The global COVID-19 pandemic is affecting businesses all over the world. Only businesses of importance to people’s most basic survival needs are staying open, and everyone else must close their doors to customers.
As frustrating as that is, it is a necessity if we are to fight off the outbreak and return to our normal lives. Still, this does not have to be the end.
There are clever ways for your businesses to stay ahead during the Coronavirus pandemic. Luckily, digital and social media marketing is done online, and there is no need for physical contact.
With that in mind, let us share our best practices to deal with this problem.
Traditional Marketing Channels and How to Replace Them.
Many businesses use conventional marketing channels, like TV commercials, billboards, newspapers, e-mail campaigns, telemarketing, etc.
Even though many companies use these channels, one might say that the majority is becoming obsolete. With digital and social media marketing, companies push their business forward in many directions.
Conduct some research yourself on the difference between digital and traditional marketing, and you will understand how significant this change is.
Best Practices for Digital Marketing During the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Now is the time to not only stay ahead of the virus outbreak but also jump over your competitors and “borrow” their customers. To do that, you must follow the best practices of digital marketing.
Take Care of Your Website.
Running a website is crucial for a successful digital marketing campaign. As business owners, if your website is outdated, now is the best time to make some changes.
While updating the aesthetic look of the website, you must not compromise the functionality. It is also smart to add regular updates for your customers about COVID-19.
They need to understand that you are aware of the situation and that you are doing everything in your power to keep your customers safe.
Focus on Local SEO.
With the current situation, you need to turn your focus toward local SEO. Your biggest customers are those who are closest to you, and that is something that requires attention.
Still, it is important to think about the bounce-back surge after the outbreak is over. With that in mind, while you are focusing on the current customers and situation, also think ahead.
When people return to their regular spending habits, your competitors will get the better of you if you had placed your SEO campaign on hold.
Online Reviews.
If you wish for your business to stay ahead during the COVID-19 outbreak, it is crucial to track online reviews of your customers.
Word of mouth is still the best way to make or break a company, so do not take it lightly during this time either.
Social media can help you create a customer service channel for any complaints, but more on that in the later section on the use of social media.
Introduce Special Offers.
No matter what your business is, it is the time for special offers. This is something that can be easily accomplished with the use of digital marketing, as people are using the Internet now more than ever.
Think about the B2B connection. If your customers are other businesses that are currently closed, do everything in your power to help them overcome the situation.
If they cannot run their businesses at full power, help them with introducing special offers during the outbreak.
PPC and CPC Advertising.
Since many companies have put their business on hold, there is a substantial lost market share waiting for someone to scoop it up.
If you consider the number of people browsing the Internet every day, you understand that Pay-Per-Click advertising opens a new window of opportunity.
The Role of Social Media Marketing amid the Coronavirus Pandemic.
We must underline the importance of social media marketing during the COVID-19 outbreak. This type of marketing has become one of the most popular ones during the past decade and now is the time to use it to the fullest extent to avoid social recession.
There are clever ways for your businesses to stay ahead during the Coronavirus pandemic. Click To TweetResearch shows that people who use social media actively by sending messages, leaving comments or talking in group chats, for example, report being happier than those who simply scroll through their feeds, absorbing news stories and viral videos.
But, by using social media, you can also fall into one of many traps that can easily crash your business. Let’s discuss the dos and don’ts of social media during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Connect with Your Clients.
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and many others are perfect for connecting with your clients during these hard times.
It is imperative to maintain contact and stay informed about your customers’ needs. It doesn’t even have to be business-related or company news; open a channel where your customers can talk to you about any topic.
This will build a strong bond of familiarity during the outbreak which will, in result, secure your customers.
It is also important to allow your customers to reach out to you when needed. While social media is the perfect channel, consider adding a live chat option to your website, or e-mail support.
Customer Support Channels on Social Media.
I mentioned briefly in a section before how you can use social media to respond to your customers’ reviews and complaints. Customer support is essential if you do not want to lose your clients over a bad experience.
While running a customer support channel on social media, make sure you are consistent with your answers, and that the reply time is not too long. Remember that every comment counts.
Social Media Can Help You Find New Leads and Secure Sales.
Sales are becoming delayed because of the pandemic. Companies cannot pursue new leads, which affects the business directly. Social media still provides a way to continue your business.
Even if no sales are happening at the moment, you can still make deals for the future. Keep in mind that a lot of companies must secure the continuation of their businesses, and the customers will need everything to go back to the original state as soon as possible.
Do Not Spread Panic on Social Media.
Now is the time to talk about the pitfalls of social media marketing. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to use panic as a marketing tool on social media.
I understand that you are smart enough not to go down this road, but it is important to mention it. To give you an example, we know that people are buying toilet paper and flour in insane quantities.
The same applies to protective masks and gloves. Do not create posts that urge your customers to buy them before they are sold out.
This type of marketing only spreads panic and makes people act in a rash way and without thinking. Your customers deserve respect and care.
Do Not Post False Information on Social Media.
Another big mistake that is also punishable by law is posting incorrect information about the Coronavirus pandemic on social media.
We know that all kinds of news are circulating online, and 99% of them are false. Even though your intentions could be good, do not inform your clients of such things until you are 100% sure they are true. This will only create mistrust.
If your clients are communicating with you on social media, and asking questions you don’t have the answers to, do not keep them pleased by providing false information. It is a lot better to calmly explain that you don’t have an answer to that question, and try to find a person who can help them.
Do Not Forget to Keep Track of Your Competitors.
While running a business, using social media is an essential tool to market your products and services online.
But, besides being a fantastic channel to keep you connected with your customers during the outbreak, it is also an opportunity to track what your competitors are doing to keep their businesses up and running. Not doing this is a big mistake, for many reasons:
- be sure that your competitors are tracking what you are doing.
- by following your competitors, you will also stay up to date with their offers.
- if your competitors provide a better service than you, you must do something about it.
- always look for mistakes in what your competitors are doing and try to use them to your advantage.
Ways for Your Business to Stay Ahead During the Coronavirus Pandemic – Delivered!
I hope that you had an informative and fun read. Understanding these tactics and best practices are crucial for your business to stay ahead during the Coronavirus pandemic.
While there are ways to implement these strategies on your own, I always advise people to schedule a meeting with a professional.
They are well versed in digital and social media marketing and can help you achieve the results quickly and effectively.
As you can understand, the situation changes daily, and there is no room for beginner’s mistakes. Instead, a professional take on the situation is required.
Remember to stay safe, and take care of your business with the same passion and diligence with which you are taking care of yourself and your loved ones!
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