Transitioning Brick-And-Mortar Business to the Virtual Sphere
COVID-19 continues to ravage the planet, killing thousands as governments struggle to control the spread. The impact on human lives is only rivaled by the economic impact. Millions are currently unemployed due to the Coronavirus, with no timeline for when people can return to a sense of normalcy. Additionally, thousands of businesses have shut their doors for good during the quarantine.
However, not all businesses have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. In fact, some industries (like video games and cleaning supplies) have actually benefited from the lockdown. Most of the businesses that have either survived or thrived during the Coronavirus have done so due to their ability to move their business to the Internet.
As people continue to shelter in place, they also continue to need things like food, hygiene products, banking services, and entertainment. Fortunately, most of these products and services can be ordered or maintained online. So, if your business already has an eCommerce portal or website to help customers get what they need, you have a much better chance of weathering the COVID-19 storm.
That said, not every business can provide their products or services online. For others, it’s possible but extremely complex or expensive. Fortunately, transitioning a brick-and-mortar business to the virtual sphere doesn’t mean you have to completely cut out interactions in the real world. It just means that you need to increase your online presence and make it easier for consumers to interact with your business from a distance.
For example, let’s say that consumers are looking for classic car restoration online. Naturally, the service itself cannot be done virtually, but it can be marketed via your business website and online ads. Additionally, you can make information about your services readily available and even allow customers to estimate the costs and pay for products via your business’ online portal. This way, it keeps face-to-face interactions to a minimum (for the sake of public health), while also giving consumers a way to obtain the services they want and need.
Even if you feel overwhelmed at the prospect of building or maintaining a business website, you can still take advantage of the virtual sphere. Most consumers (particularly younger consumers) get their information about products, services, and businesses via the Internet. There are dozens of websites that provide this kind of information, including companies like Yelp, Amazon, Google, and even Facebook.
So, if you’re not ready to completely move your business to the virtual sphere, you should at least dip your toes in and build an online presence. You can do this by creating a social media page business, advertising your products or services on a third-party platform, or encouraging your client-base to write online reviews.
All of these methods can help you transition from the pre-Coronavirus days to the current situation in which face-to-face interactions are discouraged. We don’t know how long this pandemic will go on, but adjusting your business to a post-Coronavirus world will help ensure that you keep your doors open and your business thriving for the long-term.
