5 Digital Updates You Need for COVID-19

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, your online presence is more important than ever! While we wait for things to get back to normal, we can expect that this pandemic will forever alter the business world. With so much changing daily, you need to stay on top of updates, provide information and maintain contact with your clients. Businesses will need to accommodate the new demand for features people are now relying on, like online services and remote access.

Making sure that your website is up-to-date, staying on top of review sites, getting social media savvy, re-vamping your marketing plan and working behind the scenes are the ways you’ll come out on top when it’s time to reopen. Web use is up, so take advantage of your captive audience to build relationships through this shared experience and make digital updates to better your business.

1. Update your website

Make sure your website is looking its best! Stale or outdated information will just confuse and frustrate your customers—they’re looking to you as a resource. Get ready to update your website with announcements, changes in service and news about COVID-19, along with relevant information like resources for online classes and wellness advice. Think about adding a pop-up banner or a widget to your homepage so they don’t miss out on your most important message!

Behind on your blogs? Post blogs frequently to help your community stay focused on their goals, offer relevant tips and tricks and post about promotions or news from your business. This is a great time to build up your audience with relevant content and get people interested in what your business has to offer. It’s also a great time to stockpile blogs so you can get ahead. Write blogs that are relevant to today’s situation, as well as posts that you can use in the future, so that you’re always on top of your game.

2. Monitor review sites

Use your time wisely! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to focus on building up your reputation, so you can attract new business. Make a name for yourself by staying on top of popular review sites like Google My Business, Yelp, the Better Business Bureau and anywhere else you can think of that you might get noticed!

What people think about your business is more important than ever these days, so be sure you’re represented in the best light possible online. Respond to all reviews, positive or negative, to show that you care about people and that you’ll do your best to address their needs. You might also want to encourage some of your less vocal clients to post positive reviews and testimonials—you’d be surprised how happy these quieter clients really are.

Use your resources and tools to spread the word about your business and help attract a new clientele. Get your clients bragging about your business with help from WellnessLiving! From adding a review widget on your website to mastering our Client Achieve App, we make it easy for your clients to review your business—we even help you set up a review page on Google My Business so you pop up first in Google search results.

3. Social media

Now’s the time to maximize your social media accounts to make your online presence stronger! Besides staying in contact and engaging with your audience, social media is also a great way to send people to other parts of your business like your website, online videos or livestreaming classes.

Include links, teasers and messaging that interests and informs your clients, motivating them to check out the other avenues you’re pursuing. It’s time to use the tools that social media offers to reach as many people as you can, sell the services you’re currently offering and attract attention for your business.

4. Marketing plan

Use your extra time to update your marketing plan so you can better reach your clients, adjust your strategy and be ready when the time is right.

The fact that this climate is making it mandatory for businesses to adapt and change can be an advantage for you. Think about extra revenue streams through virtual options, reaching more people online, getting noticed and keeping your clients happy and ready to return.

If you still have a budget for advertising, use it to your advantage! Place Facebook ads to send people to your livestream, membership page or retail store to stay relevant and add a little something to your bottom line.

5. Go behind the scenes

Not only is it the time to review your online and marketing plans, now’s also the time to review your business tools to make sure you’ve got what you need to be the best. What updates can you make to your software to up your game and let your clients know how important their experience is to you? Here are just a few things you can do to get your software to expert level:

Upgrade to the custom branded apps

Maintain consistency by upgrading to custom branded apps. At WellnessLiving, we know brand recognition is key, so including your logo, colors and look means increased association with your business and a boosted brand. So, while your clients are booking classes through your app, reserving equipment or leaving a review, they’ll get a visual reminder of your logo and your business. It’s a great way to stay top of mind!

Stay in touch with your clients

Think about how you reach your clients. Modern tools like WellnessLiving’s business management software offers you the advantage of accessing reports to create unique lists of clients, so you can reach them easily with targeted marketing. From small, specific groups to large numbers (you can contact up to 5,000 at once), reach out to your clients in the best and most effective way you can. Target clients on an attendance list, from a report or from your client list to address your community’s specific needs. Not only does this allow you to send relevant info you know people are looking for, but it also shows an interest in your clients and re-enforces the relationships you’ve worked hard to build.

Changing notification settings

Look at updating your notification settings, too. Review which notifications are on and off and update as necessary. Set clients up to receive information they’re interested and keep them interested in your business during this distancing period. Be sure to revise your messaging to reflect your current business model, so your notifications keep your clients learning and up to date.

Reviewing any contracts and waiver forms

Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, there may be administrative changes that need to be made to your online tools. Think about things like reviewing and updating any outstanding contracts with new terms, adjusting your liability waiver with new restrictions or alerting and flagging clients who break the rules. These tools can help to keep you and your business safe.

Keeping your team safe

Work on keeping your team safe, too. WellnessLiving offers a pre-consultation questionnaire, so you can ask questions and qualify your appointments before booking or coaching even starts. Prioritize your staff’s safety by asking precautionary COVID-19 questions, like whether the client has travelled, has been in self-isolation, or if they have a fever. It’s important for you to think about your clients, but make sure your team knows you have their back, too.

This is the time to get your back end in tip-top shape so you can focus more on your clients and your service throughout this crisis and when it’s over.

There’s No Time Like the Present

While the COVID-19 crisis is scary and unpredictable for health and wellness businesses across the globe, you can make the most of the time you have to better your business and get set to impress. By following our five steps for updating the digital side of your business, you’re well on your way to hit the ground running when business returns to normal. But why wait? Even though things are crazy right now, you can implement these changes right away and start seeking out new clients today!