It's everywhere on the news - businesses are shutting down or operating remotely in compliance with government-issued orders to combat Covid-19 more effectively. Amidst the new remote working situation and efforts to flatten the curve for the spreading of Covid-19 nationwide, there is one unspoken concern among business-owners and employees - how is their business going to survive?
Unless your business is in the healthcare sector, it's highly likely that footfall traffic to your store or its branches will fall during this crisis.
Ensure that your eCommerce platform has a secure payment option, and that your clients can track their product delivery status - simple yet essential features like this will help your eCommerce platform even long after the Covid-19 pandemic has died down.
Remote operation means that you may not be in your customer's top of mind considerations. Remind your customers that you're still around by adding fresh content for your business every now and then.
Your customers could be turning to social media platforms for updates on what is happening around them, especially scenarios affecting their family members and close ones.
Carried out most of the above measures? This off-time may be the best opportunity for you to make that upgrade you've been discussing with your team for a while.
Remember that these measures could continue to benefit your business in the long-term.
There is no doubt that Covid-19 outbreaks are affecting businesses big and small all around the world. Travel options and permissions are limited, in-store traffic is low and events of all sorts are being canceled.
With little to no other way to keep their business running, many companies are resorting to digitizing their business.
How Lin Qingxuan Digitized Their Business to Face Covid-19 and Increased Their Sales by 200%
China was the first country to face the heavy impact of Coronavirus on their businesses and economy. As the number of daily cases swindle and some sense of normalcy finally returns to the country, some businesses are springing back up, growing stronger after changing their business strategies.
One such example would be Lin Qingxuan, a cosmetic company in China, which had to close 40% of their stores during the crisis. However, their employees were not laid off.
Instead, Lin Qingxuan redeployed over 100 beauty advisors from these now closed-down stores as online influencers, making use of WeChat and other digital platforms to engage customers virtually and sell their products online.
The result? A 200% growth in sales as compared to the previous year - and this is just in Wuhan, without accounting for closed stores in other cities in China.
Speaking of online sales, the first step that you'll have to go through would definitely be as follows:
5 Ways to Prepare Your Business for Digitization & Brand Awareness Online in the Rise of Coronavirus
Step 1: Equip Your Business for Online Transactions
Unless your business is in the healthcare sector, it's highly likely that footfall traffic to your store or its branches will fall during this crisis.
Other businesses may still need your goods however, and so would resort to obtaining your products and/or services online. You can facilitate this process by building an eCommerce website. You can then promote your online store on your website, your social media channels and more.
Many digital marketing companies will still be able to provide their services online (That includes us!), and so finding a service provider to help you get this done should be easy. You can find out more about our business website services here.
Step 2: Prepare Your eCommerce Website
Ensure that your eCommerce platform has a secure payment option, and that your clients can track their product delivery status - simple yet essential features like this will help your eCommerce platform even long after the Covid-19 pandemic has died down.
If there are any service changes for your business, display a message about it on your homepage.
If there could be needs for scheduling or re-scheduling in-person appointments, add a feature to facilitate the process. This can be done by using a Google Form, a calendar booking widget and many others.
Some of you may already have websites with product pages, detailing product specifications and variations. If you're already at this point, you'll only need to add online ordering, online payment and delivery to your website.
Step 3: Create More Digital Content
Remote operation means that you may not be in your customer's top of mind considerations. Remind your customers that you're still around by adding fresh content for your business every now and then.
Update your customers via channels such as:
- Video updates
- Social media posts
- E-mail newsletters
- Blog posts
- Webinars
Create a variety of materials that can attract their attention and update them on your latest products, promotions and more.
Step 4: Increase Engagements on Social Media
Your customers could be turning to social media platforms for updates on what is happening around them, especially scenarios affecting their family members and close ones.
Update your social media posts and engage with your customers more in this duration. Prompt for engagements, answers or feedback from your users in your posts, and respond to any inbound messages that you may receive from your posts.
You may find new opportunities through social media monitoring as well. Potential customers could be voicing their needs on social media platforms, and you can turn this into an opportunity to provide for them through virtual means.
Step 5: Consider Larger Projects
Carried out most of the above measures? This off-time may be the best opportunity for you to make that upgrade you've been discussing with your team for a while.
Treat the remote working time as an opportunity to upgrade your business assets and yourself.
Attend online webinars with your colleagues, take online courses, brush up your digital marketing knowledge or more. You might find some ideas and techniques to improve your digital presence through these means. Some digital upgrades that you can consider for this duration include:
- Website redesign
- Website security, accessibility & privacy optimizations
- Website SEO improvements
When your customers are ready to return, they'll find your fresh digital presence prepared to convert more customers than ever.
Last but Not Least...
Remember that these measures could continue to benefit your business in the long-term.
The eCommerce website that you designed could be generating easier, faster sales with a good Google Ads campaign, and you can boost your Facebook posts about your online sales promotion effectively with the right Facebook Ads settings.
If your business could do with some boost online to make customers aware of your product offerings online, we can help.
PanPages TRINITY is, after all, a digital marketing agency. Our services and client support still continues through this crisis as we work remotely from home.
Some of the services we provide include:
- Business Website Services (Design, publish etc included with eCommerce option available)
- Social Media Marketing (Facebook content creation + Facebook Ads/ Instagram option also available)
- Search Engine Marketing (Google Ads - Search Ads, Display Ads, YouTube Ads etc)
- Alibaba.com Gold Supplier Membership (Start exporting on the world's biggest B2B marketplace online)
Other digital marketing services are also available. All you have to do is to send us an email at info_trinity@panpages.com or WhatsApp us at +6018 661 6999 or book a virtual appointment with us at http://bit.ly/trinity-online-appointment
Meanwhile, stay home and stay safe!
