Communication in the Time of Corona

As a brand, that is not in the medical field, you might be feeling stumped about how to go on communicating with your online community when your business is likely closed or simply terribly affected by the spread of COVID-19.

And you know what, we understand you.

Fight or flight? Our first instinct is to curl up somewhere and not come out until this virus has disappeared. Literally and Figuratively! But you know what, that’s just bad; we don’t have another word for it.

Think of it this way. If you’re not leaving the house and only going out for urgent matters, not seeing anyone, maintaining social distancing and taking all the necessary precautions, does this mean that you are no longer talking to your friends and family? On social media, chat platforms or on the phone? Of course you are, because this is how we as human beings and as communities cope with fears and challenges. And you know what, it should be the same between you and the online community that has been seeing, reading, commenting and sharing your online content.

Just because they are not giving you a share of their wallet at this time doesn’t mean you stop talking to them. On the contrary, this is the time to be there for them and help them manage this awful situation because at some point, it will pass, and normal life (as normal as it can be when all this is over) will reprise and your business will pick up again, provided you remain top of mind.

But how you might ask?

Here’s a few tips:

1. What have you done to keep your premises and employees safe during this time?

2. How are you being a responsible corporate citizen?

3. What tips can you provide, from your specialty point of view, to help people survive these difficult times?

4. How can you entertain those who are also stuck at home?

Let’s get into some examples…

Are you in the F&B industry and your business is currently closed? How about some healthy eating tips to maintain a good immunity, or sharing some recipes that are easy to do at home since people are cooped up anyway, or share some drinks or cocktail recipes that people can enjoy at home, or maybe some inspirational throwbacks of better times or hopeful thoughts about the future…

Are you in the hospitality industry? Definitely things are sour for you right now, but let’s try to look at the bright side… Show them the measures you have taken, for now and for the future, showcase the safe and sanitary environment you are providing, this will resonate, remind them of your amenities for when times are going to get better, what about staycations, could these be viable for your business…

Are you in retail? If you’re operating from a brick and mortar business, times are definitely going to be tough, but you may have alternatives… Does it make sense for you to deliver because if yes, get the right team and tools in place to do so ASAP, can you give helpful tips to your community on how to avoid and prevent COVID-19, can your products help or even entertain, does your brand usually inspire…

If you’re in the medical or healthcare field, we didn’t address you much, but the obvious way is for your communication right now to be about providing reliable and actionable content. We’re not just talking about preventive measures which is getting popular but still needed; you can go the extra mile to offer tips on how to take care of rowdy children who are cooped up at home, how to deal with the stress of what’s happening or how to take care in special cases for pregnant women or seniors…

Let us help you navigate these super challenging times because really, this is not the time to disappear. If you are willing to fight for your business, you should remain connected to your actual and potential consumers, this is how you keep their positive sentiment.

We are ready to work with you, virtually, and to help you deploy the right content. Get in touch.

And don’t forget to wash your hands frequently! 😊