Social Selling in 2020

Are You Missing Out On This Powerful Digital Sales Strategy?

If there is one thing 2020 has taught business owners thus far, it is this: social media is no longer just a place people go to be social.

The social platforms of 2020 have become a literal lifeline that keeps us connected in the wake of an unexpected global pandemic.

For individuals, social media is a way to find out if a business is open, what inventory looks like and how to procure the products or services they need.

For businesses, social feeds offer safe contact-less communications, shopping and even payment options for existing and new customers.

This unprecedented online e-commerce landscape has transformed social selling from a trendy marketing concept into a powerhouse practice with a direct impact on your bottom line.

In this timely blog post, learn how social selling can add value to your products and services and enhance the impact of this year's contact-less business model.

What Is Social Selling?

The easiest way to understand social selling is to recall the old school business model of the door-to-door salesperson.

You proactively show up for your customer. You start with a warm hello. You shake hands. You have a conversation. You answer questions patiently and only as they come up.

You share information that is interesting, timely and engaging - information your prospective customer wouldn't have even known to inquire about.

Only instead of doing this while standing on the front porch, you are doing this online via your company's social feeds.

Social selling is the direct opposite of now-unpopular tactics like cold-calling and the nameless, faceless online transactional sale.

Social selling is customer-driven, customer-focused and completely devoid of the "hard sell." This is soft selling at its finest and most nuanced.

Does Social Selling Work?

Here, we can let the numbers speak for themselves.

Consider this: According to Google, nearly half of all decision-makers are in the same age bracket as the single largest demographic for social media use.

So guess where at least half of your customer prospects are at any given time?

If you just guessed "on social platforms" you are already starting to understand why we are devoting this entire blog post to social selling.

A whopping 90 percent of corporate decision-makers will never even consider responding to an old-fashioned cold call (and if they do, you will have to call at least eight times, on average, before you get a response).

Yuck. Talk about a time-waster.

Look in your wallet right now. Do you have a dollar?

If you spend that dollar on social selling, you just turned it into five dollars. That is the typical impact of investing in social media-based selling strategies instead.

Social selling works.  It works regardless of whether a customer is physically willing or able to visit your brick-and-mortar business.

In fact, even if a customer does choose to order from you locally, chances are high (like 97 percent high) that the customer has visited your social feeds as well as your website first.

How Do You Get Started With Social Selling?

If you just thought to yourself, "I have no idea," not to worry. You are in very good company.

The truth is, the vast majority of sales professionals lack the kind of deep-dive understanding of social selling that could achieve the level of return on investment we just described in the previous section.

This is because, as "Outliers" best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell explains, it takes 10,000 hours of study to achieve mastery of a new skill.

And if you just thought to yourself, "10,000 hours?! I don't have 10,000 hours to learn how to do social selling!," then perhaps we can help.

Social Selling Quick Start Guide

This quick start guide won't replace those 10,000 hours, but it will at least get you started down the path

P.S. Be sure to read through to the end for an even quicker "QUICK START" into profitable social selling.

1. Choose your primary social platform(s)

Depending on your industry, product or service and customer demographic, this may point you to LinkedIn versus Instagram, Tiktok versus Facebook.

It is fine to select multiple platforms to target. Just make sure you have time and staff to maintain a consistent, responsive presence on each feed.

2. Brand consistently

When a prospect visits you online, you want them to know it is really you. Colours, logos, slogan - make sure it all matches up.

3. Find and follow industry influencers and "wish list" customers

Think of this part like you are that door-to-door salesperson who shows up and knocks on the door. Only you are doing it online.

(There are lots of tools to help you identify the right folks to follow, by the way.)

4. Set your notifications to instant alert so you don't miss a chance to interact

Each feed will allow you to customize your notifications. (HINT: You want all the notifications to be on.)

5. Begin posting and sharing relevant, "non-salesy", high-value content

Oddly, this is the part most people still stumble over. Just because you are now connecting with your prospects online doesn't mean you want to start out with your most aggressive sales pitch.

You want to develop trust. Build a relationship. Create rapport. Make new friends....who may in time become new loyal customers and even referral sources.

Need Help With Social Selling (And Need it Yesterday)?

We understand that the pandemic has placed many local businesses in the precarious position of having to pivot yesterday.

You don't have to panic. We can help. From social branding to content creation to lead generation and conversion, we've got you covered. Find out about next steps.

Get in Touch with Your OSM Team

Here at OSM Online Sales & Marketing, we are open and ready to provide your business with the support you need to stay profitable during the pandemic.

Click here for updated COVID-19 contact options.

Branding During The 2020 Pandemic

Are You Meeting Your Online Customers Where They Are?

