The Coronavirus pandemic continues to affect everyone’s lives in ways we never imagined. However, we learn to adapt as survive. This applies both to individuals and businesses. While physical stores must stay closed, sales can continue online. And while some products may not be in demand for now, manufacturers and small producers can adapt their offer to suit their customers’ demands at this moment.
In this context, everyone is doing their best to keep the global economy going. The biggest fear is that an economic crisis will follow the COVID crisis if we don’t take actions every day to support both large companies and small businesses alike. One of the top names that joined these sustained efforts is Facebook. The social media giant has already pledged US $100 million to help small businesses. Their latest effort is in providing their business users with helpful templates to communicate with clients.
Communication Is More Important than Ever
During these difficult days, it may be tempting to cut as many costs as possible, but not for communication. Your social media management team must continue posting and you should continue running ads. Even if you are adjusting your budget, you must still reach out to customers.
They are as worried as you are. They need to be reassured that some aspects of their life are still the same – including the ability to connect with their favourite brands and restock on the products they need. This is why communication is crucial if you want to keep your customers after this period.
Facebook Steps Up to Help Businesses Communicate Effectively
The largest social media network understands the need to keep up communications and also the struggle to find the right message. It is not easy staying optimistic and being helpful when there are so many worries – both about personal safety and the future of the business.
This is why the Facebook Team made available a series of free resources for business pages. They are adapted to the current situation and help companies communicate with their clients.
1. Free Image Templates
First of all, Facebook page owners can download and use as posts to show their clients that they are still in business. The templates feature happy emoticons and customised messages to inform that:
- Clients can still place orders
- You moved your shop online
- Clients can get support for their problems
- Clients can purchase gift cards
- The business is grateful for their clients.
These are exactly the kind of messages your customers need to hear from you. If you want, you can take things further and use the Facebook templates as a source of inspiration to create more motivational content to share on your social media accounts these days.
2. Automated Responses
You can set automated responses for direct messages your Facebook page receives from followers. They are very useful if your page receives messages after business hours. If you take too long to answer, your page may be penalised by Facebook. Or, you may lose a potential customer.
To help you deal with the growing number of inquiries from concerned clients, Facebook has created a set of four relevant automated responses that you can set on your page. These messages refer to:
- Taking orders directly by Messenger or by phone;
- Informing your clients that they can still purchase your products from your online store;
- Booking virtual appointments;
- Informing your clients that you are not taking new orders at the present.
3. Tips for Creating Online Events
The event industry is one of the most affected by the Coronavirus lockdown. All public gatherings are forbidden. But creative minds can find ways to continue running events and staying in business.
And Facebook offers a set of helpful tips to organise online events, from webinars to live concerts. Actually, you may have already seen a few such events as Facebook Live videos.
We may live in difficult times of unprecedented hardships, but we have to adapt and survive. With the aid of the free resources Facebook offers, your work is a little easier to keep your business going during this crisis.