As we enter deeper into unchartered waters, COVID-19 is certainly testing our ability to rise to new challenges and face adversity during these unusual and isolating times. Amongst all of this, it’s worth remembering that this will pass and we are getting used to a new normal. In the meantime, we explore some of the positive outcomes which have arisen from the changes we’ve already made to delay the spread of the virus.
Here are our top 4 reasons to be cheerful amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, especially in terms of business and marketing:
1. The earth is smiling
The first reason to be cheerful is due to the positive impact COVID-19 has for our environment. Carbon emissions are down globally and with manufacturing and air travel grinding to a halt, the planet has had a chance to rejuvenate.
With foreign tourists gone the long-polluted canals of Venice now appear clear as fish and other wildlife start returning. Elsewhere, wildlife is also reappearing in other major cities and the biodiversity is slowly starting to return in various parts of the world.
The coronavirus pandemic has had an unexpected side effect in Venice—where the normally cloudy canals have transformed into water crystal clear enough to see fish swimming below. https://t.co/qrr8iphSPd pic.twitter.com/37H7iiB09Y
— ABC News (@ABC) March 18, 2020
Here are some more positive impacts of COVID-19 for Mother Earth:
- Along the coast of the eastern state of Odisha, over 475,000 endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles have come ashore to dig their nests and lay eggs – all sixty million of them
- A school of Oman cownose rays were spotted by Dubai residents, thanks to fewer people and boats crowding the waters.
- Lagoons in Albania have seen their flamingo flock numbers increase by a third in the absence of invasive tourists and boating activity.
- With fewer people and less traffic to disturb them, bears in Florida have started venturing out a little further than normal
And many more!
2. The movement to support local businesses
SME businesses are seeing the effects of social distancing more than most; however, instead of simply shutting up shop, many are adapting their services to home delivery. There is now a huge push amongst local communities to continue supporting local businesses and help them to survive the coronavirus crisis. This includes buying gift cards, ordering meals for delivery and shopping local where possible.
Of course, as big supporters of local businesses, Top4 is also joining the movement. We’re constantly improving and adding new features to make sure that everyone can support their favourite local businesses with ease! Local businesses in Indonesia, New Zealand and most recently, the United Kingdom, can also join Top4 alongside more than 150,000 Australian local businesses.
3. Time is now on our side
Surely, many of us have an abundance of activities that have been put on the back burner for weeks, months or years even. You’ve been meaning to ‘do your daily yoga’ or ‘clean your bike’ or ‘learn a language and visit a local tourist spot’ but life has just got in the way. There’s always a better offer and there is a myriad of excuses to use to justify not doing these things. Well, for once, time is on our side with no distractions – let’s make the most of it!
From a business perspective, you can use this precious time the universe has granted us to take a step back and re-evaluate your business as a whole. What can stay? What can be improved? And especially, what needs to be changed or got rid of during this downtime?
For example, while most of the world has been ‘asleep’, the Top4 team has been as busy as little bees.
For one, we have launched our very own mobile app to make it easier for us to support local businesses everywhere! Download the Top4 mobile app here.
4. Connect with your customers easier
Be inspired by the examples of kindness and compassion emerging online.
A crisis like this does give people a chance to show their decency, and many take it: self-organising, community-level pushes to provide supplies, food, up-to-date information, or company to vulnerable people in isolation cropped up all over the world.
Additionally, from the business perspective, this is also the time to show more empathy and relate stronger to your customers’ pains and troubles. After all, we’re in this together. People are spending more and more time on social media. Therefore, now, more than ever, is the time to share positivity and spread hope that none of us is alone…This storm will have an ending.
Instead of hard-selling, use your social media presence to share positive energy, which later will also be shared by the community. Reply and comment on your customers’ posts, show them sympathy, empathy, and try to relate to their problems. While they may not give you money or buy something from you, you will be remembered for the positivity that you have spread.
Looking to build customer loyalty through social media? Don’t forget to add your business to Top4.com.au
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