To put it bluntly, we haven't had a true global pandemic since 1918.

The internet didn't even exist in 1918.

A lot of things didn't exist then that are indispensable now.

When it comes to marketing during pandemic times, this is definitely a good thing!

Don't Go Dark: Your Branding Must Go On!

It can feel tempting to switch into "maintenance" mode until we see how the pandemic progress plays out, however, the Advertising Research Foundation says this is a big, BIG mistake - warning that going dark for any length of time can set your market share back by five years.

Five YEARS.

You worked hard to build your market share. Your customers still need you. They may not need you right at this very moment, but they will need you again. Soon.

Instead, make your goal a two-fold one:

1. Survive this temporary economic downturn (with emphasis on "survive").

You just need to get through it. It will pass.

2. Start planning now to increase market share as soon as the tide turns.

It will turn. When it turns, will your brand be ready?

Marketing Looks Different Right Now, But the Need to Do Marketing Remains the Same

Marketing during the pandemic age is different from marketing during business-as-usual.

Your customers are scared. How do you know?

Have you felt scared, as you've watched global events unfold with disbelieving eyes? If you answered "yes" for even five seconds, you can know you and your customers are much more alike than different.

So ask yourself what you need right now to feel better. Safer. Smarter. More secure.

It might not be information about the specific products/services your company produces or it might be information that is related to those products/services.

Here, don't think direct line-of-sight related. Think six degrees of separation related.

Is there any angle at all in your company's product or service line that relates back to the central core issues on every single human being's mind today? If you look deliberately, you will see the connections.

This might not feel like traditional marketing to you. The truth is, it isn't traditional marketing.

But it IS marketing. Marketing is anything that keeps your brand in front of consumer eyes.

Right now, strategic marketing is anything service-oriented, genuine and compassionate that your customers need now and will remember later.

Use the Tools You've Got to Connect and Continue Connecting

According to the World Federation of Advertisers, 81 percent of brands - including Google - have put some or all of their marketing activities on hold, slashing budgets by half or greater while the pandemic times play out.

But if you carefully read the fine print in this report, you notice something significant.

79 percent of those same brands have shifted their marketing efforts towards service-oriented messages targeting their existing customer bases.

Of the companies represented in the survey, 98 percent are committing to moving forward with marketing efforts, even if those efforts are an abrupt departure from what was previously planned for this year at this time.

In other words, companies are pivoting quickly and concisely to do more with less.

Marketers are finding creative avenues to use what they have to speak directly to what matters most to their consumers.

Free (Or Nearly Free) Marketing Tools You Can Use RIGHT NOW

Social media has become a huge connection point for consumers, suppliers, vendors and companies worldwide.

Social media is safe, speedy and eminently shareable. It gives you real-time connection with your consumers to address questions and concerns, provide updates and express compassion and empathy.

If you don't have a company blog, now is a great time to start one and link it to your social feeds on YouTube and elsewhere.

Here are just a few examples of how some of our thriving business clients have pivoted to use social media and blogging effectively during the pandemic.

Mackay Insurance Brokers

One of our business clients has started sharing videos of themselves working from home, offering messages of hope and encouragement to customers who are similarly sheltering in place while providing updates on how they can be reached during the pandemic.

SHIPTONS HEATING & COOLING

Another one of our business clients has begun making donations on behalf of coronavirus victims every time a customer makes a purchase.

Picton Golf & Country Club

Yet another one of our business clients is sharing information about how to recreate safely during this unusual summer season.

These creative branding campaigns are genuine, heartfelt and transparent. You won't see any fancy footwork or slick strategy in this type of messaging...thank goodness!

What every one of us needs right now is exactly the opposite. What we need instead is simply this: real people talking to real people about the all-too-real things that are going on right here, right now.

It Is Not Too Late to Relaunch Your Brand Strategy

If your business has put your marketing and branding efforts on hold, it is not too late to rethink this approach and re-launch your campaign.

Perhaps you don't have the money or the human-power you were anticipating when you originally crafted your 2020 marketing strategy.

This is okay. You are in good company.

Instead, work with what you've got. Prioritize based on walking a mile in your customer's shoes.

What would you most appreciate hearing, knowing or receiving if you were them? How can you give your customers, vendors, suppliers and staff something extra and supportive that they will remember long after this pandemic has passed us by?

Then do that. Give that. 

Join The Conversation

Is it time to take your brand identity for the ride of a lifetime? Smart pivoting now can position you for success and even stronger market share in the days and months to come. Need some advice on how to get started? Contact us online or give us a call at 613-969-0626 and we would be happy to point you in the right direction! 

