18 Things You Can Do To Help Your Business Adapt During COVID-19

Given all the craziness lately, it’s easy for businesses to overlook a few simple tasks in communicating with your customers.  We included a few checklist items below that you should keep in mind and execute as you have new updates to share:

Consider sharing the following information via your website, email and social media posts to educate your customers on changes to your business. Items to cover:

• Whether or not you’re open.
• Your operating hours, especially if you have modified them.
• Any changes in procedures (by appointment only, call first, virtual/video chat only).
• Update pre-existing meetings on your calendar.
• Highlight any upgraded cleaning and sanitation efforts you are making to keep customers safe.

FREE Help for Any Business 

Odd Dog is offering FREE assistance for small businesses struggling with the fallout from COVID-19, helping to modify & update your online presence so that your customers know what to expect from you during this time. This includes:

• Help with adding notices and information to your website regarding COVID-19.
• Modifying online store hours on your website, Google & Bing.

Simply head to the link below, fill out the form and we’ll be in touch shortly.

COVID-19 Help for Businesses

Other Ideas to Consider:

• If you are able to freely offer any products or services to those in need, we recommend you strongly consider it.  It will take a village to get through this.
• Post and update to Google My Business, it’s highly visible to anyone searching for your business name.
• Set up the Google My Business Messaging feature to easily message with customers
• Apply for a Facebook Business Grant – They are offering $100M in free ads for businesses impacted by COVID-19.  Applications aren’t open yet but should be open soon
• Move planned events online via webinar and/or live stream.  We recommend Zoom.
• Install a notification bar on your website to alert your customers to updates. This should link to a landing page explaining how you’re operating during this time.  If your website is on WordPress, here is a great plugin to help with website notices.
• Utilize ads/boosted posts via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and/or LinkedIn to reach a larger audience with your message(s).
• Set up coupon codes to promote sales or discounts, especially if your product or service caters to people working from home.
• Consider selling discounted gift cards, great to help restaurants with cash flow.
• Offer delivery of products, if applicable.  Restaurants & caterers are beginning to do this.
• Join the Facebook Group for Seattle Business Owners helping each other through coronavirus.
• Don’t forget to update your employees.  These are uncertain times and an update to help put them at ease can go a long way in helping them remain focused on their tasks at hand.
• Encourage your regular customers to leave a good review on GMB/Yelp if they are concerned for your team

If you need help, we’re here for you and will do what we can to assist. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to during this time for help or with questions.

Most Importantly

• Stay healthy.
• Stay home.
• Pluto has some very important tips that we feel everyone should watch. 
• Don’t underestimate how great a bidet can be when you run out of toilet paper.
• If you feel like you’re going stir-crazy at home, get creative.  Here are some way us Odd Dogs are getting by.

And if things aren’t weird enough, wait until you see Tom Brady in a Buccaneers uniform.