No Travel, No Problem: Use these Crucial Tools to Increase Business During COVID-19

As businesses take the recommended cautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, many Americans are concerned about the disruption of ‘business as usual’ as they implement strict work-from-home policies. These new standards are hindering the typical in-person business meetings we’ve used strategically for decades. Recent travel restrictions resulting from COVID-19 have further reduced our ability to host business meetings that include representatives from around the globe.

While many of us aren’t concerned about contracting the virus ourselves, it is important for us to do our part and contribute toward public health initiatives that will prevent the spread of COVID-19. During this unprecedented time, Hughes Media recommends using strategic marketing plans to keep your business moving in a positive direction.

Connect in Unique Ways While Working From Home

It’s never been easier to coordinate with team members and customers while working remotely. Online communication and video tools have grown exponentially in 2020 to give businesses a wide array of connectivity options. Using these tools, businesses can thrive with hard work and creative thinking. Some successful methods include:

• Hosting a webinar or broadcasting live on social channels such as Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. Your followers will probably find a change in venue refreshing and will understand and value your social responsibility.
• Meeting your customers where they are by using screen sharing tools like Skype, Google Hangout, Chime by Amazon, UberConference, Go to Meeting, etc. Do all you can to make business processes easy for your customers. You’ll be a hero.
• Sprinkling some old fashioned, hard copy marketing materials into your rotation through the US postal service. Make your business stand out by doing something different. You can also build rapport with your customers and vendors by sending words of encouragement with a quick, hand written note. Everyone appreciates the thoughtfulness of a personalized greeting.

Marketing Methods You Should Already Be Using That Will Serve You Well During COVID-19

Each of these marketing channels should already be a part of your strategy. However, if you have been reluctant to move toward these digital methods, now is the time to start before you fall behind the competition.

1. Social Media

There are an infinite number of reasons your business should be using social media. From search engine optimization and customer service to branding and selling products, social media channels provide a quick means to connect with your customers in meaningful ways. In the current climate, customer service is the name of the game. Your customers use social media. Find out where they spend their time, and meet them where they are.

Social media outlets provide a fantastic means to answer customer questions and take requests. Accordingly, we suggest:

• Drafting responses to FAQs so your customer service team is prepared
• Initiating instant-reply messages with links to resources if you don’t have the capacity to respond to messages individually and immediately
• Using real-time Instagram DMs, FB messenger, etc.
• Developing a WhatsApp business profile – it’s the most popular global business messenger app with 1.6 billion active users.

2. Email Marketing

Email marketing gives you the opportunity to speak directly to people who are interested in hearing from your business. Your message waits for them in their inbox for reading at a time that is convenient for them.

Make use of segmentation tools that allow you to send targeted messages to groups of people — for example, those who already do business with you, and those who need a gentle nudge toward becoming a customer. In this way, your message will resonate in the best way with each customer to move your relationship forward.

3. Blog

Your blog is a great place to serve relevant information in a timely manner. Boost your credibility and your authority in your industry by providing content that is relevant and meaningful to your readers. Be sure to provide value-added information for customers and not just sales pitches.

4. Ecommerce

It should be apparent that if you have a product or service that can be sold online and you aren’t utilizing ecommerce, you are missing out on huge profit potential. Convenience is king, and the rise of services like UberEats, DoorDash, and a myriad of grocery delivery services show that even in a world without the threat of COVID-19, there is a large market of people who are prepared to pay for convenience.

Don’t be Limited by COVID-19 — Use this Time to Thrive!

At Hughes Media, we are working with countless clients who use our carefully crafted strategies to develop deeper, meaningful customer relationships and increase sales, even in the midst of COVID-19. We believe these strategies can help you too.

If you need some help getting started or if an element of your digital marketing strategy needs some deeper analysis, give us a call to engage our specialists. We love to help you succeed!