Your area has started to lift COVID-19 restrictions and you’re ready to reopen your store again. However, there are many new procedures to take into account that you might have to announce to your customers, such as:

  • Social distancing guidelines and crowd limitations
  • Regulations on wearing masks
  • Occupancy limits
  • Mandatory cleaning and safety measures

How do you keep them updated with this new information in your plan to reopen? Here are some guidelines for using your Google My Business listing, website, and Facebook page to communicate with customers. These will help your company stay updated online and ready to open for in-store business.

Google My Business Updates

Make sure you update your hours and information in Google My Business. Customers often look to this platform for information when they search for your company. If you have new hours or safety procedures, it is important to reflect this in your listing to ensure there is no confusion.

You can update your hours here:

Google My Business hours section

Creating posts on Google My Business is another great option which can help customers know the following:

  • Updates – Any new ways that your business operates
  • Offers – Discounts or sales that are available
  • Events – New happenings such as community events

Another tip is to include images in your posts as a way to get your customer’s attention. If you can, add a picture or two.

Google My Business COVID-19 update feature

Find more information on how to update your Google My Business for COVID-19 changes.

Important Website Changes

Your website is another important place to make updates. If you need a few ideas, here are some good places to start:

1. Create a dedicated page with updates about the coronavirus pandemic. This should include new hours of operation, procedures, and safety guidelines.

2. Create a website banner announcing your business’s re-opening, and link it to your COVID-19 updates page. This banner should ideally be sitewide so that no matter what page users enter on, they will be aware of these updates. You can use Google Optimize to create a banner if you don’t have a web developer.

3. Also be sure to adjust your hours of operation on the website. This is one detail that can cause you to lose valuable business if it is incorrect, so fix this as necessary.

4. If you have changes to your building occupancy level or new safety guidelines, be sure to put that on your website as well to ensure that your customers are aware. This will prepare them for any lines or wait times that may occur because of these new restrictions.

Facebook Updates

Many customers will turn to your social media pages, such as Facebook, for COVID-19 updates, so it is important to make changes as necessary on this platform as well.

1. Make sure you check your store hours on this page. If they need to be updated, you can find this feature in your page’s settings. The layout should look similar to the image below:

Facebook hours section

2. Change your cover photo on your page to let your customers know about your reopening. Currently the dimensions for Facebook cover photos are 820 x 312 pixels. Be sure to use your company’s colors and font to keep your branding uniform across your page.

3. Boost one of your posts to make sure more people know about your reopening. At the bottom of each post there is a “boost post” button. Click that button, choose your goal, create your audience, and make your duration and budget. Your new boosted post will help reach a wider audience than just your fan base, and show off your new availability.

Final Thoughts

There are many different things to consider for reopening after COVID-19. It’s vital to keep your customers informed by having the correct information in visible places. By using these tips, you can ensure that your current customers are aware of your in-person opening.

If you need help getting your digital marketing platforms back on track after COVID-19, contact WTM Digital to start a conversation.