Top 5 Local Business Tips during COVID-19
Maya Rector • Mar 16, 2020
While steps are being implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic both on national and local levels throughout the US, times may feel especially uncertain for local businesses. Fortunately, there are several steps businesses can take in order to navigate the current landscape.
1. Keep Consumers in the Loop
Although many people are practicing self-distancing, you can build trust and assure your customers during this time by letting them know about any changes to regular business hours or policies.
For example, some cities are allowing businesses such as restaurants to remain open, but are limited to take-out only options as opposed to dining in. If you need to halt your services, gently inform customers via your email lists, newsletters, or other preferred communication methods.
2. Take Preventive Measures - for yourself AND your Business
This novel pandemic brings with it several necessary preventive actions. By thinking ahead, you can plan on how you’ll be updating your upcoming business goals to help you prepare for the time following this potentially slow period. If you have more time on your hands than usual, use it to educate yourself on the strategies you can use moving forward or formulate back-up plans to any current plans that may be affected. Knowledge is power!
It doesn’t hurt to wash your hands properly and stay home if you’re feeling sick too.
3. Embrace Digital Capabilities
While gatherings are being cancelled and/or frowned upon, embrace the connective capabilities that digital has to offer. Was your business planning on hosting a conference or information session that got cancelled? Look into hosting a webinar version in the interim instead.
Want to update your consumers on how your business is responding to everything going on? Stay active on your business’ social media and make posts letting them know, or send email updates. Worrying about how to get your product or services out? Check your local regulations and see if you can switch to online services or deliveries.
Digital isn’t just beneficial for reaching your consumers - it can help you stay in touch with your employees too. With several major tech companies offering their digital meet-up tools for free during this time, you can encourage employees to call in and work from home if they can.
4. Eliminate Panic as much as Possible
It can be easy to get freaked out by everything going on. Keeping a level head will help you make rational business decisions - there’s no need to confuse your customers by suddenly switching everything up right now without good reason.
If your local consumers see that your business is responding in a helpful and rational way, it can help ease some of their concerns by providing a sense of normalcy. As the old adage goes: Keep calm and carry on.
5. Stay United - not Divided
Now more than ever is the perfect time to be a uniting force within your community. Encouraging consumers to purchase locally if they’re able to and being active in your community (even if that means being active from a safe distance) can position your business for success in the aftermath of current events.
Consumers are people too - and they’ll remember any reassuring gestures that your business could provide them with.
*This article references recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information, please visit CDC.gov.
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