These are strange times we’re living in.
We’re all just trying to figure out what to do next, one day and one problem at a time.
One thing is for sure: we’ll all be practicing social distancing for the foreseeable future – and possibly quite some time.
The shutdown likely has some impacts for your work and your website. With everyone staying home, your website is now your primary way to communicate with your customer base.
Here are a few things you might want to think about while you’re at home for the next few weeks.
Add A Change Of Status Announcement
Many of my clients are adding an announcement to their front page, as well as their footer or sidebar, announcing any changes to their business at this time.
Perhaps you have:
- Closed your storefront, but are still providing curbside pickup
- Closed your office, but are still taking virtual video appointments
- Reduced your hours
- Changed the number of clients allowed at any time, or the way clients should queue or pay for purchases.
For any of these, you’ll likely want to add a prominent message to your website notifying your customers of the changes.
Update your website
Since your website is now your primary external face for your company, you’ll want to make sure everything is up to date, stable, and accurate. That means updating any text and messaging to make sure it reflects your current status, offerings, and goals.
It also means making sure your back end software is up to date. Now is not the time to have a website outage due to an incompatibility or security problem!
If your site needs a software update, then maybe it’s also time to consider moving to Gutenberg, the new editor released with WordPress 5.0. Many WordPress users elected to stay with the old editor when it was released last year, but it’s been proven to be very stable and it’s also kind of fun. If you have free time because you’re stuck at home, then upgrading your site and spending a little time learning Gutenberg might be a good way to make sure your site is up to date.
You can learn a few Gutenberg basics in my Intro to Gutenburg blog post.
Add an Online Storefront
No one is sure how long the shutdown will last; fingers crossed it is only a couple of weeks.
But if social distancing and store closures are extended, then consider adding a storefront to your website.
It’s a big step, but it’s one way you can continue to keep your business afloat while we’re all struggling to figure out how to work remotely. An online shop could:
- sell online classes
- sell gift certificates for use after the shutdown
- sell online consultations and workshops
- sell your physical items in a safe manner
Just something to think about if we end up in an extended shutdown period.
Get in Touch
I’ve been helping clients with site updates and notifications all week, and so I wanted to remind anyone in the same boat that it might be time to make sure your website is quarantine-ready.
If you need any assistance with your site this week, I’m around and still working – please give me a shout at lynn@sweetsmartdesign and I’d be happy to help.
Hope you are all healthy and staying safe!
