Coronavirus, Digital Marketing, & Keeping the Dream Alive
Digging Digital Marketing: 5 Reasons Digital Marketing is Important
August 17, 2020Digital Marketing During COVID-19
I think everyone is sick and tired of hearing that this is our "new normal".
We don't believe that it is.
Most business owners would agree, based on the experience we have had with them.
The overall sentiment is that this too shall pass and with that comes a need for businesses to stay on their feet while dealing with this unprecedented crisis.
Users' Thirst for Information Rises
Not only has the demand for accurate information online from businesses stayed steady, it has risen.
The need for customers to know if locations are open via updated business hours on Google My Business listing and their website has been vital over the last several months.
The businesses that had a reliable partner coming into to this were able to keep up to date and therefore have had much better odds of staying a float.
Why?
Because when consumers feel that they can trust the information a business has online they feel they can trust that business to meet their needs.
It's that simple.
Were You Ready?
When these stressful times did come to a head and you faced the challenges of the shut down, did you have a reliable person on your side to help with your business online?
Sometimes the online portion of upkeep for your business can be forgotten with the many facets of keeping your business running.
Did you have your webmaster reach out to you and recommend a plan?
If you did then you have a good team and partners you can trust.
Here's the catch:
In order to have a reliable digital partner on your side when you need them you have to find them during the good times. Otherwise you may be left out in the cold when it comes time to have to keep up.
What You Can Do Right Now
We aren't going to tell you that you have been potentially left behind and not help!
Here are some tips for what you can do right now to create enduring trust with your customers during COVID-19 and beyond.
- Reach out to your webmaster - You may have been contacted already, which is the ideal situation.
Don't forget that you have the ability to make suggestions too, and check up on the work that has been done. - Create your Google My Business listing -
If you don't have one yet, now is the time to get a Google Business listing. It is the number one way customers will be able to find your local business and reach out to you.
You can get started here: https://www.google.com/intl/en_us/business/business-profile/. - Customize your Google My Business listing -
If you are starting your listing from scratch it will be about a week before you can verify your listing.
If you already have your listing published on Google then you can login and make the edits you need.
The most important items to make sure are accurate are your business name, address, and phone number (aka NAP).
After that check your business hours.
Make sure your hours show when you have your physical location open or when you are answering the phone.
You can spend more time updating your Google My Business dashboard after making sure those most important items are accurate.
Any additional information you update will serve to help your customers, as well as how Google views the legitimacy and authority of your business.
This can translate into better search results for your business. - Update Your Website -
As you see on many business websites already, directly addressing the COVID-19 situation and how it has affected your business should be front and center.
You can do this with a pop up or a highlighted line your customers can see when they hit your page.
This let your customers know 2 things; your business is staying up to date because you are still active and you are taking measures to address this crisis which will make users feel secure with your company.
The Bottom Line:
We truly hope this helps you keep your business going while we work to get back to the real normal.We are here to help your business come out stronger on the other side.