Located in Belleville, Ontario, our team of creative professionals are in the market of getting your name out, telling your story and setting you apart from the crowd. We have worked with both small and large companies, continuing to grow their business amidst the global pandemic in healthy and successful ways!

We would love for you to join the conversation!

4 Key Website Pivots to Stay Profitable During COVID-19

From marketing to sales, supply chain to customer service, the unexpected global pandemic has impacted every single area of business operations today.

Companies that are surviving the COVID-19 marketplace slowdown are pivoting like crazy, working hard with what they've got and getting creative about how they reposition themselves in the new online economy.

One fact that tends to get lost in the chaos is this: customers, like company owners, are also pivoting madly!

Your customers are trying to figure out new ways to continue receiving the essential products and services they need while cutting back wherever they can to adjust for limited work opportunities.

This means that they are naturally going to search for you online. After all, if new and existing customers cannot easily or safely visit you in person, guess where they are going to try to find you instead?

That's right - your website. So you need to meet them there with online offerings that are affordable, solutions-focused, service-oriented and - most importantly - exactly WHAT they need WHEN they need it.

Is your website ready for its big chance to shine? Make these four key online pivots and it will be!

1. Do these 3 things to clearly communicate how your customers can reach you.

Many of the small businesses we serve have customers in several different demographics and age brackets. It nearly goes without saying that younger millennial customers will naturally seek you out online, and likely on their small-screen mobile devices.

This means the first thing you need to do is make absolutely sure that your website is mobile-friendly. This is a MUST to survive in our new pandemic business model!

It is equally dangerous, however, to assume that all of your customers will have the comfort level and skill set to connect with you online. They may not feel at ease navigating the internet to find what they need on your website.

For these customers, you want to be proactive and reach out to them.

- Many businesses are spending time each day calling their customers personally to find out what they need. Other businesses are choosing to send texts or emails to customers to do the same.

A word of caution: if you choose this latter approach, just be sure the customer has given you prior permission to use their email or mobile number in this way. Alternately, make it clear this is a one-time customer care contact due to the pandemic.

- Post a message on your website (like this one) to let customers know exactly how to reach you. Include mobile numbers if you are working remotely. Share your email and check it twice per day and respond promptly.

2. Adapt your product and service offerings for a contact-less experience.

The next order of business is to make sure you are up and running with contact-less options that are appropriate to your business offerings and your customer's needs.

If you are not "tech savvy" about setting up online payments, then it is time to reach out for help in this area. You can't afford to wait.

Offering "door dash" type pickup or delivery service is another great way to serve your local customers in ways they feel safe interacting with you.

3. Provide extras, discounts or payment plans if at all possible.

Far too many customers as well as businesses right now are suffering financially on several levels.

While it may feel counter-intuitive to discount your products or services when you need every penny and dollar you can earn, in this type of unprecedented situation, some sales are better than no sales!

If you can afford to, consider offering hardship discounts or a payment plan option. Alternately, see if you can bundle together value-added extras with your staple services at no additional charge.

Another great option is to hold a contest, raffle, giveaway or other type of community service offering in exchange for something that is of value to you.

Ideas might include sharing your business on their social feeds, referring new customers to you, donating to a charitable cause you care about or something similar that fits with your business model.

As food for thought, here are two examples of ways two of our longtime small business customers chose to pivot successfully when the pandemic hit:

- One of our long-time small business customers in the HVAC industry made a hugely successful pivot and decided to run a summer contest to find the oldest still-working air conditioner in their service area and gift the owner with a free brand new air conditioner!

- Another one of our long-time air quality customers quickly pivoted and launched a successful discount program to take 10 percent off the cost of any of their indoor air duct cleaning and sanitizing services.

4. Deliver proactive five-star customer service and support.

Finally, if there is one thing your customers need more than they ever have before, it is white glove customer service and support.

And by "white glove" we don't just mean concierge-style pick and delivery options, spotless uniforms complete with matching masks and gloves or even contact-less estimates, invoicing and payment methods.

We mean kindness. Compassion. Empathy. Listening ears. Friendly words. Flexibility and understanding. Creativity to work with each customer's unique comfort level and needs. Going above and beyond in ways that will be remembered for years to come.

Every customer that calls or emails or texts or visits you (where it is safe to do so) is taking a risk, making a choice, doing a juggling act and likely saying no to something else they want or need to shop with you.

If you approach customer service from this perspective, then the potential payoff is HUGE - in fact, the customer relationships you form and strengthen right now may just lay the foundation for your profitable small business in years to come.

Contact OSM 

Contact our team of marketing strategists, creatives, developers and programmers today if you are interested in learning how your business can pivot during COVID-19. Visit us online or give us a call at 613-969-0626.

