Panic is on the rise. The majority of the world has packed themselves indoors, emphasising the importance of distance and isolation. Businesses are facing a unique problem; understanding how to stay sensitive and stay afloat.

eCommerce businesses fight the prevailing situation with a slight advantage, especially within the field of software retail; the lack of human logistics required to transport finished goods to the consumer after completion of the purchasing transaction.

Whether a large scale corporate entity or a smaller scale developing business, the effects of the coronavirus outbreak can be partially avoided or counteracted depending on the depth of mindfulness exercised within your Business Activities.

The Don’ts

1. DON’T spread fear and unverified information

The coronavirus has definitely shaken the world up as it is. Rising statistics from verified government and global organisations have created widespread panic and concern. This information has been shared rightly so, however there are numerous agencies and organizations circulating incorrect information.

This information is normally severe exaggerations or simply untrue. The biggest disservice we can do to the professional integrity of a company built with care, is to be an accessory to causing unnecessary chaos and panic.

It is important to let your customers know you are aware of the prevailing situation and you encourage them to exercise caution and preventative measures. However, sharing graphic/incorrect information to you audience is simply unnecessary.

Direct your clients towards official information centers and undertake the actions recognised as helpful and effective. Help them understand your professional values and sincerity.

Click here for facts about coronavirus from the World Health Organisation

2. DON’T ignore circumstances and conduct “Business As Usual”

Within a digital commerce space, most business is conducted from a location with firm connectivity and personal comfort. This could be any location of your choice, which makes it a little less complicated to carry on business as scheduled.

Marketing campaigns, customer service and general buying/selling activities while scheduled with weeks of planning, must be revised before release.

Being mindful of the current social climate and adjusting customer service responses or stock availabilities proves to your clients the importance of their voice and needs.

Reserve marketing campaigns and Social Media information that would be in poor taste at a time when the world is concerned about health and livelihood.

Reorganise initiatives to include subtle information pertinent to preventing/containing the ongoing virus. Humanising your business entity could prove fruitful in terms of customer retention and development.

3. DON’T stop running running all business activities

Ideally, we should ask all businesses to stop simultaneously and achieve complete quiet global quarantine and be able to recuperate lost incomes with help from governments and other global organizations.

“Ideally”, being the operative word.

Professional environments are competitive to begin with. Adding in further, yet valid, roadblocks to breaking even or becoming profitable is enough to make you want to pack up and wait this out. Our advice; Don’t.

As an employer, ensure the safety of the team that helps you get the job done by allowing them to practice validated and comfortable prevention measures i.e. work from home. Encourage them to settle into a routine that works for them, keeping your team calm is critical to ensuring your customers remain calm too.

Keeping your business open and adapting to current circumstances allows you an opportunity to distinguish yourself. Professionalism that is mindful yet effective could prove well for existing and future customer loyalty.

4. DON’T disregard the impact your business can have based on “size”

Small scale eCommerce stores may feel sailing through this perilous period is unimaginable. It is important to keep in mind, the activities of a business during this time extend beyond managing sales and profit margins.

During this uncertainty, building your company as a pillar of sincerity and trust could be exactly what you need to propel forward in a time post corona. Allow yourself to experiment with how to get across your messages with precision and care. Watch large scale businesses and how they handle the virus and interact with prospective buyers. Understand the language and intentions and apply that to your practices.

Do not let your small business drown, cement yourself as firm assistance within your community and to your limited client lists. Allow the image of strong, friendly and helpful to resonate with your company’s impression and watch sales thrive in the calm post COVID-19.

Small business owners, click here to read more about maintaining your business during the COVID-19 outbreak

5. DON’T be too hard on yourself

As a business owner, the pressure to succeed is constant. Even at a time of widespread global concern, your business is still one of your top priorities.

This would be a great time to take a step back from the day to day operations and understand the bigger picture of your operations.

While the change in business routines is unprecedented and can definitely cause inconveniences to all stakeholders involved, prioritising is important. Understand the value of the good/service you are trying to retail during a time of crisis. If you feel, personally, this is not a priority to purchase, chances are a lot of the population feels the same. If you are still willing to conduct professional activities at a time when too much income may not be generated, your spirit is admirable. However it may be more helpful and beneficial to your company, to allow for a re-evaluation of practices and direction during this time.

Taking the time to make your business better instead of funnelling time and money into the company could help you approach prevailing circumstances with a more effective approach and also allows you to plan for post the time post COVID-19.

