In March, the coronavirus pandemic officially cost restaurants and retailers almost as many jobs as the Great Recession — and it doesn’t even come close to telling the full story. Millions of additional workers have been laid off or sent home since then.
With most of the states on lock down and the economy frozen, the job losses continue to pile up. Up to 60% of all restaurant and retail jobs are at risk.
Changes Made
What business practices have you changed to meet this pandemic sales disaster ? Like many businesses you may have made an easy decision to look inside your store to make cuts and control cost – cut back staff, reduced your store hours or even closed your doors until the pandemic passes us by. The bad news is that all these short term cut backs will cost you money (customers) in the long run. When you lose a customer’s business, where do you think they go ? They will look for another place, just like yours, and order from them. Once the virus is curtained; those same customer will continue purchasing from the new business.
Your slumping sales are not from what you are doing inside your store, so why look there. The answer is from outside the doors, in the streets, over the internet. What have you changed, outside of your doors , to keep your business going and to attract new business ? – This is the key – How are you communicating to the customers you have, are you looking to find new customers, are you offering online ordering, curbside pick-up, do you have a website and has it been updated? What about social media, are you using it wisely or just posting pictures ? How does your business show up in a Google search? Have you optimized your Google my business page, added a post, shared pictures, added a review recently?
Changes Needed
Most retailers face a very uncertain future. It’s unclear when stores will be allowed to fully reopen, and even then, there’s no guarantee people will return to them in great numbers. What’s is clear is that the long and ongoing shift to an Internet-based business model will accelerate. Traditional brick-and-mortar retailers who were late to the online game, have been losing ground for years to rivals such as Amazon. Without a strong Internet presence, retailers struggling with the pandemic are unlikely to survive in the long run.
Change now
No something “Magical” will not happen – not even the government stimulus will save you – but digital marketing can.
The Corona virus has really impacted small businesses. Social distancing for the businesses means your doors may be closed for walk in’s so you will have to count on your online presence to bring them in. It comes down to three things – Search, Site and Social
Search
More and more people who are looking for something to buy, or to do, will start their journey with an online search. Google found that 76% of searches, on a mobile device or computer, will be for something near me (local). The corner stone of showing up higher in a search is to optimize your Google my Business page.
Site
If your store doesn’t have a website, you’re missing out on a massive audience. Online visibility is huge for you and can ultimately determine whether customers come to your place or not
Social
As a brand, you have an opportunity to engage potential customers, through social interactions, before, during and after they buy your products – (why the after is so important).
Growcomtwo
In today’s digital age, there are so many little things to do online to drive your business growth. But, as a small business owner, it’s hard to be active operator, you are plenty busy, and also manage your outside business development on your own. My advice would be to let the people, with the related skills, help you grow your business. Inventory people stock shelves, cashier’s ring things up, waiters deliver service, growcomtwo will help you grow your business.
I am a local small business owner, just like you, I live in Smyrna, Georgia. I know it takes a lot to earn a dollar and more importantly the value of spending it. So, I am giving away a FREE guide to help you “Grow your Business with Google my Business”. I will also offer you free support to implement the ideas that are in it. This will help you start to show up higher in a search result, helping you get more outside traffic to your business.
Take care, stay safe and I am here to help.