We know this is difficult for people everywhere, including small business owners. We’ve gathered valuable resources to help your business navigate these challenging times. We want to help.
After securing the health and well-being of yourself and your staff, nothing is more important than protecting your company and the jobs it provides.
From simply keeping the lights on today to growing tomorrow, we’re here for you. You might bookmark this page as a reference.
Change/Update Your Business Description on GMB
A Google My Business description is a 750-character summary of your business and its offerings. This description doesn’t have to remain static.
Your Google My Business description offers an additional platform to speak directly to current and prospective customers regarding the Coronavirus outbreak and changes to your business operations.
Your description can be amended to update all interested parties. Here’s one example:
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, our branch hours vary. Please call the branch for our current hours.
Adapt to the New Customer Behaviour
Customer behaviour is changing with new regulations, so you may be wondering what your specific customers need from a business like yours right now. Consider asking them directly via your social media channels.
You may also be looking to shift some of your products or services online. Start by thinking about what value you offer your customers. Are there ways for you to provide that value in a different format or online channel? For example:
A retailer with a brick and mortar shop might sell products online
A restaurant might offer online ordering for pickup and delivery
A personal trainer might begin virtual training sessions for clients
An artist might host a YouTube Livestream to teach classes
Identify the new customer needs.
With many people hunkered down at home, previous needs disappear, and new ones emerge. Businesses that quickly identify and adapt to these changes will have significantly better odds of riding out the crisis.
So, what can you, as a small business owner, do to adapt your business?
One good way to start is to analyze how existing or potential customers’ needs, behaviour, and preferences have changed due to the current situation. Make sure to talk to your target customers to understand:
Has their need (that your product or services addresses) changed?
Why has it changed? (Use the five why’s to get to the core of ‘why.’)
How has it changed? (Use the five why’s to get to the root of ‘how.’)
Do they believe parts of their actual need have changed if it has changed?
Shut off Business Hours Completely
Few situations are more irritating to a customer than looking up the hours of operation for a business to discover that the information is inaccurate.
With COVID-19 state regulations constantly changing, maintaining accurate and up-to-date business hours may be too challenging to accomplish, especially for multi-location businesses.
You can disable your business hours in Google My Business to avoid confusing consumers.
This measure addresses customer confusion and will negate customers showing up at locations when they are closed.
Removing your business hours, but keeping a phone number accessible, will prompt customers to call your business for updated hours and any additional information your customers are seeking.
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