23 Apr Now is not the time to stay silent, now is the time to connect

As you may have noticed, the use of social media has risen since the COVID-19 pandemic began. With the nation being told to stay home, scrolling through our social media feeds is a way to maintain contact with friends and family, be entertained, and stay up to date with current events.

With doors of many businesses closing, we can no longer rely on face to face interaction with our client’s in order to maintain a relationship with them. During these unprecedented times, we must hone in on and take advantage of an ideal opportunity to maintain our current client’s interest. However, to also attract and retain new clientele. For this to be successful, we will need to create engaging and relevant content to further evolve our business’s brand awareness and online footprint. A strong and continuous online presence will further assist your business to continue to flourish successfully.

Stay relevant

COVID-19 has added further dimensions to the continuously evolving world of social media. Although you may be concerned about how to handle this topic online, it can not be ignored. Many companies with a large online following have utilised this opportunity by adapting and improvising their online content to further assist, promote and raise awareness of the government guidelines and advice. For example, well-known brands such as Gymshark, Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes have all altered either their name or logo to further promote staying at home and social distancing.

Share your expertise

With video generally receiving a higher CTR (click-through rate) than any other medium online, why not utilise this time to create some home-based video content? Engage with your clientele, share your company’s mission and the history behind your business. Don’t be afraid to get personal and add a unique touch by sharing more about yourself and your team.

If possible, dependant on your industry, share tips and how-to’s that your followers and customers may find useful.

Show empathy

This global pandemic is having an adverse effect on our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Providing your followers with positive content will help keep spirits high and provide a sense of comradery.

Now more than ever, our community spirit and interaction is a lifeline to many. Where possible offer reduced services or products for key workers to show gratitude for their outstanding bravery and determination.

Plan ahead

Make use of any spare time to pre-plan your social media content for when normality resumes. Review your previous marketing strategy and plan to implement any changes necessary. By accessing your analytics/insights on your business page, this will help you to learn more about your following and what content they appreciate seeing.

Until normality resumes, stay vigilant, stay home and stay calm.

Thanks to our guest blogger Ophelia Margiasso – Freelance Social Media Manager.