It looks like finding ways to cope with Covid-19 will still be a daily struggle for many individuals, businesses and countries. It has had a huge impact on our daily lives and on the workforce. Although it is hard to imagine right now, but this pandemic will end and some things will go back to normal. For others, there will be a new normal.

Some of these changes will be temporary, others permanent. Here are a few ways Covid-19 is changing the workplace.

Corporate Flexibility

When Covid-19 hit Australia, many businesses were forced to shut down or to minimize the physical appearance of staff on the workplace. This is why many employees were quick to figure out how they could work from home efficiently.

Work from home was an alien concept before but many employees and companies are now embracing this practice because it provides flexibility. Now that many companies and employees realize that they can work at home and stay productive, it will be hard to let go of this practice even if the pandemic is over.

Headquarters 2.0

According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, temperature checks and social distancing guidelines will likely be followed even if infection rates go down and they will persist until such time that advances in medicine and health bring breakthroughs. However, once the pandemic is over offices will become more about community and interaction rather than individual productivity.

Conference rooms, video studios and meeting places will dominate offices of the future and offices will become a social environment rather than a “lock me in the office” scenario. Offices will be designed for better socialization and communication in an effort to take advantage of talent when they are in 1 location. Pandemic or not, humans are not robot and thrive on human interaction which leads to productivity and innovation.

Work Ready Homes  

Many remote workers did not find working from home difficult because they felt isolated; rather they were ill prepared for the sudden change in their working life. At the start, many of them did not have a work ready home or Zoom installed in their personal computers.

One of the biggest challenges remote workers had was internet performance. Many of them commented on how weak internet was at home which caused drops in productivity. Fortunately, internet for homes will improve quickly.

Home offices will also become a priority for people who are buying or renting homes. The ability to work from home will become an important factor for employees when moving.

Online Learning For All

Online learning will not just be for students anymore. Many companies are quickly learning that seminars can easily become webinars which makes it more convenient for everyone involved. It cuts down travelling accommodation expense and is more flexible for both parties.

Person-to-person learning, trainings and workshops won’t go away but they will be reserved for certain functions or personnel in the company.

Good-Bye To Business Attire

You likely dressed up for the office before Covid-19 but you don’t have to be dressed in business attire every day for remote working. Many work from home employees usually wear a smart blouse or shirt for their tops but wear comfortable bottoms with slippers. This way they are presentable enough for video calls but comfortable in their PJ bottoms, short or sweat pants.

Video Expert

Speaking of videos, many remote workers quickly became video virtuosos during the pandemic. Since video calls and meetings have become the norm; setting up video, looking good and sounding better have become important.

Remote workers had to learn to operate video apps like Zoom in order to interact and socialize with co-workers and in order to replace face-to-face meetings.

Bottom Line

According to a survey by Building20, Most Australians believed that working from home allowed them to be more productive or had minimal effect on their productivity. 45%of responders think that they were more productive while 32% thought their productivity remained the same. Overall, 51% said they prefer remote working compared to the 23% who preferred working at the office.

However, the survey also revealed a significant find: workers don’t want to go back to the inflexible working arrangements of before Covid-19. This means companies and businesses have to find ways to make a new office culture where remote work and traditional work can co-exist.

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In Australia, social distancing is now becoming second nature as outbreaks continue in some cities around the country. However, mandatory mask wearing depends on where you live. In Victoria for example, citizens are asked to wear face coverings when they are in public. With all of this confusion, many are asking whether businesses and offices are ready for the new normal.

Here are some tips on how you can safely manage opening your business in these pandemic times.

Implement Basic Health Protocols

Basic health protocols include: frequent hand washing or sanitizing, social distancing and mask wearing. Businesses have to realize that in order to protect customers and employees, everybody has to follow these basic guidelines.

In some countries, washing or hand sanitizing stations can be seen outside businesses and patrons are encouraged to wash their hands or sanitize before entering the premises. This is to make sure that there is minimal transmission of the virus once patrons are inside the stores. Additional protocols like mask wearing and social distancing can limit the transmission of airborne particles that could contain the virus and protect patrons and employees.