Right now, many small business owners are facing a near future where operating remotely is truly the only option to remain viable.

Even as Ontario slowly and cautiously begins to open back up, many workers are scared to re-engage with customers and vendors at former levels. On top of that, many business owners are scared to let them.

After pouring your heart and soul into your business growth, this situation may feel nothing short of heart-breaking. Have you come this far just to lose it all to an opponent no one can even see?

No, you haven't. This is a time to get creative - not a time to give up.

For as many businesses that are closing their doors each day, there are still many others that are finding fresh ways to operate, serve customers and reinvent themselves.

If you have the will, chances are there is a way. In order to navigate this rapidly changing business landscape successfully, you will absolutely need to avoid making THESE THREE MISTAKES:

Mistake #1: Believing You Don't Have the Skillset to Work Remotely

The first critical mistake new remote workers and companies frequently make is to assume that some people have what it takes to succeed when working remotely and other people do not. 

The truth is, when working remotely is our only option, we all have what it takes. We have to if we want to pay our rent, our mortgage and buy groceries to feed our families.

It’s important to understand that expecting yourself to do it perfectly might just set you up to fail. Expecting your workers to deliver perfect productivity right out of the starting gate is also setting them up to fail (and thus setting your company up to fail in the long run!).

Now is not the time to institute punitive standards and issue harsh threats. Now is the time to get creative, invite continual staff feedback, celebrate small successes and build teamwork like you have never built teamwork before.

By engaging and empowering each worker on your team, truly listening to their ideas, implementing as many as you can and doing whatever you can to ease their learning curve and meet their needs, you may just discover your greatest strengths as a company hiding in the unlikeliest of places.

Mistake #2: Burning Out Due to Poor Boundaries

The second critical mistake new remote workers and companies frequently make is to think the boundaries required to stay productive will somehow be adapted to automatically.

Just to be clear, boundaries are limits, divisions and dividing lines. Boundaries are what tell you that now is work time and later is personal time. Boundaries are also what tell your co-workers, family and friends that same important information.

It is easy for boundaries to stay clear when you leave your home each morning and go to another place to get work done. Then you come back later in the evening. Perhaps you do bring some work home here and there, but you do this work casually while juggling personal chores and family time.

But now you are working from home - the same place where your personal chores and your family members are also located.

So many new-to-remote-work workers make the mistake of thinking it will be easier to get your work done remotely.

After all, there will be no time-suck conference room meetings, no annoying gossipy coworkers popping by for a mid-morning vent, no walk-in customer or vendor traffic to disrupt your carefully planned daily schedule.

On the flip side, however, it can also become hard to know when to put your work away for the day. Working remotely can make separating out clear personal time from work time feel nearly impossible. You may even feel guilty about it!

Burnout is far more likely when your worksite and your home are in the same place. If you have ever felt burned out in the past, now is the time to remember how hard it was to recover, to refocus and feel productive and fulfilled at work again.

Take the time to actually set the boundaries you need to do your job from home. Post a daily schedule. Let your family know. Then do your best to stick to the boundaries you have set up. Your sanity (and your family) will end up thanking you for this kindness.

Mistake #3: Failing To Set Your Business Up for Remote Success

The third critical mistake new remote workers and companies frequently make is to try to cobble together a set of remote work tools without taking time to sit down and really consider what is needed by all.

Do you have clear and consistent online branding? How about professional business email addresses for each worker?

How speedy and responsive (or not) is your website? What does it look like on small screen devices? Is your site SEO optimized to make it easy for new customers to learn how to reach you and get their needs met?

What about your online marketing efforts? Do you have any? How well situated is your company to connect with existing customers who may not even know you are still in business? What about your online store? Do you have one yet?

And what are your plans to keep in contact with your remote work team? Do you have project management software or a business communication portal that makes collaboration, meetings and connecting simple, intuitive and easy?

If your answer to any of these questions is "I don't know" or "what does that mean?" it is time to get serious about organizing for remote workforce success.

Companies that do will position themselves for long-term growth in our collective uncertain future. You definitely want your company to be one of them!

Get in Touch

The age of the remote workforce is officially here. Need help making sure your company is set up for long-term success? Our team at OSM is here to find solutions that fit your business needs in today’s market. We understand that these uncertain times can be nerve-wracking and unpredictable, but we can assure you that we have a solution that fits your needs! Whether that be design, web hosting, marketing, blogging, SEO, paid media, email servicing or branding, our one stop digital agency can serve you! Just need to have a conversation on your marketing scheme and tactics? We offer consultations as well! Located in the Quinte region of Ontario, we are supporting business both locally and beyond!

