Staying Connected with Your Customers & Employees

2020 has to go down as one of the most volatile years in history due to the amount of unexpected events and unprecedented situations we have experienced so far. Many businesses have been forced to shut down, and others mandated to operate with limited staff or remotely as part of government lockdown measures. This represents a challenge for businesses owners wanting to stay connected with their staff and customers. While we must continue to do our part in helping to stop the spread of the coronavirus (CoVid-19), there are also creative ways to connect with your communities even during these difficult times.

Outfit Your Team

As many businesses are adopting a new “normal” which involves working from home, this represents an opportunity to outfit your staff with custom branded apparel. This is a great way to build team morale in this current environment where it’s easy to feel disconnected. You may opt for providing team members with professional attire such as: polos or dress shirts branded with your company logo. Or you may choose something more comfortable for example a hoodie or jacket that they can wear on their time off. Remind them they are a part of something larger with custom branded apparel which has the potential to unify your team.

Repurpose Branded Products

In terms of staying connected with your customers there are a few things you can do. If you had pre-purchased promotional marketing material for an event this year, such as a trade show or conference which has now been cancelled, you may still be able to use the products. Depending on the branding on them, you can send out the products via parcel delivery services or regular mail as giveaways or thank you gifts to your clients. Caps, pens and drinkware are good candidates as these are lightweight and can be sent over mail inexpensively.

In the event you are not able to send them out to customers, a local charity may find your products useful. Try donating them within your community to strengthen the bond with organizations and people around you. Oftentimes charities may be able to make use of branded products, particularly apparel and higher end items which can be re-gifted or used for fundraisers and as prizes for contests.

Stay Social

We encourage businesses to continue to connect with your customers via phone or social media. Continue to hold online meetings where possible and reach out to followers using social platforms for things like: company news and updates. Take advantage of all the resources we have available in the era of digital communication. Post lighthearted content such as polls, and contests to get to know your audience better. Seek out for feedback from your customers during this time and obtain valuable information to strategically target consumers with more specialized promotions in the future.

This is a good time to nurture and foster your existing relationships with your customers and employees without having to meet them in person. When it comes to staying connected, the current situation has forced many of us to think outside the box and come up with new creative ways to maintain business relationships. The great thing is that today we have a great number of tools available that make staying in touch possible.