Labour day looks a bit different this year. It’s a bittersweet day with unemployment on the rise and businesses closing down, however, it’s important to celebrate the contributions of workers who have lost loved ones, have lost jobs and many who were deemed essential have had to keep working – at great risk to themselves and to their families.

We recognize the difficulties for businesses to navigate through this pandemic. Many brick and mortars have struggled to shift their offerings online. We bring you our Labour day weekend series to help support small and medium sized businesses optimize their online presence. 

Our team compiled the 4  basic steps for online success:

Optimize your online presence.

Your website and social media platforms need to be activated and updated. Make sure you post updates consistently. 

Ensure your message is adjusted

With new regulations and procedures, it’s important that you communicate with your customers what you are doing to protect your staff/clients, how you are keeping them safe, what has changed with your working hours, etc.  Also, your messaging needs to show compassion to your customers who their values have changed due to the pandemic. 

Engage with your online community

Online engagement either through your social media, Google My Business or other avenues is crucial.  Set time to engage with other social media accounts on a daily basis. You must build your online community organically, it takes time but starting early will provide a faster path to successful engagement. 

Tap into free online resources

With the onset of a pandemic some businesses are providing free resources to small businesses. Here are a few useful resources that you should tap into:

• Google for Small business : ensure you adjust your business operations during this time. or changing the types of products and services you offer. You can communicate this information to customers with Google My Business. 
• Facebook Small Business Grants Program Facebook announced a grant program for small businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The $100 million fund consists of cash grants and ad credits. 
• Instagram: Support Small Businesses Sticker With the “Support small business” sticker on Instagram, people can easily show their love for businesses in Stories.
• Yelp  Yelp is providing free calls to actions and visibility for small businesses. It also announced that it will add covid 19 related tools to better inform customers. 

At Sandstorm Digital, we offer our best wishes and condolences to all of those who have been affected by COVID-19.  Please ensure to stick with social distancing guidelines and wear your masks whatever way you choose to celebrate this labour day weekend.