Marketing Tips for Retail + Restaurants During the Pandemic

If your business falls into the category of a high-traffic workplace, such as retail or restaurants, you may be struggling to find new ways to adapt your communication approach so you can stay in touch with your customers and prospects.
Many restaurants and stores are quickly changing their model to adapt to the new rules of the pandemic.
Restaurants and caterers are offering takeout, with online ordering options. Convenience stores and delis are the new super-local markets.
Retail stores have to think differently too. No in-store traffic means finding an alternative way to communicate with customers.
Unsure of your next step? Here are 12 things you can do that are designed for remote interaction. Do you have products that are visually appealing, such as food, clothing, jewelry? Consider using the social media platform Pinterest to show things off. Pinterest tells the story in pictures. If your wares are visual and also home-related, try Houzz.
Facebook is also another effective way to reach out to your clients and prospects. If you don’t yet have a company Facebook page, now’s a great time to get one – start making connections and telling your story. Facebook boosts offer an affordable way to advertise; try out a campaign for $10 a day for 10 days and track your results.
Don’t forget about the tools you already have. Change your company voicemail message with an updated one. Post a sign on your retail store or restaurant that tells your new way of doing business. Call and text your customers.
Add a message to your website about your new rules. Accept online ordering. Create an online storefront or offer a virtual tour. It doesn’t have to be your entire inventory – just start with your best-sellers.
Offer gift cards at double the face-value to be used when you re-open.
Let your clients know you are open and what you have to offer. An e-newsletter is a great way to keep customers up-to-date. MailChimp offers a free version to get started.
Some recent adaptions include:

• A mushroom farmer who only sold to restaurants and had no one to buy his product. He recently added a Facebook page and began attracting residential customers.
• A local running store who successfully began selling sneakers online with no charge for returns.
• A yoga studio offering live classes with a donation offering via Venmo. People are trying out yoga for the first time from the comfort of their home and getting to know the studio and the instructors. The donations far exceeded their studio’s expectations.

What you do today to adapt to these changing times will make a difference when you re-open. You can do it. Make the change and build a better company.