The Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak has affected nations around the globe. The devastation this global pandemic is causing to the health & economy is huge. India is taking precautions and providing medical help. People are spreading awareness through #donotpanic #IndiafightsCorona on social media. The country has gone on a complete lockdown till 14th April 2020. The lockdown may even get extended, but can you afford to stall your business or keep your business running using digital marketing.
This major step taken by the Government for the welfare of citizens is worth applause. It will help our country to break the cycle of coronavirus spread for sure. Well, every coin has two sides. These country-wide lockdowns/shutdowns are making people stay at home for safety reasons.
Due to this, small & medium enterprises (SMEs) are shattering financially. Thousands of SMEs are marching towards economic downfall with each passing day. The nationwide lockdown is disturbing the business chain. The demand for goods & services is still in the market but it’s a matter of need vs want right now. The essential goods businesses are functional but not generating profits. Around 71% of SMEs are facing lower demand for their products/services. Lack of raw material availability is hampering the production cycle of companies.
The import/Export market started experiencing a downfall from mid-February. Due to the temporary ban on transportation, it is completely on a halt now. Economies of countries like the USA, Italy are shattering down. The recession will hit all coronavirus affected countries and India is no exception.
COVID-19 emerged as an unexpected event. It has put a pause on the monthly and annual business revenues & targets. It is a serious matter of concern. In such difficult times, the SME owners are looking for new revenue options.
What if we say amidst these drowning statistics ‘Digital marketing’ is a ray of hope for SMEs. It can be your business’s true saviour. Social distancing is for the offline world but you can explore the avenues of the digital world. Let’s check these mind-blowing ways to save your business during Coronavirus lockdown
5 ways to use Digital Marketing for business during Coronavirus COVID-19 Lockdowns.
1. Get found online
First thing first. Is your business active online? If not, it’s the time to work on your brand’s online presence. Nowadays, people are at home. Few are relaxing, and others are working from home, consuming lots of content on web & social media. This is a perfect time for your business to grab some eyeballs. Audit your online presence.
There are many opportunities for your business to promote your services or products online using digital channels. If your business at present is not in the digital marketing space, then you are losing a lot of business here itself.
So, How do you get started? Think about how SEO, PPC marketing, and Social Media can drive traffic to your business. You can choose any one or all of them considering the business goals and targeted audience. Whatever you do today will be fruitful for business in the coming months. Start your business’s official social media handles. Engage target customers with valuable content. This digital mantra is beneficial for all business types. Just do it!
2. Provide Online Services
We all are in quarantine. People are spending time online. They are inspiring, challenging others to adopt certain activities in a routine lifestyle. This is a golden opportunity for some SMEs and businesses to make that mark on their customers and build their brand’s equity. There are numerous ways you can leverage the power of digital media for online training, consultation, and live sessions and much more.
Suppose you are a yoga or dance instructor. Here’s your time to shine. Introduce online batches for the members. Also, reach your targeted audience by paid ads to get more members online. B2C businesses such as educational institutes, dietitians, financial advisors, etc can opt for online sessions. This way can help your business to survive this lockdown with less financial crunches.
3. Work on Local SEO
Think about the local audience that can interact with your business directly. If your business is providing services or products to the local area, you should check about the local presence of your business. There are many services and products available locally and if your business falls under this category, then start the local SEO. SEO is the investment in marketing. Once you reach the first page of the search engine page & listed into Google Map Listings, your phone will start ringing & contact forms will keep you busy. The quarantine period is a prime opportunity when your competitors are worried about the business and not working on the long term digital marketing strategy.
Local SEO is the one thing that will up your game, your competitors are fighting to get the customers, but on the other hand, the customer will be coming to you directly by themselves. Just think about this if you have any need. Your immediate instinctive action is to Google it, right. So that’s the cue, according to a survey done more than 87% of people make a google search before making their buying decision. Your business website is there in the first position every time a potential customer is looking for your services or products and finds your website there every time, that is what drives business, builds your brand’s impact.
You might be thinking how do I get started, what I must do to get my website to the first position? The answer is simply getting a free business audit of your brand from the best SEO agency in Pune and you can check your local SEO rankings and what potential opportunities digital marketing holds for your business.
4. Renovate Your Website
It is hard to keep your website down during peak business months. Many companies don’t work on optimizing their website’s look, content and user experience. Well, you should always pay attention to your website. It is your brand’s face in the online world. Don’t lose on a brand’s image & quality leads because of a shabby website, as a smart website design make people stay on the website for a longer duration. Nowadays, business is down, people are searching for services a bit less. The B2B industry can take advantage of this time more effectively. Give your website a robust, SEO-packed renovation. Get in touch with the best digital marketing professionals now.
5. Offer Home Delivery Services
This is the best you can do for humanity and business right now. If you are a B2C essential goods & services enterprise, it’s time to extend your helping hand. Offer home delivery in your nearby areas. Use social media PPC ads for brand awareness & quick leads. Offering discounts with free home delivery can work effectively. Enterprises such as Supermarkets, Restaurants, Housekeeping, Food Delivery, etc can use this opportunity. It will help a lot of people in such difficult times. Also, it is a good way to maintain a business graph during the lockdown.
In the End…
India will overcome the Coronavirus spread soon. Although it is a lockdown, few doors for businesses are still wide open. Most SMEs can find a way out with the help of Digital Marketing. Don’t hesitate to start your online journey today. It’s always better late than sorry. The upcoming financial crisis will impact us all. We can determine how it leaves its footprints on our business. In this time of social distancing, digital marketing for business is the only way!
Aarna Systems is a leading Digital Marketing Company in Pune. We are standing strong in this period of crisis. We are 24/7 here to boost your business in the market. You can connect to us for all web designing, SEO, Paid marketing, social media services and more. So, if this quarantine you are looking to explore the digital avenues for your business, get in touch with us. Our digital marketing experts know how to make the best of this time for your brand!
