To say that 2020 was hard for small businesses is an understatement. Despite the challenges and uncertainty COVID-19 brought, at Ripl we saw our small business community demonstrate resilience and creativity in order to adapt.
The good news is that restrictions are loosening, and people have started to feel more comfortable with venturing out. The even better news is that small businesses have started to see the hard work is paying off and we are moving into our next phase of the “new normal”. With this in mind, we know that aspects of your business may not look the same—half capacity happy hours, smaller crowds for seasonal sales, and arranging house showings to name a few. While this is new territory for everybody, there are steps you can take to reopen safely and successfully.
To help spread the word that small business is back and here to stay, today we are going to share some tips on getting the word out and how Ripl can help you with reopening your business.
Tips to spread the “small business is back” message to your customers
In a perfect world, your customers would know that you’re making every effort to reopen in a safe and timely manner, but this isn’t always the case. So getting the message out that your business is open and ready to serve them is crucial.
Make it as easy as possible for people to know what is happening with your business. Knowledge is power when it comes to getting your customers through the door and shopping with you. Here are some tips to help them feel safe and empowered to purchase from you:
Store hours: Publish when you're open and any extra hours for special services.
Capacity restrictions: State your seating / headcount limits. Do you have an outdoor space or offer reservations? Make sure to include that too.
Safety precautions: Share what you’re doing to keep employees and customers safe!
Business operation changes you’re keeping from the pandemic: Customers have become accustomed to new services that resulted from the pandemic. What is leaving and what is staying?
Customer appreciation: Have a sale or special to build word of mouth marketing. Don’t forget to show customer appreciation with a post on social media too!
Reopen your small business with the help of Ripl
Helping small businesses with their message on social media is kind of our thing. Here are some steps you can take to use social media to amplify your small business reopening and announcements:
Download our free social media marketing playbook to learn how social media can help your business and create a marketing plan
Browse our Small Biz is Back collection and get some inspiration to customize your reopening messaging
Create a Facebook or Instagram ad to reach a wider audience
Take advantage of our small business COVID-19 resources
As we move away from social distancing, we move towards new approaches to social media and interacting with customers both in-person and on social media. Not only have businesses changed, but customer expectations have as well.
Here are some suggestions that can help you as you prepare to more fully engage with your customers:
To see what Ripl can do for your business, sign up for our free 7 day trial today.
