You need to reach consumers while they are not reaching out to you and make them aware of how you’re operating at this time. If you don’t have a website, social media pages will do for now. You need to find a way to let consumers know they can still buy your products even while your doors are closed.

 

Edward’s Men’s Wear, a local shop specializing in men’s clothing, is offering customers the options to set up appointments for FaceTime calls to browse for clothing. What a great way to personalize business for customers and still generate sales! 

 

When you know if you’ve never conducted your business online you are feeling apprehensive or overwhelmed. That’s ok. Please reach out. We are happy to offer free consultation to help you get up and running again quickly. 

 

If you need help taking your workflow online, reach out as well. As our team operates remotely part of the time even without a crisis situation, we can recommend software and resources to help in your particular business. 

 

Take care of employees 

 

We can’t give specific advice on this one. You have to do what you can afford to do, of course. Some restaurants are offering free meals to the families of their employees since their employees are left with less shifts. Some businesses have furloughed employees while offering them half or all of their salaries. 

 

Now is a good time to think through the possibilities. Your employees may find themselves unable to work as the virus spreads and as they take on other responsibilities at home or are sick. Now may be a good time to cross train in case some employees are unavailable or to better spread out the workload if business slows down. 

 

Above all, remember to stay calm and positive. The American spirit is resilient, and we’ll get through this together. If you need to contact us, we’re operating at 100% capacity and we’re here for you.

 

The outbreak of the coronavirus in the United States has left businesses whirling and scrambling to try to stay afloat. We understand all the uncertainty and stress that you are feeling right now. We wanted to take some time to offer a few ideas on how to keep things moving in your business while it feels like the world is falling apart. 

 

Check on your clients or customers 

 

Check-in with genuine concern. Don’t call to mention the “pandemic specials” your business is offering unless they ask. Just see how they’re doing, and lend an ear to any challenges they are facing. People don’t deal with businesses, people deal with people. Even if there is nothing they need from you now, later when they do need your services or products, they will remember to come to you because you reached out in their time of need.

 

Seek counsel and do make rash decisions 

 

You have to be quick on your feet during a crisis. Normally, rash decisions are bad decisions. However, there is no time for that in a crisis. Now is the time to apply the saying, “Think long, think wrong.” 

 

Call up a couple people who are also business owners you trust for sound advice. Run ideas by them and listen to their opinions. You may be able to strategize and collaborate your efforts in a way to offer the community a product or service that is desperately needed right now. 

 

Think outside the box

 

Begin by rethinking your marketing. Are there changes you need to make in light of the coronavirus situation? Screen time is always up during a crisis. Now is a good time to invest in or increase your digital marketing efforts. Many digital marketing options such as social media ads are very affordable too. 

 

Is there a way you can reach out to your community and also help your business by spreading brand awareness? Our business decided to use our marketing skills to create a Facebook page for local restaurants to use to let consumers know about their ordering options while dining-in is not an option. 

 

We’ve seen some restaurants offering crisis kits which include ingredients to make a meal as well as essentials like toilet paper. 

 

Not only do these efforts help them generate sales in a unique way when sales are lower, but the uniqueness of their efforts gains a lot of attention and effectively makes their business a name you remember. 

 

Go online or don’t survive 

 

We know many businesses, especially those that have been around for some time, are fortunate to have done well while never investing much in marketing. Your business may be suffering this week because you were forced to close your doors or simply because most are practicing social isolation. 

 

Now is the time to get moving on the internet. You need to reach consumers while they are not reaching out to you and make them aware of how you’re operating at this time. If you don’t have a website, social media pages will do for now. You need to find a way to let consumers know they can still buy your products even while your doors are closed.

 

Edward’s Men’s Wear, a local shop specializing in men’s clothing, is offering customers the options to set up appointments for FaceTime calls to browse for clothing. What a great way to personalize business for customers and still generate sales! 

 

When you know if you’ve never conducted your business online you are feeling apprehensive or overwhelmed. That’s ok. Please reach out. We are happy to offer free consultation to help you get up and running again quickly. 

 

If you need help taking your workflow online, reach out as well. As our team operates remotely part of the time even without a crisis situation, we can recommend software and resources to help in your particular business. 

 

Take care of employees 

 

We can’t give specific advice on this one. You have to do what you can afford to do, of course. Some restaurants are offering free meals to the families of their employees since their employees are left with less shifts. Some businesses have furloughed employees while offering them half or all of their salaries. 

 

Now is a good time to think through the possibilities. Your employees may find themselves unable to work as the virus spreads and as they take on other responsibilities at home or are sick. Now may be a good time to cross train in case some employees are unavailable or to better spread out the workload if business slows down. 

 

Above all, remember to stay calm and positive. The American spirit is resilient, and we’ll get through this together. If you need to contact us, we’re operating at 100% capacity and we’re here for you. If you would like to learn more about our specials we are offering at this time, visit lightalive.marketing/corona-crisis-specials/.