Current restrictions on businesses might be keeping the public safe during the pandemic, but they’re causing big problems for small businesses. Foot traffic has reduced dramatically since the start of the pandemic, as people have to self-quarantine or just become more cautious. A lot of businesses are of course very concerned about how COVID-19 will impact their business and how long those impacts will last. As a result, business owners across all industries are looking for ways to hold into their customers, so they’re still there when they can open as normal again. Here are some ways to keep your customers engaged with you until restrictions lift.
Communicate Proactively With Your Customers
The current situation is shifting all the time and nobody can predict how things will change day to day. Customers understand that businesses are struggling and will be patient with you as long as you keep communicating with them. Make sure you communicate with your customers if you’re having to temporarily close, have to change your hours or you’re looking into commercial 4×4 truck rentals so you can offer more delivery slots. Tell them how you’re keeping your work environment and your employees safe.
If your store has to close or change hours, put the information on your website, in emails, and on social media. If your store is staying open, make sure to explain the measures you have in place to reduce the risk.
As well as letting your customers know the measures you have in place and what you’re changing, make it easy for them to engage with you. Customers who are stuck at home will still need and want to shop. Send your customers to your online store, take orders on social media through Instagram and Facebook shopping tools and be prepared for more people to visit your website than normal.
Promote Your Gift Cards
Gift cards give you a quick influx of cash to keep your afloat while the doors are closed and guarantee that a customer will have to come back into your business in the future. This is especially helpful for businesses in the hospitality industry, where margins are already very tight. Gift cards can help you to stay afloat until restrictions have been eased.
Stream Or Video Chat Your Services
Go digital with your services if you can so customers who want to support you can still get access to you, and to stay in the forefront of their minds. All kinds of industries are finding ways to go virtual. You can use a free tool like Skype or Zoom, or look at video options that put your content behind a paywall, so people have to pay a fee to access it.
Think about what you could do online. If you’re own a bar, could you host virtual cocktail making classes? If you’re a tutor, can you take classes online? Think about what people might want and stay in touch with them throughout these strange times.
