How To Sustain Your Business Digitally During Coronavirus

By on March 31st, 2020

5min Read

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Having seen others scale down operations or shut completely, you are probably wondering “what should a business owner do to stay afloat?” 

Even as we wait to hear exactly how long the restrictions will last, what the government will continue do to mitigate the effects of this pandemic or to support businesses, there are several things you can do to sustain your business during this coronavirus outbreak.  

Check them out below: 

1. Video Chat/Stream Your Services 

So many countries across the world, including Australia, have imposed restrictions on movement and social gatherings. As a result, there are many people now sitting at home wishing they could continue to work with you or support your business in other ways. 

You’ve probably already noticed that trainers in different fields, entertainers, tutors, etc. are all issuing schedules when they will be available online to connect with their audience.  Some are making use of the social media live streaming functionality, while others are doing it on Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, and the like. 

Regardless of what you are doing, now would be the best time to leverage the potential video marketing can offer to your business. If what you do doesn’t support live videos, consider starting a YouTube or Vimeo Channel. You can as well share the videos on your social media platforms. 

If you intend to make the videos available but at a fee, consider Vimeo since it has a paywall. This might be ideal for personal trainers, motivational speakers, beauty salon services, wellness programs, tutors, etc.

To do this right, spare some time to learn about video marketing, live streaming, and other aspects of digital marketing in 2020 that apply to your business. You can as well enlist the help of a digital marketing agency in handling some of the tasks involved in the process. 

2. Host An Event Online 

Maybe you had an upcoming event, say a product launch or anniversary celebration, before COVID-19 happened. But before you welcome the idea of cancelling it, explore the possibility of a virtual event.  

Many brands have recorded great success doing this via social media marketing (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & YouTube).  Note that all these platforms aren’t the same; always choose the one(s) that can help you reach your goals and realise your vision. Don’t forget to pick the right distribution technology as well. 

Make it irresistible to attend by giving offers such as gifts or discounts to the first 200 people who will join the event. Q & As would be a great addition too because you are letting your audience participate and feel part of what’s going on.  

If your audience is huge, consider monetising the event. Get sponsors and agree on a price point or whatever else they are willing to give in return for being woven into the live event. Remember to do this in a non-intrusive way. 

At the end of the event, gather the metrics available and use them to improve your brand.

3. Try A Work From Home Policy 

Social distancing has been the lead factor behind businesses opting to have their employees work from home. You are probably amongst those doing this for the first time or on a full scale. Challenges are investable, but the good news is you can make it work to your advantage. 

The first thing you will want to ensure is present is the infrastructure. That includes the technology and capacity needed to support telecommuting. It ranges from internet access to capable equipment such as desktop computers, laptops, printers, office supplies, etc.

Digitise all the relevant materials as well and invest in the best cloud-based tools. If you haven’t done so, consider solutions such as Zoom (for video conferencing), Slack (for communication), RingCentral (meetings over the internet).  

Minimise security risks while at it and have in place guidelines for working from home. You might want to urge your employees to have a work-from-home-routine given the many distractions present in such an environment. Set specific times when you expect them to handle emails, calls, reports etc.  

If you completely new to these aspects and would wish to make video chats/live streams and virtual events part of your marketing efforts too, then you will have to start from the beginning. A digital marketing agency can help you answer questions like what is a digital marketing strategy, how do I create one, do I need it, plus the many other questions you may have. 

Final Thoughts 

Interestingly, all these tips have been with us and as this pandemic rages on, they are becoming more relevant than ever. More technologies and solutions are likely to come up soon that will make working remotely more convenient and efficient for you as the employer or business. 

This sudden shift will likely spill over to the post-coronavirus days. Therefore, your goal should be to make the most of what’s available now. Your competitors are probably doing it already. 

If you feel stuck or need help to do this properly, speak to Digital Hub Australia .

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