Life has changed completely these days, our daily routines and schedules are all different and the uncertainty many of us are feeling is real and, in all honesty, a bit scary.
Facebook has put together some resources for businesses to use during this outbreak.
Managing through and building resilience during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“At Facebook, we’re working to keep people safe and informed about the recent outbreak of COVID-19. We know that as members of the communities you serve, businesses like yours may also be experiencing unexpected challenges, and we’re committed to providing as much support as possible.”
4 Steps to Take Today
1. Keep Safe & Stay Informed
Follow official sources for your information regarding the outbreak, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), as well as your local government health department.
2. Keep in Contact with Customers
Continue to update your Social accounts and monitor for questions and comments. Let your customers know your business hours (if they have changed), update them on any short-staffed situations you may have, and let them know if you are still providing your products or services. Depending on the type of business you have you may want to update customers on your cleaning procedures and other safety measures you are taking.
3. Host Online Events
If you need to cancel or postpone planned events, see if you can move these events online with Facebook Live Video or by doing a webinar. Even a Q&A townhall on your Facebook, Instagram or Twitter account would be useful.
4. Prepare & Implement a Customer Service Plan
Have a plan regarding how you will field questions if they are asked of you. Your customers are confused and scared too, make sure you have all your bases covered regarding services, safety procedures, cancellations, returns, reschedules, etc. You can even set up an instant-reply on your Facebook Page or through a chat bot on your website that can address general questions. Additionally, be sure to monitor your sites and email so you can address questions and comments quickly.
Business Resources
Facebook has provided tools to help you manage your business during this time, including:
Business Resilience Toolkit – best practices and tools to help protect your business from interruptions.
Quick Action Guide – Develop plans to minimize downtime and plan an emergency response.
For more information and useful tips visit the Facebook Business Resource Hub.