Amidst the unprecedented crisis that is the COVID-19 pandemic, many small businesses are struggling with what to do while their operations are suspended. It’s impossible to ignore the economic repercussions we are already seeing from the forced shut down of the economy, and most industries are suffering in some way. Travel and leisure activities have seen massive drops in website traffic and conversions while most people are avoiding public non-essential places. Staying healthy and safe should be your main priority, however, there are ways to keep yourself occupied and productive even during self-isolation and quarantine.
Google Ad Credits:
In order to help ease some of the pressure for small and medium-sized businesses, Google is giving these businesses $340 Million in ad credits during the COVID-19 pandemic. While no hard timeline for the aid has been released, businesses can expect credit to their account within the next few months if you’ve been an active advertiser since the beginning of 2019. Keep an eye out for this if you have an active ad account. This is all part of a larger commitment that Google has made to support SMBs, health organizations, governments, and health workers on the frontline of this global pandemic.
Spring Cleaning:
One of the most important things you can do for your business during this time is to take advantage of the downtime you have. If you can’t operate normally, use this time for tasks that are normally difficult to complete during operating hours or that may have been put off. This goes double for tasks you can complete remote and without extra expense. Just a few things you can do from home on a tight budget include:
- Purge email lists
- Update local listing info
- Create or adjust marketing budgets
- Social media posting
- Write blogs/emails
- Refresh marketing material
Stay calm and use these and more to minimize the effect the closures may have on your business. We may be limited in our options, but we can still be productive as marketers and owners.
Stay connected
Going hand in hand with a few of our recommendations of things to do, staying connected to your customers through email, blog and social media posts are imperative during this time of social distancing. People are more willing to engage than ever while stuck in quarantine and unable to do much. Let them know you’re here, still working and trying to improve the situation. Let them know what steps you’ve taken to ensure safety at the property now and what you’ll do in the future, especially if you are offering any kind of curbside services. Most importantly, don’t do anything that could be viewed as exploitation during this time of need. This is a short-sited mentality and can hurt you in the long run. Better to spend your time improving yourself for the future.
Wash your hands, follow social distancing orders and stay healthy. These are your main priorities while we traverse these untested waters. Use the time to do what you can for your business, and try to be there for your customers in any way you can. We will be doing our best to update you on new developments and working hard to be prepared for a normal life again, hopefully soon. If you have any questions or would like to know more about what you can do during this time, feel free to contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
