Helping your business through COVID-19

We know this is a difficult time for people everywhere, including small business owners. We want to help. We’ve gathered some useful resources to help your business navigate these challenging times.

Google commits $800M+ in COVID-19 response efforts. Read more

Steps you can take today

Keep your customers informed
You may need to adjust your business operations during this time. This could mean changing your hours, temporarily closing, or changing the types of products and services you offer.

Make sure to share this updated information on all of your online channels, like your website, Business Profile on Google and social media channels.
Update your Business Profile on Google

Update hours or status

Edit your hours or mark your business as “temporarily closed” if needed.

Confirm phone number

Double-check your phone number and turn on messaging to make sure customers can reach you.

Post updates

Use Posts to communicate timely information, like delivery options or inventory updates.

Add or edit attributes

If you’re a restaurant offering delivery or takeout, mark these services on your profile
Note: To protect the health and safety of our team members during COVID-19, we are operating with limited support. Find out more here.
Resources

Provide customers with updated information on Google
Adjust your advertising
As this situation evolves and customer behavior changes, online advertising is one way to keep your current and potential customers up to date. With Google Ads, you can communicate the information that you think is most relevant to them during this time, like changes to your offerings, inventory, or hours.

Google Ads has built-in automated solutions that will help optimize your ad campaigns to show the right message to the right user, at the right time. To ensure your advertising is reflecting your business priorities, you may also want to update your Google Ads campaigns.
Update your Google Ads campaigns

Edit your ads

Edit your ads to show customers your current offerings.

Adjust your budget

Adjust your budget or pause any relevant ads, if needed.

Get the Google Ads app

Download the mobile app (iOS, Android) to stay connected to your campaigns.
Resources

Navigating your campaigns through COVID-19

Source:
Google Ads

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Continue to adapt to new customer behavior
Customer behavior is changing with new regulations, so you may be wondering what your specific customers need from a business like yours right now. Consider asking them directly via your social media channels, or using tools like Google Trends and Google Alerts for insight into your local market or industry.

You may also be looking to shift some of your products or services online. Start by thinking about what value you offer your customers. Are there ways for you to offer that value in a different format or online channel? For example:

A retailer with a brick and mortar shop might sell products online

A restaurant might offer online ordering for pickup and delivery

A personal trainer might begin virtual training sessions for clients

An artist might host a YouTube Livestream to teach classes

If you do not have a website for your business, start by getting a domain and exploring options for building a website. Your website can be simple – just make sure you include key information about your business and how potential customers can contact you.

If you are interested in exploring online food ordering options for your restaurant, consider trying The Ordering.app, which is now part of Google. It can help you to quickly get your menu online and integrates easily with select POS (point of sale) systems.

You can also consider starting a free YouTube channel for your business. You can create videos to introduce your business, showcase what’s great about your products or services or teach customers how to do something new.
Resources

Create a free YouTube channel for your business

Source:
YouTube
Run your business remotely
You and your team may already be working remotely, or you may be preparing for that possibility in the future. Try these digital tools to help you and your team stay connected and productive from afar.
Collaborate with your co-workers using a shared document, a video meeting or by creating an email list or a chat room.

Make sure you’re able to access important documents from anywhere by uploading them to the cloud through a product like Google Drive or downloading to your mobile phone or computer for offline access.

If you’re using Chromebooks, ensure your devices have the right policies in place to access company resources from home and to keep devices and data secure.