Don’t Just Survive; Thrive Online!

When it comes to business continuity, today’s climate makes it harder than ever to survive. Sustainability can be difficult enough when it’s business as usual, so during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all feeling the pressure. Whether it’s facing the tough decisions on how to maintain or scale back your operations while keeping both employees and customers safe, or considering a temporary closure and layoffs, we have a few suggestions that may help.

When it comes to cash flow, it’s more critical than ever to monetize your online presence. Start by showcasing your business continuity efforts online. Don’t lose out on business by making it difficult for your customers to purchase products or services. Follow these quick and affordable suggestions to keep your business going in these trying times.

1. Get in their face! Update your website homepage to show your hours, gift cards, take-out options, or general business status front and center! There is no reason this shouldn’t be the first thing a visitor sees when entering your website.
2. …and why stop there? By updating your Google My Business info, you can highlight updated hours of operation before a user even gets to your site, not to mention potentially link some relevant e-commerce sources right from Google.
3. Time is of the essence! Don’t tie up your phone lines responding to basic user questions. Simple questions that could have been answered online aren’t helping you focus on what’s most important to your business. 
4. Speaking of ready to buy, if you aren’t already set up with e-commerce, perhaps a simple order, payment, or shipping form could bring your business online in a quick and affordable way. Making your site transactional doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Today, there are plenty of affordable e-commerce solutions, and just as many ‘speed to market’ ways to start collecting orders, money, or contact info right from your current site. 
5. Did we mention updating your info? That’s right, we aren’t just talking about your website, or even your Google My Business info, but how about your social media accounts? ANYWHERE your visitors might be finding you, it’s critical to reflect the most up-to-date info to ensure you don’t miss out on business!

Think it’s only a matter of time before everything goes back to normal? Think again. Just as many companies are discovering (through trial and error) how to optimize ‘work from home’ productivity, your customers expect convenience and the ability to engage and purchase online more now than ever before. 

Welcome to the new norm.