Service-Based Marketing in COVID-19

Interested in learning tips for service-based businesses during the age of COVID-19?

There’s no doubt of the impact COVID-19 has had on small to mid-sized businesses. When we consider service and events based businesses, as we will discuss in this article, it’s necessary to make the right pivots for your businesses’ success. Here are some common questions we see from businesses:

What are the most effective ways to update my customers?

Thanks to the age of digital marketing, it’s more possible now than ever to leverage online communications for brand messaging. If you’re a service-based industry, keeping in contact with your customers over the following mediums will help you in announcing any updates on re-opening (or online services, as we’ll discuss shortly):

• Google My Business COVID-19 Update Post & Hours Update

• Announcement Bar or Blog on your website

• Email Campaign & Updates

• Social Media Post & Stories (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)

• Update your voicemail to reflect any hour changes, service restrictions, etc.

• Ensure that your public-facing inquiry email address is readily available for customer inquiries

In these updates, consider discussing how your business will operate during COVID-19, what customers can expect on your service availabilities, and how to contact your business for any additional questions or information. Having a dialogue with your clients & customers will be key in re-engaging them once businesses get the green light to re-open.

How can I pivot my services to online offerings?

You may think this is tougher based on the industry you are specifically in, but we can assure you that there are ways to be creative in your marketing approach regardless of your business industry.

Here are some examples of pivots that can engage your audience and are monetizable:

• If you offer classes and workshops: film them for posting online (e.g. Studios & Clinics)

• If you offer beauty-based services: offer live online classes, tutorials, and hacks (e.g. Hair Salons & Makeup Artists/Studios)

• If you offer professional services: pivot to phone consultations, online meeting connects (e.g. Lawyers & Accountants)

• If you offer consulting or staffing services: move sessions and screenings to online video chats or phone calls, offer bootcamps and navigation guides (e.g. Recruitment Agencies & Personal Coaches)

• If you offer hospitality services: engage with users on social media via Instagram polls, bundle trip deals for late 2020 or 2021 (e.g. Travel Agencies & Hotels)

How can I stay relevant to my customer-base?

Our first recommendation to this frequently asked question: pivot your mentality to what you can offer your customer-base during this time.

Offering free content or workshops are a great way to give customers a value-add activity to partake in. If you want to prospect to new audiences, you’ll likely get some traction with word of mouth referrals, but Paid Ads are another way to prospect to audiences similar to your own, to grow your potential clients into the consideration phase.

How do I do this on my own?

There are absolutely ways to bootstrap an online pivot:

• Check your computer’s included apps and software for video production and editing

• Read guides and how-to’s on setting up different platforms

• Research trending topics and ideas to cover

• Etc.

However, when looking to monetize your online platform, clients & customers will want to see a professional edge to accept and decide to pay. This includes (but is not limited to):

• Having a basic set of recording equipment

• Clean Editing

• Brandable Content

• Unique Content Offerings (that aren’t just free online)

Having a marketing agency onboard during this time is a sure-fire way to time-save, and value-add the following:

• Strategic implementation of an online pivot

• Marketing your services to your current audience base (re-engagement)

• Marketing your services to new audiences (prospecting)

• Creating a professional edge worth paying for

• Holistic implementation of Online Services as a revenue stream during and after COVID-19 as passive income

• Having a team to help you communicate as effectively and openly with your consumer base across mediums

• Taking out the hassle of hours spent researching and workshopping techniques

• Using converting masters who know the “why” of your business and customer base to effectively market your value-add

Rêveur Marketing offers a variety of services to help you implement, optimize, and monetize your online platform to achieve success during physical location closures (and after!).

If you are ready to take your business online or want to chat further about online marketing, contact us at info@reveurmarketing.com to learn more information, or use the following form.