The Australian Government Department of Health has issued orders for everybody to practice physical distancing, good hygiene and to stay at home when sick even though states and territories are easing restrictions. Following these basic health guidelines at the office can protect everybody from the virus.

Risk Mitigation

Risk assessment should be followed at the office. This is an easy step that involves all employees in order to minimize everybody from contracting and spreading the virus. Risk mitigation includes:

• What can cause injury or infection at work?
• Evaluate the level of risk. How likely is this to happen?
• What are the steps needed to eliminate or reduce the risk?

Everybody should be involved in risk assessment. This will help you identify risk issues and reassure everybody that the company is being proactive regarding safety in the workplace.

Mental Health Support

Covid-19 has brought about uncertain times. Many of the world’s governments are in recession with economies contracting at alarming rates. Many employees and businesses also face uncertainties as shutdowns, unemployment and bankruptcies are being filed around the world. There is no doubt that the pandemic has affected everybody physically, emotionally, financially and mentally.

This is why it is also important to provide mental health support to employees who are having a hard time or those who want to reach out and talk. Like Covid-19, mental issues are invisible and sensitive. Providing employees the support they need in order to cope with these uncertain times can help them become happier and more productive.

Protect People At High Risk

Some employees are at higher risk of contracting Covid-19 than others and there are those who have a high risk of dying due to complications of the disease. For example, workers who are frequently on field and meet with different people are more at risk than contracting the virus. Providing them with proper PPE (personal protection equipment) can protect them from infection.

Senior citizens with comorbidities like heart disease and diabetes and those who suffer from autoimmune disease are also more likely to suffer from complications and have higher fatality rates. If you have senior citizens employed at your establishment, it is better to provide them with other alternatives like working from home or moving them to other departments that require minimal contact with people from the outside.

Contact Tracing

Keep a record of your guests too. You will want to inform them of possible infection should anybody from your business test positive for Covid-19. You can do this by physically recording their names and contact number or you can use a Covid-19 contact tracing app.

Australia uses COVIDSafe. As of August 1, 2020 the NSW Health announced that the app has helped in tracing an additional 544 people who tested positive for Covid-19. Remember, every case matters.

The other app being used in the country is Coronavirus Australia for information and isolation registration.

Clean & Disinfect Office

The office and the premises should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. If your office has a cleaning staff, they should be trained and provided with proper PPE as well as disinfectants that are effective against Covid-19.

High touch surfaces like desks, keyboards, mice, doorknobs, light switches, drawers and other similar surfaces should be disinfected and sanitized regularly by employees before and after office hours. The rest such as floors, bathrooms, lounge and other common areas can be disinfected by the cleaning staff.

Employees and cleaning staff should also practice proper hand hygiene. Bottles of sanitizers should also be made available for employee and customer use to minimize transmission on fomites.

Training And Awareness  

Everybody at the office should be trained in Covid-19 prevention and awareness. All employees should know and understand the basic health protocols and why they should be followed. Management should make it a priority to educate their employees about Covid-19 and what they can do to protect their fellow co-workers and family members.

Aside from this, staff should be aware or trained what to do should they test positive. In many parts of the world, once a positive diagnosis is received the individual is required to contact the local health workers for proper isolation and treatment. Employees should know who to contact and what to do should they face the worst case scenario.

Office workers should also be aware what to do if one of their colleagues test positive. For example, they should be made aware that self-isolation is important in order to prevent spreading the disease to their co-workers and family members.

Bottom Line

Many businesses are now open in Australia even though the government has imposed lockdowns in some areas due to surges in infection. This delicate walk between public health and the economy is nothing new as governments around the world also learning how to find a balance between them.

Businesses and offices have to learn how to co-exist with the pandemic in order to continue providing service, products and to exist.

The post Are You Ready For The New Normal At The Office? appeared first on Creativ Digital.

If you’re an SME who find these times grueling, we have some tips to help you and your business cope better.

Analyze Your Current Financial Standing

During these pandemic times, cash flow is critical. For many businesses, existing income and trade is already disrupted by Covid-19 so your ability to pay outstanding debts, keep employees or meet existing leasing or loan repayments will be determined by your financial position.

If you still haven’t, contact your accountant to discuss various options so that you can make informed decisions about your business. This is a good way to come up with a plan on how you can minimize the impact of the pandemic on your business.

