Managing Online Presence During the Coronavirus Pandemic (and a COVID-19 Banner Generator)

by | Mar 29, 2020 | Web Development

During these tough times and financial uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic, you may not have a budget to hire someone to update your website or online marketing. We’ve put together a list of things that you can do yourself to manage your online presence and connect with your customers. In addition, we created a COVID-19 banner generator that’s available below.

Keep your website up-to-date

If you’re using any sort content management system like WordPress, Drupal, Shopify, or Wix – there are essential core and plugin updates that you should be keeping up on. Log into your website’s admin area and take these security and feature improvements into your own hands.

We have written a step-by-step article tackling how to properly update a WordPress website.

Keeping your website and plugins updated with their latest versions is not that difficult and very important. Unfortunately, especially during any modern crisis, there are scammers who take advantage of website vulnerabilities.

COVID-19 Banner Generator

Let your website visitors know what’s going on with your business by adding a banner to the top of your site.

We’ve written a small script that you can add to your website. It will look like the COVID-19 banner at the top of our site. Modify the script below by entering your own title and message in the input boxes and simply copy and paste the snippet of code into your website (video tutorial coming soon).

[covid_banner]

<!-- COVID-19 Banner Start -->
<script type="text/javascript">
    document.write('<script type="text/javascript" 
    src="https://busybee.marketing/public/scripts/covid-19-banner.js" 
    title="COVID-19 Update" 
    message="Our thoughts are with the families who have been affected by the recent COVID-19 virus pandemic. We will continue to monitor this situation very closely and ensure we are doing everything we can for our customers and community.">
    <\/script>');
</script>
<!-- COVID-19 Banner End -->

Send us a message if you need help adding this script to your website.

Update Google My Business profile

If your business hours have changed or you’re closed to the public due to the coronavirus then you should let your customers know by updating your information on Google My Business.

In addition to updating your hours and any other relevant information, you should create a graphic post about any business changes. If you’re not Photoshop savvy, we suggest trying Canva. Canva is a free online tool to help create ads and graphics. Google My Business posts last up to 14 days so be sure to set a reminder to add another in two weeks.

Write about what you’re doing as a company

Let your customers know exactly how you’re handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Are you changing hours? Are you allowing online purchases using eCommerce? Are you preventing customers from walking in without an appointment? Are you offering help in your community?

Share this information through blog and social posts, letting your website users and Facebook/Instagram followers know what you’re doing as a company during this tough time.

And stay home and stay safe