Social distancing requirements present many challenges for small businesses.

In a previous blog, I talked about how the businesses that have been able to thrive during recessions, while many others failed to survive, all had one very important thing in common — they were all nimble enough to meet the moment. However, the recession we’re facing currently wasn’t caused by the subprime mortgage crisis or a busted .com bubble. It was caused by a pandemic, which is a whole different ball game.

While being nimble is still the key to surviving and thriving for small businesses during the recession we’re facing, it can be difficult to figure out how. After all, social distancing requirements have changed the way the vast majority of small businesses function, and that can be a big pill to swallow.

Here at Marketing 360®, having been founded in the midst of a recession, we’re no strangers to being nimble. And, as our number one goal is to help small businesses grow and succeed, we’ve set out to help small businesses like yours learn how to adapt to this new, socially distant world.

9 Small Business Tips for Handling Social Distancing

#1. Update your listings.

Has coronavirus affected your hours of operation? Don’t forget to update your Google My Business page and your other business listings with your new hours and any other changes that will affect your customers. Make it clear to your customers how you are operating now.

#2. Offer remote services if you can.

Physical distancing doesn’t have to be the end of your business. For many businesses, with the right tools, services can be offered remotely. Businesses that typically offer face-to-face services, like therapists, attorneys, consultants, accounting firms, and even real estate agencies, can operate effectively remotely.

#3. Start offering delivery or pick-up if you can.

You may not be able to serve people out of your physical premises, but many businesses can still serve their customers via curbside pick-up or delivery. The obvious example is a restaurant that could transition from sit-down service to carry-out and delivery, but this could also work for retailers. For example, many local retail stores are offering online ordering services with curbside pickup.

#4. Meet your customers’ changing needs with new products or services.

With social distancing, we’re all living in a new kind of reality, which means that many of our needs have changed. Businesses that are able to survive social distancing are the ones that are able to offer new products or services to meet their customers’ changing needs and budgets, or for some, adapt their existing products or services. For example, a fitness center might start offering classes online or remote personal coaching, or a clothing manufacturer might start making reusable masks.

#5. Promote your essential products and services.

Right now, few people are spending their money on wants or luxuries. Instead, most people are only spending their money on things they must have, and this is where you should focus your marketing efforts. For example, if you’re a dental office, you probably won’t find a lot of success marketing for teeth whitening right now. A root canal, on the other hand, is a must-have service that people always need, making it the ideal place to put your marketing budget.

#6. Talk about what you’re doing to keep your employees and customers safe.

People are very nervous right now — for good reason — and it’s more important than ever before that you show them what you’re doing to keep your customers and your employees safe. Depending on your business, this might mean highlighting your no-contact deliveries, the way you stagger employee schedules, and your cleaning processes and policies. This is especially important for businesses that are still operating in person, like eye care clinics, veterinary hospitals, dental clinics, etc.

#7. Adjust your prices to fit your customers’ budget.

The fact of the matter is that it’s better to make sales at a reduced price than not making sales at the full price. After all, there’s no point in charging a higher price if your customers can’t afford to pay it. Providing discounts at a time like this not only helps you build a reputation as a brand that cares about helping people during this challenging time, but it also helps to protect your sales numbers. If you’re not currently open for business, you could even provide discounts on future services. For example, a gym could offer discounts for locking in a gym membership early.

#8. Pivot your business to offer other services.

Think about what your customers and other people in your community need right now, and figure out how you can utilize your business to fit that need. That might mean selling your knowledge, offering remote services, starting an online store, delivering goods to high-risk populations that have trouble getting out — the sky’s the limit. One great place to determine what the needs of your community are is on social media.

#9. Use the extra time to your advantage.

Just because you may not be able to run the physical side of your business like you used to during this time doesn’t mean that you can’t use this time to your advantage. Don’t sit on your laurels. Use the extra time you have to get online and update your website, digital marketing strategy, and business tools.

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Manage your business online with Marketing 360®.

There’s no doubt about it, we’re facing an unprecedented moment in history, but even still, there’s a lot to learn from businesses who have successfully faced and overcome challenges in the past. If you can learn to stay nimble and meet the moment, your small business will have a chance to thrive, even with social distancing requirements.

Whether you’re working on building your online presence or looking for creative ways to serve your customers and your community, Marketing 360® is here to help. Get started today.