Contact Bank & Insurer

Many banks offered loan deferments to SMEs during the Covid-19 crisis and many still do. Contact your bank or financial lender to avail and discuss arrangements for relief for mortgages or loans. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) also authorized insurance companies and brokers to offer payment deferrals and refunds to businesses impacted by Covid-19. Suncorp, Allianz, QBE Insurance as well as any other insurers or insurance brokers who choose to take part, as long as they notify the ACCC.

Communicate with Stakeholders

The Covid-19 pandemic’s impact is worldwide. However, it is still important to communicate to stakeholders about what is happening with your business. For example, your employees will need to know how your decisions will impact them. Your debtors will also be contacting or has contacted you regarding payments or overdue accounts. Negotiating with them will let you see which payments you will be able to defer.

Customers should also be updated as to your new business hours, product/service availability or changes in delivery time and shipping. Your social media accounts are good platforms for reaching out. You can also communicate through your website or through email newsletters.

Seek Advice On Deferring Tax Payments

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) can grant you a deferral of certain tax obligations if your business is impacted by COVID-19. However, tax deferments can impact your eligibility for other government stimulus packages.

Talk To Your Landlord

Your landlord should also be briefed regarding your current financial status. You can talk to them to talk about deferring rent for the meantime or to reduce amount paid for a couple of months or to ask them not to increase rent while the pandemic is ranging. Communicating clearly can help you come to a negotiation. Landlords tend to be flexible especially to long-term tenants and those that pay their rent religiously. Most of them would also rather negotiate payment rather than have their space sit empty for months.

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As an effort to stem the rise of infections, many Australian business owners are turning to deliveries to limit face-to-face interactions with customers. However, most store owners depend on Australia Post (AusPost) as the main courier for their goods. While this is a good option for country-wide deliveries, it can be a bit troublesome for local deliveries.

 Local deliveries give you more control over how and when packages are delivered. This provides a better shopping experience for your customers. Also, offering same-day deliveries can make you stand out against competitors.

Delivery Tips For Online Sellers

If you’re thinking about delivering locally to customers, here are some useful tips to consider.

Look for The Best Delivery Option

Finding a low-cost delivery option is always the best way to proceed with local delivery. In Australia, there are many 3^rd party delivery services you can hire to reach customers county-wide and locally.

For local food delivery, you can reach out to services like Menulog, Deliveroo and Postmates. This kind of delivery service partners with local restaurants so that you can deliver to 90% of addresses in the whole of Australia. Their local services is very popular and are downloadable for Android and iPhone users.

Uber is also popular in Australia. You can partner with them to deliver groceries, parcels and other goods to customers. They are available in major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

CouriersPlease and Same Day Express are another popular 3^rd party delivery services in the country. They usually deliver parcels locally, nationally and internationally.

Before booking any of these services, take a look at how much they charge per delivery. Who shoulders the delivery cost? How will customers react to an additional $8-10 as delivery fee?

Timing is also important. For food, it should get there in less than 1 hour, parcels within the day. Make sure that you understand timing because it has a big impact on customer experience.

Deliver Orders Yourself

This is another option you can consider for local deliveries. If you have a vehicle then perhaps you can skip the 3^rd party service and do it yourself. This will not only allow you to control the pricing better but the timing too.

You can set up a cut off for orders so that you can deliver them the same day and then head off to deliver parcels after cut off. For food, you can deliver to nearby areas via bike. You also have the option of renting or buying a scooter for deliveries. This mode makes it easier to reach customers faster and farther away. DIY delivery gives you better control and also ensures that customers get their food and packages on time.

Curb Side Collection or Pickup

This is another good option that limits your customer’s exposure to other people. You can offer your products to be picked up either by the curb side or inside your store. This is a good choice for many kinds of businesses like food, groceries, hardware, pharmacies, meat shops and dry-goods.

Customers can order by phone, online or through your store’s app. Once you receive their order you prepare the order and they will pick it up. This is a good idea because customers don’t have to spend a lot of time inside your store or restaurant and you can schedule deliveries so that they are on their way out almost immediately.

