Emerge Strengthened During COVID-19

10 Apr Emerge Strengthened During COVID-19

The past couple weeks have been difficult and strange for all of us and that’s likely to continue for some time. For all businesses or organizations out there, we truly feel for you and pray that you are able to emerge strengthened during COVID-19 and continue to offer your customers the products and services that we all love.

At Emerge Marketing Solutions, our main goals are to help revitalize rural Iowa and to help small businesses, such as yours, thrive and grow. As digital marketing experts, we want to share some innovative and creative ways for you to ensure that your business remains successful during these stressful times.

Here are some tips inspired by Destination Development as well as some of our own ideas!

Be Present and Active on Social Media

If your organization is not on social media yet, now is the time to change that. Creating a presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. (determine which platforms your audience uses) is an easy and necessary way to stay connected with customers right now. If you do not have a Facebook Business Manager page, considering setting one up and creating ads to promote your organization, services and products. Following these great tips will help your business emerge strengthened during COVID-19.

Keep these things in mind when utilizing social media:

1.      Be a Calming Influence

Everyone is on edge and nervous during these times; don’t add to their stress. Stay positive and upbeat with your posts!

• Share something you are thankful for everyday and ask others to do so as well.
• Start a fitness challenge or give healthy ideas for ways people can spend their time.
• Maybe even start a countdown! Start with an end date that seems doable and just keep encouraging your customers or clients that we will get through this together. You may need to keep moving the end date out further, but thinking to yourself, “I only have to make it 2 weeks, now only 2 more weeks,” etc. will help things seem more doable.

2.      Be Helpful – Show You Care

Let customers know if you are still able to offer services, sell products, serve food using a carry-out or delivery option, etc. and explain HOW they can go about buying your merchandise, ordering and picking up food, utilizing your services as well as WHEN. It’s also important to let people know what YOU are doing to help keep them safe if you are open for business. What cleaning and sanitizing practices are you doing to keep your employees and customers safe? People will feel more comfortable supporting your business if they don’t feel that their health is in jeopardy by doing so. Consider implementing a, “Here’s what we are doing, here’s what you can do” campaign. The CDC has free informational graphics if you’re looking for something visual (which you should be).

3.      Keep People Up to Date Weekly

The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly, new restrictions are being implemented daily and even hourly. The future is very unknown right now. If you have any events in the upcoming month or two, make sure you are communicating postponements and cancellations to your customers/clients. Destination Development recommends setting restrictions for two weeks at a time and to postpone large gatherings (250 people or more) in 30-day increments.

4.      Go Live!

Use the live feature on social media to show new inventory and sell merchandise! Or simply hop on and show your face to reconnect with your followers, especially if they haven’t seen you a few weeks. I recommend polling your customers to see if a certain time frame works and promote your live sale beforehand. You can also go live to host workshops or tutorials! (Pre-record and post your video later if you don’t feel comfortable going live).

5.      Build Loyalty

Showing support for others in the community will translate well. Offer to help at-risk people in the community who have to self-isolate and share ways that others can help as well!

6.      Share and Promote Ways to Help

Your customers want to help show their support for you, but you have to show them how. Encourage people to buy gift cards to be used later, shop over the phone or online if possible, leave your business a good review, share your posts and interact with your social media activity, maintain their subscriptions or tell people you will put items on hold for them.

Get the Facts and Keep things in Perspective

Make sure you are getting your COVID-19 information from trusted sources such as the CDC, IDPH (or your state’s health organization website) or WHO. You do not want to spread or share false information and cause any unnecessary panic.

Stay Connected Through Technology

If you have to cancel an event or meeting, consider getting together virtually. Using a platform such as Zoom is the perfect way to stay in touch with employees, family and friends. The best part? It’s free!

Create or Update Your Website

Make sure your business hours are up-to-date and post if and when you are open/closed on your home page. If you can, take pictures of your inventory and merchandise, post them to your website and give customers the option to shop and pay online. Taking these steps will help your business emerge strengthened during COVID-19.

Apply for Assistance

Keep track of changes in income/expenses and any cash-flow issues. Look for banks and credit unions offering to help, apply for state-wide and federal grants or loans. Check for assistance programs through local chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, or county and city services.

Use Down Time Wisely

Use any extra time on your hands to invest in your business. Develop a marketing plan, update and improve your inventory, or deep clean your store. Anything you can do now to help improve your business that you haven’t had time for in the past will give you a better presence so you can come out stronger than ever after all of this.

Consider looking for other resources for additional ways to save and even grow your business during these times. Check out  www.entrepreneur.com where you’ll find helpful articles and webinars. Destination Development is another great resource especially for communities and tourism organizations! Watch this webinar for more in depth ideas of how small businesses and tourism industries can stay afloat during these difficult times.

Need Help? Give us a Call!

If you are not experienced with social media, struggle knowing what to post, or do not have a website and would like some guidance regarding these platforms, please let us know! We are here to help you emerge strengthened during COVID-19! Contact Us!