COVID-19 has affected small and medium businesses. At the onset of the crisis, SME bank specialist Aldermore reported that the virus caused an average loss of 34% in monthly business income for UKM UK. In comparison, one in four businesses experienced a decline of more than 70% of their income. Unfortunately, things are not getting better, and although there is little light at the end of the tunnel as vaccinated, uncertainty is set to reach 2021. For businesses dealing with outbreaks, they need their smart approach to operations. A strong marketing strategy will be an important element in maintaining and even strengthening relationships with the audience. While the crisis presents some formidable challenges, there are also opportunities to embrace it.
The COVID-19 epidemic has affected all industries and has changed the way we buy, work and even live. Now, more than ever, people work online from home and shop. There is no social interaction, so how we interact with each other has really changed. The governments of the world are regularly advising people to stay at home. This is the new norm, and we are not sure how long it will last.
This period is a terrifying time for small businesses. It is time to adopt a new strategic approach to stay away during the COVID-19 crisis and after the crisis. Both small and large businesses understand the importance of flexibility. The pandemic has a broad impact on people’s lives, so they are looking for new and better ways for a job without exposing them to the risk of getting infected with the coronavirus. Therefore, there are a lot of online opportunities for businesses.
Why is digital marketing the only way to go?
You need marketing to reach your target audience, get leads in your business, and sell. The need for digital marketing services has become more important today than ever before because people are at home. There is no better way to reach potential customers than online. This is why more and more businesses are working with marketing companies to improve their reach and ensure business growth.
People at home use digital media as their primary way to connect with others, explore businesses, and shop. This provides a huge opportunity for businesses. It is time for businesses to cut spending on marketing. Instead, they need to step up their marketing efforts and even seek better digital marketing strategies.
It is time for businesses to be wise during and after the epidemic. Businesses that are not currently active in online marketing will have a tough time avoiding this epidemic.
The best thing is that digital marketing is inexpensive because many businesses have reduced their marketing expenses. So there is less competition, and because more people are searching for products online, it is cheaper to convert into lead-paying customers than before. Are you taking advantage of it?
Digital marketing provides real-time data on consumer behavior that you can use to adjust online campaigns to suit consumer desires to your advantage. So you will spend money and time on the right marketing strategy for you. Let’s see some marketing tips for small businesses to grow their business after COVID-19.
1. Take care of your customers.
This can be granted, but the basis on which SMEs operate is customer relationships – without them, your business will not be there where it is right now. It is easy to assume that your customers or clients will have more pressing concerns and want to reduce or stop communication with them, but this should be avoided in every way. Everyone lives with confusion and uncertainty, and if you stop talking to your audience, they may think you are struggling. This is true for existing and new customers, and you may losing most of your customers. It is tough to win back once the virus stops. You don’t have to go through with the sale, just check, ask them how they are, and assure them that you are moving through a crisis and are here for them. Try to confirm that you are here for a long time and are sensitive and sympathetic – avoid challenging sales. Looking at the future and seeing the crisis as an opportunity to learn more about your customers. This will help you more successfully target your future marketing campaigns. Talk to your customers on the phone regularly or use video conferencing applications such as Zoom or Team. Regularly refresh your website with new information and send email updates to your customer base. Yet posting on social media often is a good idea. Keep the tone calm and mediocre, and be positive at all times.
2. Go online
If your bread and butter are usually bricks and mortar, think about how you can customize, adapt and serve online. Since consumers will probably be at home and worried about visiting your store for some time to come, it’s hard to trust that traditional revenue stream again. This crisis has forced people to spend more time than ever – and since you have a customer base, that’s where you should be. Websites have long been the gateway to many businesses – make sure your ads stand out from the competition. You don’t have to break your budget to build a website; you can do it yourself using the website builder. If you prefer professional help to help build a new website or redesign your current website. In that case, many individuals and companies are offering development, construction, and web design at economical prices.
If you already have a website that can be used for sales, review it using your empty time, make sure everything works. Review all the latest information, and see what you can do on your website to open new revenue streams. It would help if you also took time to focus on your SEO to increase your search engines’ presence.
3. Be creative
We live in a period of rapid change of power; people need to adapt to the new circumstances brought by COVID-19 as soon as possible. Many old ways go into the trough of history, and it is time to try new things and put new models. Whether it’s the time to learn a new language or in a restaurant that takes you away by home delivery because they cannot stay open, people are more creative than ever about the crisis. It is time to connect creative and new strategies with your audience in new, relevant ways. Loyalty programs, contactless and free home delivery, gift offers, virtual programs/webinars, local charity work with prizes to donate to customers, free shipping and returns, collective money – the list is endless. And while it may be tempting to cut costs by cutting marketing spending, avoid it whenever possible – just look for new trials and opportunities that unfold through the epidemic and change your thinking. Remember that history shows that businesses spend theirs in tight periods with a progressive, long-term outlook.
4. Grow your online presence
As more people are using the Internet than ever before because of COVID-19, it is necessary to promote your products and services with a strong marketing strategy. By achieving this, your business will be more accessible to your audience, increase brand awareness, retain your existing customers and attract all-important new people. Getting the highest possible position on SERP’s should be a priority, so focus on improving your SEO to use the best keywords to put your business on the first page. As the ranking of search engine pages decreases, it becomes challenging to recover – so this is an ongoing task. Make sure your site is optimized for smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Make sure you always focus on user experience; If you want to attract people to your site to get more and more time, make sure your customer retention rate is high. Content is also essential – you need to use well-written, brilliant content. Continue working on digital marketing, do not neglect it; you will get good results.
5. Get the best from social media.
Social media was a big part of our lives before the epidemic, which is now more bigger than ever, as more people use it due to the severe limitations of personal contact with our friends, family, and colleagues. It is also an excellent tool for marketing, sales, and customer service; A great way to instantly connect with your audience. Post informative and useful content on social media. Keep your posts concise, transparent, and accurate – and use video content as well, it’s a great way to promote your business, and you don’t even need Hollywood level production. A personalized video shot on a smartphone can genuinely convey your business’s human side and achieve significant commitment. Get the right messaging and become a big affiliate on social media.
6. Include email marketing
Email marketing is a useful marketing tool that needs to be included in your marketing strategy. If you have an email list, this is the best time to put it in front of your business. Email marketing is a free tool that helps you stay in touch with your customers and reach more people. You can make special offers to your repeat customers and remarket to those who have not yet purchased from you.