Compare and Experiment

Whether you’re just starting out or have been in business a long time, every order is exciting. It might take some time before you find a delivery mode that works for you so make sure you asses your strategy from time to time. Don’t be afraid to explore and experiment different delivery modes because it will give you a chance to evolve and meet new customers.

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As a business owner, you might have been obligated to find new ways to stay in touch with customers during the pandemic. If you’re struggling to retain customers or maybe you want to find out how to make things work, we have some tips for you.

Sympathize with Customers  

Everybody is affected by this pandemic. It’s not just the senior citizens who are vulnerable to the disease or the health workers that put their lives at risk in order to take care of sick patients. It is everybody, from the factory worker to the CEO of a company. Even kids are affected by the pandemic since many are obligated to stay indoors or to stop physically go to school.

In times like this, it is important to show your humanity and sympathize with customers. In email newsletters or any communication you send to them, it is important that selling is interspersed with signs of compassion, sympathy and understanding.

So don’t just sell. Be there for customers. Despite lifting of many restrictions by governments around the world, many of them are choosing to self-isolate to protect their families.

You can ask them how they are managing with their work-from-home arrangements; how they’re handling the stress and what they’re doing in order to cope. Kindness doesn’t cost anything so don’t be afraid to show this to customers. 

Continue Engagement On Social Media

Since many people are still stuck at home, social media is one of the ways they get in touch with the outside world. So don’t neglect this platform in your business. Continue to post relevant content and engage customers on social medial. They might have questions regarding your store hours, whether you deliver or if shipments are still ongoing.

As stated above, some of them might be isolated and feel lonely. In some cases, your friendly “face” is better than having nobody to chat with. Don’t be afraid to get friendly with them. Make sure that you continue to engage customers and answer questions enter discussions with them or just say hello back. Just don’t forget to keep it professional and to only pass reliable information to them.

What Can You Do For Them?

You also need to ask yourself what you can do for them. During this pandemic, many people are active with social causes and perhaps you can join your customers in this kind of campaign. You can also ask them what they need since you engage them regularly.

For instance, perhaps they need more supply of a certain product, maybe the need support in terms of after sales or they need more instructions on how to use your product. You will know the answer to these if you engage with them and ask them what they need from your business.

Feedback is always good. You might not like what customers say, but knowing their thoughts, feelings and having access to their suggestions can help you improve. Remember that even though the whole world is in the midst of this pandemic, life and business still goes on.

Wrap-up

Customers are the life blood of a business. Without customers, there is no need to open shop even if it is online. Customers always remember businesses that treat them well and they will repay you for it (no pun intended!) Therefore, continuing to engage customers and communicating with them is an affordable investment businesses can do in this time of pandemic.

The post Connecting With Customers In The Time Of Covid-19 appeared first on Creativ Digital.

For example, social distancing rules are still in place in all states. Due to rising cases in cities like Melbourne, the Melbourne Rail, Tram and Bus Union are pushing to make mask wearing mandatory to protect their members. Since coronavirus is still present in the country, how do you reopen your business safely without compromising the health of your employees?

Here are some tips.

Safety First

Safety should always be the first priority for businesses. While businesses are now essentially back to normal, work at home policy should still be an option for employees. Remote working is nothing new and is a good way to combat spread of the virus. If you have employees who prefer to work at home during the pandemic, it is better to have this option not only to keep them happy but also to keep them safe.

In this day and age, an overabundance of caution is welcome. For example, businesses should require employees to stay home if they are feeling fatigued, have covid-19 symptoms like cough, cold, diarrhoea and flu, temperature checks should also be conducted before entering the work place. Most of all, employees should practice proper hygiene all the time. Hand washing, proper cough and sneezing etiquette as well as having hand sanitizers all over the office should be the norm.

This kind of basic safety procedures at work can reduce transmission, separate sick employees and increase Covid-19 awareness among them. Above all, always follow safety guidelines issued by government health agencies.

Maintain A Healthy Work Environment

It’s not just businessmen and employees that need to adapt to Covid-19. Your business also needs to adapt in order to stop the spread of disease. For example, businessmen should consider improving the ventilation system of their offices or work place. There should also be a plan for regular disinfection especially for high-touch areas such as door knobs, counters, tables and computer equipment.

