Going Viral: A Checkup and Prescription for Surviving Covid-19
Almost four months into a global pandemic that has thrown much of the world off its proverbial axis, virtually every facet of our lives is still chaotic, in question, and fraying nerves as we look to an uncertain future. The glass-half-full perspective on how Covid-19 has shifted our focus and tested our grit shows that we are, indeed, resilient. But denying the seismic impact on economies – both micro and macro – comes close to reflecting the horrific loss of life and health seen around the world, is impossible. Our survival depends on a strong economic status.
In the United States and elsewhere, a true trickle-down model has met our dire expectations: millions of small businesses have closed permanently, thousands of larger retailers are struggling to keep up with inventory demands, and individual consumers are faced with having to make purchases on a limited income, or with sufficient funds and a lack of venues operating in the midst of a viral epidemic.
No matter where your business is on the survival scale, there are ways to navigate through an unforeseen crisis that is benevolent to online sellers. Overall, analysts estimate that online sales have increased by 50 percent compared to this point in 2019. You’re already poised to take advantage of a gaggle of virtual shoppers, but the same obstacles facing brick-and-mortar retailers and large ecommerce sellers have probably upended your operations, as well. Here are some ways to adapt.
Try these tips and develop others based on your commonsense experience:
Use this time to rebrand and refocus. Find out what’s working and what’s not. Learn what customers are most likely to buy at this time, using industry sources such as digitalcommerce360.com.
Expand your reach to multiple online platforms. Bored, home-bound consumers are spending an unprecedented amount of time on social media every day. Look into forming a presence on the big ones (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and snoop out others (CrateJoy, Google Shopping, and Groupon).
Advertise your brand. This is different from advertising your products. Making your business a household name captures longtime customers. Engaging in content marketing, and social media marketing helps to introduce your unique personality.
Stay in touch. Especially at this time, consumers are unsettled in every aspect of their lives. Reach out to let them know you’re feeling equally anxious; find out how they are, what they need. Chances are your concern will be well-received.
It sounds cliché, but the global pandemic we call “Coronavirus” can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for self-examination. That goes for you as an individual and you as an ecommerce vendor. More of us have been forced to see how others live in the face of a deadly virus making everyday experiences a possible danger when experienced in a public setting. Reflect on what you’ve learned, and bring your metamorphosis into an honest examination of how you want to do business.