COVID-19 has dramatically changed our lives and especially our small businesses. But, despite fear of the unknown, we cannot throw away our marketing efforts if we want our businesses to survive after this is all over. We must learn how to adapt and implement new strategies to maintain current clients and drum up new business.
One positive about COVID-19 is people have much more free time than usual. Inevitably, they will spend some of that extra time online and especially on social media. Your business can capitalize on this! Here are 3 ways to boost your online engagement during quarantine.
1. Host a Photo Contest
Contests are the perfect way to drive engagement to your page. Normally, you shouldn’t make them too difficult to enter in order to not discourage online users from participating. However, with COVID-19, many people have a lot more free time to be creative! Instead of having your audience “like a photo” or “tag a few friends” to enter, host a photo contest where users have to show how they use your product or highlight what they love best about your brand. This way you will collect user-generated content that is great for reposting, and more people will learn about the contest and your brand since users have to post on their personal pages.
2. Do Instagram “Story Takeovers”
Do you have followers that already love your brand and would be willing to help promote it? An Instagram takeover is where a follower takes over your Instagram account temporarily and shares content with your audience. A takeover typically lasts for 24 hours and happens via Instagram stories. Instagram takeovers are an incredible way for brands, individuals and influencers to collaborate and cross-promote content. One of my favorite local places that has been doing numerous Instagram takeovers lately is Forage Kitchen. They have hosted popular local bloggers such as Midwest Munchers and also Forage mega-fans on their Instagram stories.
3. Educate and Entertain Your Audience
If what you do supports or enhances people’s lives while quarantined, tell that brand story! Does your product give people things to do at home? Does it better their life in some capacity (even if it’s just for fun)? Clarify your brand’s unique value during COVID-19, and share it. Make sure to write entertaining or educational content. How can you educate, entertain, or inspire people stuck at home all day? Share your story!
I hope these ideas are helpful. If you try any of them out, be sure to share in the comments!