Reduce face-to-face meetings as much as possible. Consider barring unnecessary work travel too. Not only will this limit the exposure of your employees, it will also limit the exposure of your whole team and their families.

Since Covid-19 cases are on the rise in some cities and states in the country, businesses should also consider a Plan B and address how it will operate should employee absenteeism due to employees falling sick because of it. This is very important especially for businesses like factories and other businesses that rely heavily on physical labor.

Wrap-Up

The opening of businesses is necessary in order to restart the economy. This is why businesses should find a way to balance employee health safety and profits.  Covid-19 is likely to stick around for a while, what with the rise in cases not just in Australia but also around the world. Finding ways to stop the spread and contain the disease should always be a priority with businesses locally and internationally.

The post How To Reopen & Stay Healthy During The Pandemic appeared first on Creativ Digital.

After weeks of lockdown, consumers are excited to stretch their legs while many businesses are eagerly restarting again. However, despite reopening the pandemic is still underway. Many people are still cautious about going out and prefer to stay at home and only leave for essential trips.

The continuing pandemic has put many companies in a dilemma. How can marketing be tweaked in order to deal with the crisis? Since many businesses are now open again, is it alright to send emails again? If you’re asking yourself these questions, here are some email marketing best practices for your strategy this pandemic.

Stay Visible

Many marketers have stopped their marketing activities in order to cut cost. Since business is slow many of them are holding advertising and marketing campaigns in order to relieve short-term pressure. However, this can have a long-term cost. Cutting off communication with customers can cost awareness, market share and loyalty – all of which are needed in order for businesses to succeed.

So stay visible. Let your customers know that you’re still here by sending them email marketing newsletters or by engaging them on social media.

Monitor Frequency

The pandemic has proved to be a very stressful time for many people. They have a lot of worries on their minds right now such as job security, health and their families who are far away. This is perfectly understandable since the pandemic has made the future even more uncertain. This is why you need to determine how often to send your prospects emails.

You can do this by monitoring their click-through rate. How often do they click open emails you send them? Then you can adjust accordingly. You can also determine this by monitoring their engagement on social media. If you feel that many customers are engaging more frequently then you can increase not only content posting but also marketing emails.

Tone

As we said, the pandemic is causing a lot of anxiety due to the uncertainty of the situation. Many people around the world are isolated and might be feeling lonely. This is why you need to change the tone of your email. Try to be comforting and to show sympathy. Remember, everybody is going through a tough time.

Personalize each email you send. Address customers by their first name and don’t be afraid to ask how they’re holding up.

Be Transparent

Because the pandemic is still ongoing, many countries around the world still face quarantine restrictions. As such, many of their workers are still asked to stay at home so many businesses are operating on skeletal forces. This type of arrangement could cause a delay in shipping which is why it is important to tell customers to expect delays in their shipments or orders.

Many logistics company are also asking clients to use alternative modes of payment to limit physical contact. Many of them prefer payment through credit card, automatic cash transfers, online payment and other methods. Make sure that you can accommodate different types of payments to make it easier for clients to pay. The more options they have, the more inclined the will be to order.

If there are changes in delivery, mode of payment you should always take time to communicate this with your clients and customers.

Make Use Of The Downtime

The business slow down can be a good opportunity for you to get to know your clients better. Make use of this downtime by:

• Surveying customers. Since they have a lot of time on their hands they will probably be more inclined to take surveys from you. You can ask them for their feedback, rate your service or ask them about their experience. This kind of information is valuable because it allows you to adjust and grow as a business.
• Conduct A/B tests. Testing takes a lot of time so this is a good opportunity to email tests to increase conversion and sales.
• Implement new email tools. Explore new tools that can streamline your email marketing efforts.
• Clean up and update your email list. Having accurate data is important for the success of your email marketing campaign so use the downtime to purge your list of inactive subscribers.

Bottom Line

The Covid-19 Pandemic might be slowing down in Australia and New Zealand but it is still raging in the west, particularly in the United States and South America. However, the pandemic will ease and businesses around the world will start racing to recoup lost revenue. Following our tips can help you get a head start so that you can hit the ground running and bounce back faster.

