Supporting local businesses has never been easier with Instagram’s new add-on features. Allowing consumers to order directly from the platform, Instagram has created a fool proof way for your favorite meals to arrive at your door. At a time where even closing an app can feel hard, the new tool couldn’t have come at a better time. No more searching the third page of Google for ways to get your favorite dessert delivered. You can now go to a restaurant’s Instagram page and order directly from their site, knowing you’re using the right service with the best prices.

It’s hard to imagine what life was like pre-COVID-19. It has been about a month of social distancing and isolation and the problems just seem to be getting worse, including job security during the quarantine.

Although social distancing is great for slowing the spread of Coronavirus, it’s not so good for small businesses. As we pass the one-month mark, many businesses are worried that the impact of COVID-19 will be far deeper than anticipated. Even if your business is closed for quarantine, there are still ways to connect with your consumers from a distance. Keep reading for some tips on customer retention during Coronavirus.

A Guide to Coronavirus Customer Retention

• Stream your services. Go digital with your services to continue to provide access to your customers. Therapists, personal trainers, tutors, and even doctors are all using tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams to keep business running as usual.
• Use Instagram to sell products. Shopping doesn’t have to stop when foot traffic does. Post products on Instagram stories, and allow customers to DM if they would like to make a purchase. Check out how local Austin boutique Hemline is keeping afloat using this method.

• Host an event online. Recognize that users are craving entertainment while quarantined at home. If you had a store opening, product launch, or anniversary celebration planned, move it Facebook or Instagram Live. Offer a discount code to the first 50 people who share the live stream of your event.
• Promote your gift cards. Gift cards are the perfect way to get an immediate infusion of cash and guarantee customers will return in the future. If you are a restaurant or business that operates on small margins, gift cards can help you stay afloat until the crisis ends. Offer an e-gift card option to reduce human contact.
• Utilize discounts. Now is the time to use discounts to entice long-term sales. Take a hint from Dallas gym The PilatesBarre, who recently had a quarantine blowout sale, pricing their usual $35 classes for $17 when customers bought in bulk.

As our economy enters uncertain territory, it’s now more important than ever to focus on customer retention. While your consumers may have less disposable income in the meantime, nurturing relationships with them will ensure they are loyal after the crisis passes.

Here we are, two weeks into April and months into a seemingly endless pandemic. For those of us who have gotten bored in quarantine, here are some ideas for inspiration.

Social distancing shouldn’t damper your special day. Whether you are turning 21 or 55, inviting guests to virtually celebrate will serve as a distraction from a national pandemic. The traditional birthday party is over. Instead, with a little creativity, birthday magic is still possible. Here are two applications you should use to have the best birthday in quarantine.

Instagram Live views increased by 70 percent in the first week of April. Fitness gurus, foodies, and celebrities are all utilizing Instagram’s Live feature to create some sense of community during the quarantine. With screen time hitting an all-time high during quarantine, will this be the “new normal” after restrictions are lifted? Will the increased use of Instagram Live and screen time extend to other facets of our daily life?

If your organization already has an Instagram for Business account, it is likely full of untapped potential. Instagram offers companies a unique opportunity, for example, to grow their consumer base and drive up sales.

With gyms closed and ample free time to eat, the “quarantine 15” is hitting some people hard. It may seem like the only source of entertainment these days is eating. Without open gyms and work-out classes, you may be finding it harder than ever to find the motivation to get active. With all this free time though, now is the perfect time to get in shape. There are many different ways you can get active and in shape. Whether it is a walk outside, a live Instagram workout video, or an at-home workout app, all are great options to stay healthy. I love workout apps because they are easy and can be used from the convenience of your own home. Here are the best at-home workout apps for quarantine! 

For many industries, stay-at-home orders are catastrophic for the health of businesses. While some companies will not be able to survive this pandemic, others have been able to pivot their operations to become more creative in quarantine. Keep reading to find some hope, whether you are a small business owner or simply wanting to see your favorite boutiques again when normal life returns. Here are some examples of how companies are staying relevant despite the odds.

Examples of Companies Staying Creative in Quarantine

1. ESPN – While ESPN does not come to mind when thinking of struggling businesses, the lack of sports this spring, summer, and likely fall is detrimental to the network’s viewership. Not to mention, without live sports, ESPN loses all income from advertisements. ESPN is being creative in quarantine by utilizing it’s “There’s No Place Like Sports” campaign and launched a new commercial. The goal was to bring together the sports community and show fans that ESPN is experiencing the same emotions. Also, ESPN has been airing its host of sports documentaries. ESPN is also premiering its exclusive 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan this month.
2. The Walt Disney Company – With the recent launch of Disney+, the company has been able to build momentum through this platform. They surprised Disney fans by releasing the beloved Frozen II onto Disney+ months earlier than planned. Another way Disney has been able to stay creative in quarantine is by bolstering its “Virtual Disney World” YouTube channel. This gives fans a virtual ride experience at home since all of the company’s theme parks are closed.
3. Asian Mint – This local Dallas restaurant has launched “Chef Mint at Home,” an innovative cooking kit. The restaurant is providing customers with this option so they can create their favorite Asian Mint recipes at home. This is a great way for local restaurants to engage with the community and give families a fun activity.

To see more inspiring examples of companies staying optimistic and creative in quarantine, click here to read AdWeeks’s article.

