COVID-19 HAS LEFT NOTHING UNTOUCHED

Ever since the pandemic made it clear that it was sticking around for months into years, we’ve relied on the web to maintain a normal life. 

The colorful icons on our phones has helped get us through these difficult times. We order out and get groceries through delivery apps. We meet with doctors over zoom video conferencing meetings. We work from home, technology has made it possible for entire offices to disappear overnight, and for the businesses that own them to survive relatively unscathed. 

Technology has kept our lives and livelihoods protected from COVID-19. And as it continues to evolve, there’s no doubt about it—technology will keep us safe from future disruptions. 

It’s not just technology that’s evolving. Consumer behaviors have changed. Panic shopping rapidly gave way to unprecedented spikes in online retail. Whether it’s groceries or household essentials, people now rely on online ordering to avoid leaving the house unnecessarily. 

Health and safety force themselves to the forefront of our thoughts every time we open the front door. Until a vaccine is found, tested, and deployed at scale, consumers will gravitate toward digital solutions and reduced-contact channels wherever possible. 

What does that mean for businesses everywhere? Staying competitive means leaving a digital footprint that consumers will notice.

BUILDING A DIGITAL PRESENCE IS NO LONGER AN OPTION

Before COVID-19, investing in a website was an afterthought for many businesses. Nowadays, going without one is no longer an option for any business that would like to see the other end of the pandemic. 

The outbreak of COVID-19 has erased any lingering sense of reluctance toward embracing technology. Entire industries have raced toward remote work. Seniors are ordering groceries online. Businesses everywhere are desperate to establish an online presence. 

Staying in business has always meant meeting consumers where they are. With shopping malls closed and stay-at-home orders in full effect, everyone is online.   

In the era of COVID-19, establishing any brand awareness whatsoever requires at least a home page. Simply put, businesses that aren’t online are inaccessible to their target market, regardless of what demographics that market may consist of. 

Businesses need web development and design services more than ever. What can your agency do to support them where it counts?  

1. EMBRACE ECOMMERCE 

Even before they shut down, shopping centres were shunned as people opted to stay safe by staying home. With a vaccine just out of sight, people are still hesitant to frequent public spaces. 

As a result, we’ve seen a dramatic uptick in online sales. Offering ecommerce solutions through leading platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento will help businesses get back on their feet by tapping into the current demand. 

2. PLAN FOR SUCCESS    

Work with businesses to create a fully-realized digital marketing plan. Ease any worries by roadmapping your client’s next digital marketing campaign, which should involve elements of search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, content marketing, and other critical strategies. 

Many businesses are new to the digital scene—and a well thought out plan is one of the best ways to introduce them to online marketing that achieves results. Take the time to explain industry terms like pay per click (PPC)works and make sure to inform your clients how each of your services fits into the bigger picture. 

3. STAY REALISTIC 

Any web design company worth its salt avoids fear-based marketing and false promises. There’s no easy way to say it—the world is in an unprecedented economic slump. The best your web design company can do is harness your digital marketing expertise to keep businesses flexible. 

Adapting to consumers’ changing needs is always a challenge. With the right marketing strategies in place, businesses will have the resources to juggle new priorities. However, steer clear of misleading claims and using fear to upsell your services. Neither strategy is ethical and leaves a less than desirable impression on potential clients. 

4. PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT 

These are highly uncertain times. Business owners everywhere are facing immense pressure to adapt at every turn. We’ve witnessed resilience across industries, from the rapid adoption of complex technologies to innovative solutions like curbside pickup and contactless delivery. 

Living and working through a viral pandemic of historic proportions is stressful, to say the least. One way to ease your clients’ fears and anxieties is to provide 24/7 technical support. For businesses that aren’t tech-savvy, having team members available to work through any technical issues will be much appreciated. 

STAYING OPTIMISTIC

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the defining events of 2020. We don’t think it’s too early to say that its implications may last well into the upcoming decade. 

The pandemic continues to raise interesting questions about the way we live and work. Will remote employment be the new norm? How will consumers react to shopping malls, restaurants, and other public spaces opening up? 

What will everyday life look like on the other side of the pandemic? 

While we don’t know the answers to these questions just yet, what we know for sure is that things will never be the same—and, with technology on our side, that may be a good thing. 

To our clients, thank you for supporting us, and thank you for staying at home to protect yourself and others during these unprecedented times.