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According to Digital Commerce, ecommerce sales were 40% higher for the week of May 26-June 1 compared to pre-pandemic figures. However, looking week over week, ecommerce sales were down 8% for the week May 26-June 1 compared with May 19-25, after only increasing 1% week-over-week May 19-25 compared with May 12-18.  This figure, according to fraud prevention vendor Signifyd Inc. could signal a plateauing of sales increases rather than a reversal of fortune as the pandemic goes on.

In Asia, ecommerce retailers also experienced a boom in sales as consumers under lockdown turned to online shopping. As a result, digital advertising solutions provider Criteo reported in their findings that more than 50% of consumers now had more plans to shop online as a result of the pandemic, compared to just 17% who said they would now make few digital purchases.

In Australia where ecommerce is dominated by eBay, Amazon, discount e-commerce marketplace Catch and fashion marketplace The Iconic, saw an increase in sales. According to Which-50.com, Australians patronized local retailers but sales with international merchants decreased.

According to NAB chief economist Alan Oster, “in month-on-month terms, all states and territories recorded online sales growth. ACT recorded the strongest growth rate in online retail sales in March, with NSW leading the major sales states. In year-on-year terms, all states except TAS and NT recorded double digit growth, with Victoria leading the large states”.

Markets that showed increased in growth included:

• Leisure and outdoor
• Auto parts
• Electronics
• Alcohol
• Comedies and collectibles
• Home décor
• General Merchandise

Apparel and luxury items experienced volatile sales during the peak pandemic months. Since Covid-19 became widespread in the west, the market experienced a 15% decrease during May 26-June 1 in online sales but still up 20% up compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Luxury goods are down 11% week over week, but still up 24% compared with before the pandemic.

Aside from online shopping, buy online pick-up in store (BOPIS) orders also increased especially for home improvement merchants. This is because many people are still afraid to go to physical stores but at the same time also need to purchase items. BOPIS allows them to access goods while limiting their contact with the outside world.

The covid-19 pandemic has changed not only the way we do business but consumer behavior as well. It is interesting to see how consumers will change again as the pandemic subsides and how it will impact ecommerce and brick-and-mortar sales.

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Many businesses around the world are now shifting from the traditional workplace to remote working primarily due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. Although many of us are now rejoicing because we finally get to spend time at home, decades of telecommuting research tells us that the real challenge is just starting.

Difficulty in transitioning from office work to remote working is perfectly normal. Many companies and teams have had to redefine how they function. How teams tackle challenges have a big impact on their productivity. Here are some challenges teams will change and some recommendations on how to tackle them.

New Communication Norms                                                                             

In the normal office setting, sharing information personally is normal. Going to your teammate’s cubicle to discuss a project or just chatting with them is perfectly normal. Getting advice, asking for clarifications or conversations are done face-to-face. According to research, these types of interactions helps employees understand their teams and prevents members from feeling isolated.

Teams that are now working from home need to form new communication norms that can easily accommodate their needs. Some teams use video conferencing apps like Zoom for video conferencing and messaging services in order to constantly keep in touch.

At first calling teammates via cellphone will feel weird because it is not normally practiced in the office. However, working-at-home will be the new normal until infection rates subside so calling or texting a teammate during office hours is perfectly acceptable. Don’t be afraid to over-communicate even if it feels wrong at first.

Finding a communication norm for a company or team takes trial and error. Don’t be afraid to try something new and to leave room for experimentation.

Managing Work-Life Confects

During the pre-Covid-19 days, managing work and home was very easy. Employees can keep their professional and private lives separate because they are in the office during working hours and at home during rest which helps to limit conflict between the two. However, the shift from office work to remote working has blurred the lines and erased the boundaries of our responsibilities.

People who work from home with kids will find it harder than those without to manage remote working. It is normal for young children to think that you are “off” since you’re at home all the time. In order to limit conflict between personal and professional life, remote workers need to negotiate with supervisors and managers for flexibility in terms of working hours. It is essential to find a schedule that balances both responsibilities: work and family.

Once the schedule is set, employees should communicate with managers how and when they can be reached for work matters.