Let us know how we can help build your brand and grow your business today! Contact us online or give us a call at 613-969-0626.

As it turns out, pyjamas are not just super-comfy. They can also be great for productivity.

As Inc. reports, working remotely can get more work out of the same workforce. It can cut overhead costs and boost creativity. It can empower workers to take ownership of their roles because they feel trusted and valued.

Plus, working remotely is good for the planet. With less smog comes more blue and green and even visible twinkling stars amid the city lights. It feels good to be kind to our world.

Still, there is no question that many individuals and businesses are struggling economically during the coronavirus crisis. If you are feeling stressed, honour that. You are not alone. It is normal. Take a deep breath. Take good care of yourself.

Then, rather than focusing on what you can't do right now, we invite you to use this blog post to brainstorm what you can do to take even better care of current clients and generate new business.

Dare to Do Things Differently

Have you heard of Goat 2 Meeting?

An enterprising animal sanctuary recently launched a, well, udderly unique way to bring in some extra business during the coronavirus quarantine. Several other similar charities quickly followed suit.

Looking for a surefire way to get all your remote workers to the Zoom meeting on time? Rent a goat! Or a llama. Or a donkey. Or an alligator.

We're not saying you should rent a farm animal, per se (although it is for a great cause).

But it might be time to take that zany idea you've been hoarding out of its time-out corner and launch it. You might just discover a whole new revenue stream you otherwise could have missed.

Reinvent Demand for What You Offer

To be honest, no one was that surprised when companies that supply hand sanitizer and face masks started to see huge spikes in demand.

But after bracing for the worst, some less obvious vendors found themselves pleasantly surprised by sales upticks.

For example, one small company that makes aloe vera gel, a necessary ingredient for homemade hand sanitizer, had to mobilize literally overnight as demand for the gel nearly outpaced existing stock.

Other pleasantly surprised businesses include photo editing apps, booksellers, gardening stores, delivery services, mail-order subscription boxes, home and garden supply stores, and phone headset manufacturers.

Could your business be next?

Resell What You Can't Use

Yet another way to repurpose your business strategy to stay in the black is to simply resell what you are not able to use.

Many restaurants have reinvented themselves as small mom-and-pop grocers, selling extra food stores they cannot use that would otherwise go to waste. Customers are drawn in by the chance to score premium-quality foods without the long lines and stress.

Distilleries have addressed the shortage of sanitizing supplies by brewing up hand sanitizer in their on-site distillery barrels.

Print out your existing inventory list, then look over the items and brainstorm other ways to use each. You may just land on a readymade market for those items close to home.

Rethink Your Storefront Model

You might think all “live event” businesses have gone belly-up in the wake of this extended quarantine period - doubly so for any businesses labelled non-essential.

But as we all know, what is non-essential to one person may be urgently needed by another.

Dog trainers have taken to YouTube to conduct virtual training seminars. Crafters are selling DIY homemade face mask kits by mail order. Bookstores are sending employees out to deliver book orders door to door.

Complementary companies are partnering up to create virtual retreats, teaching everything from jewelry making to gardening and canning.

Whether your new business-as-usual is an online storefront, a delivery service, virtual classes, or a brick-and-mortar pivot, it feels a lot better to spend your energy trying something new than sitting around worrying. And your own creativity might just surprise you into a big success.

Partner to Weather the Quarantine Together

In many areas, business owners are coming together to co-promote and support one another, pool inventory to create unique products and services, and reach out to their surrounding local customer bases to ask for help.

In one smaller artsy town, local businesses decided to co-launch a website to sell gift cards to local customers.

The website joint venture has also begun to serve as a hub for resource links and breaking news that affects small-business owners and workers, and local consumers.

Dig In and Do That Thing Only You Can Do

It is no small thing to sit at home, day after day after day, willing yourself to stay calm while you wait out these uncertain times.

But consider for a moment how often in the past you have wished for even just a bit of extra time to start an email newsletter or launch a blog or create a digital storefront or revamp your website or whatever it is to better support your business.

Now is your moment! Finally, you have that extra time you once thought would never arrive.

Even though it often doesn't seem as if it will ever end, this quarantine period will be gone at some point. How do you want to use this precious pocket of extra time?

Is there something you want to do, something only you can do, that just might change everything in your business and your life for the better?

Get in Touch

During this time, our staff are working remotely to remain safe and at your service. Do you need support to pivot your business quickly? Are you struggling to find the right words to let your customers and community know you are still here and you care?

We can help.

Please bookmark our UPDATE page so you will know how to contact us quickly via email or support ticket with any questions or requests.