The Do’s

1. DO let your customers know how the CoronaVirus has impacted your Business Activities

One of the biggest challenges businesses face during a communicable crisis, is retaining trust from your customer on the basis of your practices.

Give your clients all the information; let them know how you are restructuring internally in response to the ongoing threat. Inform your customers of all the extra precautions being taken to prevent your company from playing a role in the number of active cases of the virus.

Give them opportunities to ask questions and verify the efficacy of your newly employed methods, with intent to improve not only your methods but the perception of your company.

Businesses having transparent conversations with their customers are more likely to provide a service/product the way they are needed. As a result, sales figures may face a less drastic dip.

2. DO increase your presence on social media platforms

A true blessing of the digital age takes form through social media platforms; a system of communication accessible by the masses that solely requires connectivity infrastructure.

In a day and age where operating handheld/larger scale electronic devices is a default measure, take the time to truly develop and cement your brand’s social media presence.

Millions of prospective customers access information through social media sites and applications. Give them an opportunity to understand the care and thought put into developing your brand and maintaining it at a time of uncertainty.

Offer a healthy mix of information about the situation, how your company is handling the situation and interactable distractions to offer content and information relatable or relevant to any section of your target demographic.

Read more about Marketing and Social Media during the Corona Pandemic

3. DO offer deals, sales and discounts!

At a time of quarantine, with everyone indoors, digital products are consumed in high volumes; online articles, video games, seasons of television shows and software that streamlines the work from home process.

As a reseller/retailer for similar products via your eCommerce platform maximise your customer satisfaction through cost reducing offers. Introduce discounts and sales to encourage customers to purchase. Offer gift cards to share the gift of the same customer satisfaction. Further incentivising buyers through cost reductions can help distinguish you from your competition.

While you may think, you should be increasing costs due to scarce demand. Think again. Incomes are harder to maintain with current circumstances in play, and as a result there is an excess of free time with a reduction of purchasing power.

Let buyers understand you function on a customer centric model that understands their needs and tailors business activity to cater to the same.

4. DO try assist with supplies wherever you can

The power of a business entity comes from developing and maintaining customer bases. At a time when customers lose their incentive to purchase, what are you offering to ensure your customers circle back to you even at a time of crisis?

Luxury conglomerate LVMH has been issuing statements and information about their recent venture into repurposing their equipment and staff to create liquid sanitizers for hospitals in France. LVMH has made its name by encouraging prospective clients to use wealth as the access key to exclusive and significantly expensive products and services. Allowing this information to be validated and released by the brand has slightly adjusted the world’s views on the company. If a company as elitist as LVMH (granted their abundant access to resources) is able to make a change on such a large scale, why not try making small scale contributions to both society and the perception of your business.

A simple addition to digital purchases such as gift cards to disinfecting supplies or complementary hand sanitizers, gloves or masks with any product bought, while meager, could be the difference between you and your competition.

Allow clients to really understand how the depth of COVID-19 preventative measures within regards to helping your clients feel and stay safe. Small gestures at a time of uncertainty built your brand further towards dependable and humane.

5. DO highlight the risk minimization of shopping via eCommerce Portals

As mentioned in the introduction, IT eCommerce portals boast an advantage over physical retailers or digital retailers of physical products. The lack of human intervention within the delivery of the product gives customers a stronger sense of gratification with every purchase as the receipt of the product is instant (much like at brick and mortar stores).

Encourage customers to eliminate threats of human contact by purchasing through your virtual retail/reselling platform. Help them understand sellers have honest intentions while engaging in the sale but have no control over what happens to the consignment during transit. It would be safer for the consumer market as a whole to switch to digital goods that can be purchased and delivered instantly via your eCommerce retailing portal.

Print newspaper companies currently fear shutting down operations due to similar concerns further cementing safety lies in the virtual sphere.

While maintaining business operations is the key to building livelihoods both personally and professionally, it is important to note this is a time of world wide concern.

Your company and business activities are a source of income not only for yourself, but for your employees and their dependents. While we face global panic, trying to minimise the challenges faced by our team and our clients is of number one priority.

Keep in mind, if your business has handled a time of crisis well, what is to stop you from being able to kick it into high gear when markets return to their natural state? Conduct your business activities with caution, with care and with compassion. However, DO NOT let business activities remain the focal point of your day to day.

There is no point trying to steer the ship of business without a healthy entrepreneur at its helm.

Click here to read verified information about the Corona Virus and preventative measures you should take

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