To make it easier to work remotely, employees should avoid working in areas of the home used for relaxation. This is especially important for those without home offices. Furthermore, getting the family involved by telling them your work-at-home schedule can help prevent interruptions and set boundaries with your housemates.

New Kind of Supervision

When employees work from home, it is normal for supervisors and managers to think that they are not pulling their weight. This is because it is hard to monitor remote workers. Even though there are jobs are quantifiable based on output, there are those that don’t. For instance, project managers can issue a project that covers several days or weeks. This kind of deliverable makes limits the opportunity for monitoring.

A common mistake among managers is to closely monitor remote workers in order to compensate for lack of direct observation. This can backfire because managers don’t know what’s going on in the lives of remote employees. For instance an employee might not be able to work efficiently because they have to take care of a sick child and is planning to compensate by working on the weekend.

Instead of focusing on how employees work, managers should explain why their work is important. During this uncertain times, employees might forget what their work means especially since the context has changed.

Studies show that workers who are focused on the “why” are more likely to explore creative possibilities in their work. Therefore, shifting from traditional office work to working remotely impacts how teams function fundamentally.

Bottom Line

The challenges above will take time to resolve. Misunderstanding and miscommunication should be expected. For this reason, it is important to be understanding and flexible with one another during this transition period. Teams should also focus on building new effective work norms for the new normal.

The post Work-At-Home Solutions During The Pandemic appeared first on Creativ Digital.

If you’re a business owner, knowing what customers want right now can help you survive the pandemic. The answer to this question is in marketing. But with sales down and customers restricted to their homes, do you still need to market during the pandemic?

 Here are some reasons why marketing is important and why you should continue to market to customers.

Marketing Engages Customers

Many customers are stuck at home right now and some of them are isolated from friends and family. Sometimes they need a friendly voice even if it is coming from you. Marketing is a great tool to start or keep the conversation going.

Engaging customers is different from pushing them to buy from you. Engagement means giving them relevant information about your product or service. It is about creating content. Tell them what they don’t know, make it interesting for them.

Social media is a good platform for engaging customers as it gives them a sense of belonging.

Marketing Maintains Company Reputation

The growth and lifespan of your business is related to its reputation. This means that reputation determines to your brand equity. Many marketing activities are geared towards building brand equity of the company.

Company reputation is built when marketing efforts meet customer expectations. They consider your business to be a valuable member of the community. Customers are proud to be associated with your products.

Effective strategies for building reputation include effective communication, public relations and corporate social responsibility.

Marketing Builds Relationships

Businesses need to build a relationship of trust and understanding with their customers. Marketing can help meet the needs of customers based on segmentation such as demographics, psychographics, and consumer behavior. Segmentation allows businesses to identify needs and concerns of customers which in turn help them to deliver what is promised. Every time you answer a customer’s need you build trust.

Loyal customers will have more confidence to buy products from you. It is important to build trust between you and your customers because it will make your commercial activities more fruitful.

Marketing Informs Customers

Marketing is a good channel that can be used to inform your customers of products and services you’re offering. Through marketing they will know the usage, value of your product and any additional info that can be helpful.

Competition is stiff especially among your competitors so make sure that you are a constant voice so that you can convince customers more efficiently.

Marketing Boosts Sales

Perhaps the best reason to market is to boost sales. A lot of effort is exerted so that your product or service is seen by its target audience. However, once a product is advertised it increases the chance of being seen or noticed.

When customers see your products advertised they might want to try it which triggers a purchasing decision. When they are happy with your product, they become brand ambassadors and won’t hesitate to recommend or promote your product. Once they spread the word, your sales will begin to increase.

Marketing Helps To Retain Your Relevance

Many businesses have had to close because of the pandemic. Small businesses or those that belong to niche markets are struggling to stay afloat. However, continued marketing can help to retain your relevance especially during these uncertain times.

Many companies think that they will remain in their customer’s minds just because they are their favorite brand. However, customers can be fickle and will forget about you especially if you’re out of sight. You have to find ways to remain on top of their minds and marketing can help you stay relevant.

Bottom Line

Always remember that your competitors will still be continuing with their marketing efforts even during this pandemic. This alone tells you that marketing is important. The only way to gain advantage from competitors is by being aggressive and consistent.

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