How to do Business Online During the COVID-19 Crisis

With all non-essential businesses shutdown and more people working from and staying home, web search is going to increase, making it more important than ever to be found. If your business has been closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, you may be looking for ways to continue to conduct business in a safe and effective way. 

In this digital age, there is a wide range of tools available to help business owners and organizations continue to conduct business remotely when in-person meetings or opening their storefront are not an option. Higher Images has put together a list of virtual tools you can utilize to continue to connect with customers and conduct business. 

Video Conferencing with Google Hangouts

With a stay-at-home order in place, face-to-face meetings are not a viable option for meeting with clients. Tap into your email database and reach out to clients with any relevant information regarding your plan for handling the COVID-19 outbreak and to let them know you are there to assist them. 

You can also utilize Google Hangouts, which you can use to video conference and chat with current clients about their needs or concerns or to set up meetings with potential new clients. Higher Images recommends using G-Suite to handle your company email. If you have G-Suite, Google Hangouts automatically comes with your package. If you are interested in upgrading your email to G-Suite, contact your Marketing Consultant or go here for more info. 

Your meetings don’t have to stop at this time; you just need to adapt to using different tools to conduct them. Other great virtual meeting tools include:

• Google Duo – This video chat mobile app can be used on both Android and iOS and functions similar to FaceTime. You can use the video chat to introduce new products, provide tours of showroom, perform live product demonstrations, and more to keep your customers engaged and drive sales from the comfort and safety of your home. 
• Facetime – FaceTime is a video call product that is supported on iOS mobile devices and Macintosh computers. This is an easy yet effective way to conduct follow-ups with clients or employees to update clients on a project or check in on employee progress while working virtually. 
• Skype – Skype is another great telecommunication application that allows you to conduct video chats and voice calls between you can clients or employees using mobile devices, computers, and tablets. This free app is convenient to use and is supported by most devices, even the Xbox One console and smartwatches, to ensure you can talk with the client no matter what device they have access to. 
• Zoom – Zoom is our final video conferencing software option that is highly popular with many business owners. It is a great product 

If you are a legal or medical provider, you may need to choose a specialty software package to meet legal or HIPPA requirements. We have experience with a number of these products, contact your Marketing Consultant 

Setup a Live Chat for Instant Communication

Being able to quickly and directly address customer questions or concerns is crucial during this time. Consider using Tawk.to, a live chat function with no monthly cost to monitor and chat with the visitors on your website and mobile app.

This live chat takes about one minute to set up, is user-friendly, and provides you with a valuable and efficient way to keep in touch with your customers. You can also track your team’s progress, check performance analytics, and review chat history from your Tawk.to dashboard. 

Google My Business Updates 

Your Google My Business listing is not only a crucial part of your local SEO, helping you to appear in local searches, but it is also a great way you can keep your customers updated during the pandemic. If you are operating under special hours, you can update your listing to reflect that. If you have any offers or specials, you can share that as a post through Google. You can also update your contact information to ensure customers can reach you.

This is a great tool to use to keep your business information current and to avoid any confusion or frustration for customers who need your business. 

Social Media to Support Small Businesses

Social media is another great tool for communicating with your customers and is a great way to get your message out there. You can provide your clients with updates and share ways they can support local small businesses during this time by donating or purchasing gift cards. 

You may also consider jumping on Instagram or Facebook Live to provide clients with the opportunity to answer any questions or address concerns they may have related to your business.

Newsletters to Keep Clients Informed

Newsletters are a great way to inform customers of company news, events, and promotions, but during this time, they are also a great way to provide COVID-19 news related to your business and updates on how your company is staying safe and operating during the pandemic. Your newsletter is not only a great way to get attention from prospective clients, but it is also an effective way to maintain on-going connections with your contacts and your existing customers, which is crucial during a time like this. 

With your newsletter, you can tell prospective clients and current customers how you are handling this crisis and help to reassure them that your business is here to support them during this time and beyond. 

Need Help With Your Digital Plan? 

Higher Images has worked with a number of clients with their virtualization, email and social media marketing. If you need a hand, contact us today and one of our marketing consultants will be happy to assess your needs and devise a strategy for your business that will meet your needs and your budget.