Lockdown measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic have forced shops and offices to close down. Where they have been allowed to open, social distancing has to be enforced in order to reduce the risk of catching the novel virus. While this has cost a lot of businesses, it has also pointed to the importance of developing novel methods of reaching out to customers around the world.

Remote Work

Covid-19 has probably changed the way we work for the foreseeable future. Businesses are now becoming more and more aware of the benefits of remote work. Some companies, like Twitter, are realising that distance doesn’t really negatively affect performance and have given their staff the option to work remotely permanently if they wish to. With the right remote work tools, collaboration, and armed with the latest cybersecurity protocols, businesses will find that remote work can boost worker productivity despite the social distance. In some cases, tweaking existing Bring-Your-Own-Device rules can make a lot of difference.

For those companies that are implementing only partial remote work protocols, it is important that the health precautions are taken seriously. Government directives on social distancing must be maintained while Personal Preventive Equipment like face masks and sanitizers should be procured to keep everyone healthy.

Cybersecurity

While the online space makes it easy for businesses to access vast resources, the convenience can sometimes come at the cost of warding off illegal actors lurking on dark sites. Sometimes these dark actors can bleed into your systems unless you take real steps to protect your business and your online assets.

For starters, it is important to build a security-conscious team. Train and upskill your staff in basic security steps like identifying phishing links in emails. Enhanced email protection can help filter out spurious elements from your inbox. In addition, design and deploy cybersecurity protocols regarding Wi-Fi access, company network security, etc. Equally important is the establishment of a Disaster Recovery Plan if your business doesn’t already have one.

More importantly, this coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown it has triggered should inform businesses of the importance of having a competent tech department. Whether the expertise is from in-house or outsourced, inputting their expertise into Business Continuity Plans can be the decision that ensures your recovery and sustainability in the future.

Website

If you don’t have an online presence, then the first place to start is a website. A website is like a storefront that is open 24/7. Every hour of the day there is someone on the internet looking for a good or service to fulfil a need. While a brick-and-mortar store works only so many hours in the day, a website keeps your business running all day and night.

A website is the most important digital marketing collateral in your digital marketing strategy. Unlike social media accounts that are subject to the rules and algorithms of tech giants, a business website allows you to own a piece of the internet and implement plans to help you maximise your presence.

One way to maximise the returns on your business website to run a business blog on your website. A business blog allows you to showcase your expert knowledge on a subject matter. As the visitor comes to trust your role in the industry, it is easy to create a sales funnel that converts visitors into buyers using a different blog posts as trigger items.

Another way to get the best out of your business website and digital marketing is to use email marketing. Newsletters are one of the most important digital marketing tools available to any business. With a minimal fee, you can collect the email addresses of website visitors who have shown a willingness to hear more about your products and services. Built right, a business website will keep your business running even when most things have to come a halt.

Social Media

Social media is where the world congregates these days. Covid-19 lockdown measures are discussed in hashtags and memes, while health workers are commended for their brave efforts. Having an active social media presence allows you to read the pulse of the demographic you sell to.

It takes more than just registering on Facebook or Twitter, though. The right social media platform depends on the type of products you sell which will then inform your social media marketing strategies. Instagram and Pinterest are perfect for showing colour, making them ideal to display the content of your business shelf. LinkedIn, meanwhile, is perfect for businesses in B2B industries since it is a professional network.

To get the best out of social media, make sure you create and share engaging content by drawing from your business blog. You should also establish a social media security system to check and address impersonators and parody accounts doing harm to your business reputation.

Mobile

Mobile apps are one of the easiest ways of staying in contact with clients and fans around the world. When enabled, push notifications make for real time conversations, helping businesses gauge interactions with little to no latency. In these Covid-19 times, having a mobile app could be the reason why customers keep patronising your services despite not visiting your workplace.

Conclusion

The coronavirus pandemic and its attendant lockdown measures have negatively impacted businesses around the globe. As staff are furloughed and governments fight to meet unemployment benefit demands, businesses can put themselves on a better footing by implementing digital marketing and remote work practices.