Three Ways to Use Visual Content on Social Media

Social media plays a vital role in today’s digital marketing. The common saying is a picture is worth 1,000 words. Photographs, videos and GIFs are worth more, because without them, your 1,000 words may never be seen. Visual content on social media is key for your digital marketing success.

Below are three reasons why you should integrate visual media within your content and how you can get started doing so.

Consumers Prefer Visuals 

When you are scrolling through Facebook or Twitter, what makes you stop and look further into a post? The visual element is what makes you pause and review the content. Online consumers can only retain 15% of the information they read or hear about. However, when paired with visual elements, the information that is retained suddenly increases to 65%. Pictures break up the text on your feeds and guide your eyes. Any information that can be processed faster will take priority in grabbing a person’s attention. Individuals on digital platforms are more willing to engage with visual content on social media.

Visual Content is Understandable and Relatable 

Visual media helps readers understand information. Viewers are able to develop their own perception of the content. It may spark a memory in the viewer; they are likely to remember the content for much longer than a boring headline. Video content is one of the most important visual aspects in digital marketing. Four times as many consumers would rather watch a video about a product than read about it. The Interactive Advertising Bureau found that 95% of individuals say they share visual content on social media with others. 

Increased Views and Boosted Engagement 

High-quality visual content included in your digital marketing efforts can generate more likes, shares and comments than a simple text would. Your social media content will generate 94% more views if it contains visual elements. It becomes possible to attract the necessary attention to get your message to your target audience. Your social media post views can increase by 48% if they contain both images and videos. Utilize visual content on social media to ensure the message has reached your audience accordingly.

The integration of visual elements within social media posts is a sure way to capture the attention of consumers; it will make your content relatable to the customer. This is the perfect way to capture the attention of your audience.

According to recent quarter evaluations, the CO-VID 19 pandemic has brought about a significant increase in Internet usage worldwide. Since nearly all people have been affected by coronavirus and asked to stay home, this information may seem unsurprising. However, there are many increasingly popular online trends that couldn’t have been foreseen. The pandemic has prompted many unusual habits, though the most evident changes in human behavior can be found online.

Sometimes social media can be an unwelcoming place. But, in the midst of a global pandemic, the positive side of social media can help people connect and act as a tool for good.

Recently, President Trump announced social distancing will continue until April 30th. Because of this, the new normal for employees is working from home. For many, this sets forth a stressful experiment. Living rooms have turned into conference rooms and kitchen tables have turned into personal work spaces. With another month working virtually, here are essential tips for working from home during COVID-19.

Morphe’s Founding

While Morphe Cosmetics has spent a long time in the limelight because of its influencer marketing, it is a relatively new company founded in 2008. The brother-sister duo, Chris and Linda Tawil founded Morphe to sell makeup brushes in Los Angeles before expanding to eyeshadow, face makeup, fake nails, and more. The company was founded to make high-quality makeup products at a lower cost to expand consumer access to superior makeup products.

Staying productive during quarantine is very difficult. For many people, working from home is not the norm. There are so many distractions at home, making it almost impossible to stay productive. But it’s time to accept that working from home is our new normal for the time being. Here are a few tips to help you stay productive!

Struggling to keep your team together as your business implements full-time remote work policies? Keep reading to learn some smart ways to keep your employees engaged in their jobs.

Although remote work was relatively common in some industries, many companies were not prepared for the sudden transition to a fully remote workforce. Additionally, most families are quarantined in their homes together. This brings about a whole new set of distractions that are absent from the normal work environment. Here are some expert tips to keep your team engaged during Coronavirus.

Tips to Keep Your Team Engaged During Coronavirus

• Keep everyone updated. Clear, consistent communication is critical to the success of a fully remote team. Ensure you have multiple ways to reach employees, and prepare motivating updates to be shared via multiple channels. Ultimately, err on the side of over-communication.
• Get everyone on video. With video conferencing tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, it’s easy to keep a regular meeting schedule. Encourage everyone to turn on their cameras to get that much-needed face-to-face interaction and focus. Schedule meetings in advance to be sure everyone has time to get out of their pajamas.
• Avoid micromanaging. Engaging your remote workers begins with a high-trust culture. Resist the tempting urge to check in constantly. Keep communication channels open, but let your team work autonomously.
• Obtain employee feedback. Set up a mechanism that allows employees to tell you what’s working and what isn’t. Although you may already monitor team feedback, increase your efforts to learn how you can best help your remote group.

Despite the challenges of this new normal, it’s important to keep your team as connected as possible. Overall, be kind to everyone as they make this transition. Employ sensitivity, and remind your workforce that we are all in this together. For more tips on how to keep your team engaged during Coronavirus, check out the Harvard Business Review’s comprehensive guide.

These past few weeks have been a trying time for all. College students and professionals in the workplace are having to navigate working from home. The new work-life is all about working from home. That means utilizing Zoom and other video conference platforms to continue working in these unprecedented circumstances.

“The time for buying stuff for the sake of it is over,” said rag & bone CEO Marcus Wainwright in a letter to loyal customers. Rag & bone is one of many retailers that cut prices 20 to 75 percent to take action during this pandemic. They are not the only ones. Brands worldwide are reevaluating their mission and how they can best serve the public during this time. Wainwright is one of many retailer CEOs that is sending strong messaging to consumers showing how their brand is working with this new normal.