As we enter the third month of quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a “new reality” has started to hit home for most of us.
My family is fortunate. As an “essential worker,” my husband has been able to continue to work and bring home a paycheck. But I know that others are not so lucky. Millions of people are without work. They are struggling to find groceries and personal care items. Others are working from home and feeling the pressure of a full-time job on top of homeschooling their kids.
And as states across the country begin phasing back to “normal,” with small steps to open up the economy, many people will be left questioning the decisions they make as they look for a balance of getting back out there while simultaneously keeping themselves and their families healthy.
“Should I get on a bus to run my errands today, or should I continue to shop online?”
“Is it really necessary for me to go on this business trip, or can I get by with conference calls instead?”
“Do I risk my health to carpool with coworkers, or should I spend more money and drive myself?
These are just some of the questions that are likely going through the minds of your loyal and potential customers alike.
Maybe you are feeling like you’ve been shut down or running at low capacity long enough. Maybe you are worried that your business can’t sustain much more of this economic shutdown. Maybe you are afraid that your once-loyal customers have found other means of transportation.
So, what can you do?
You can start by answering some of your customers’ questions by explaining your strategies to keep them safe.
Just because things are shut down, doesn’t mean your online presence has to be. Keep posting! Tell your customers you are there for them. Explain your cleaning and sterilizing procedures. Don’t leave anyone wondering if it’s safe. Instead, assure them it’s safe.
Are you taking extra precautions to keep social distance practices among customers? Explain that process and how it works.
Are you offering new ways of obtaining your services? (Example: online stores or purchase applications.) Make sure your customers know where to go and how to reach you.
Post on social media as often as you are able – even if it is just to offer assurances that we are all in this together. Consider offering discounted rates or a contest to win a free ride. This will help enlist new potential customers.
My best advise is to be the stable ground for your customers who are traveling down a windy road of uncertainty. No one knows what these next few months will look like, but ensure your customers you are there for them, provide them with the information they need to make informed decisions about utilizing your services and most importantly, let them know you hear their concerns.
