HOW TO MANAGE YOUR COMMUNICATION IN 2021 AFTER DECONFINEMENT
The health crisis has pushed the world economy into recession. The covid-19 pandemic has forced entire industries to shut down. During this period, several companies remained virtually silent or kept distant contact with customers. At the time of deconfinement, economic activity must gradually return to normal. But one question torments business managers in particular: how to reestablish communication with staff, customers, and suppliers?
It is to this major concern that we will try to answer through this article.
ORGANIZE INTERNALLY
The coronavirus epidemic has resulted in partial unemployment within several major brands. Thus, to ensure the return to work and limit the number of absentees after deconfinement, the HRD should notify employees of the effective resumption of activities. Indeed, the pandemic has had a definite impact on the population. And to re-establish the link with customers, we must first establish an optimal schedule.
It is necessary to define. First, a new method to be adopted for the operation of the company. Thus, issuing a memo is adequate to inform all company staff of the date of resumption of activity. Once the latter is fixed, several options are available to you to initiate an information and discussion session with the staff.
- The first option, a webinar. Hold a 100% virtual visual exchange. It can bring together several people on the same platform. The most used application for webinars is Zoom. Very fluid, it delivers a good quality image. All members during this session can interact at the same time.
- The second virtual option is the creation of a forum on social networks like WhatsApp or Messenger. All the members gathered in a single group will be able to exchange by sending messages, written or vocal.
- The third option is to make a physical appointment. From this perspective, it requires each member to move to a meeting place. It is essential to respect the barrier gestures and put in place a complete process to protect employees.
During your meeting, for example, you can decide to increase the number of people in customer service and define new communication channels within the staff, between staff and customers, between staff and suppliers.
SOCIAL MEDIA TO RELAUNCH EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION
Once the communication strategy has been chosen, you must then take care of your audience. The goal here is to let your customers know that you are reachable again, ready to address and serve their concerns. As a result, several communication tools are at your fingertips to respond favorably to needs.
First, there is the sending of newsletters. If you have a listing mail, now is the time to send an email to all customers registered in your address book. It will be a short and simple message announcing your return and your availability. The most important thing is not to forget to schedule automatic messages. If you receive a large number of messages from your customers, a welcome reply will be sent to them automatically.
But that’s not all. If you have a page on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, it would be great to make your pages active. So start posting again. This will keep your audience in mind that you are back. You must also be active to respond to comments left by Internet users. The most important thing is to leave each time below your publications an address at which you can be reached. On the other hand, if your ads are rarely seen on the web, the best thing to do is to “boost” them. With a certain level of investment and a targeted audience, the job is done. You will be better referenced, and your ads will be optimized. For a better organization, we advise you to set up an editorial schedule.
Besides newsletters and social media pages, if you have a website, now is the time to engage with your audience. Publish articles and offer new services that will lead to your customers’ connections. For example, offer home delivery, discounts on each purchase.
BOOST YOUR COMMUNICATION IN THE MEDIA
After deconfinement, it is also possible to communicate using traditional media (radio or TV), because people confined to their homes have certainly reconnected with them. Even if they prove to be less effective than social networks, it is still worth a try. The main goal is to announce the reopening of your doors after deconfinement to generate traffic. To do this, you can solicit TV channels for advertising purposes. If possible, organize a press conference around your new services and products.
It is the same for radios or newspapers. An announcement about you could lead potential customers to contact you. The most important thing is to multiply your communication channels and specify each ad as a way to contact you. Furthermore, it should be noted that radio waves’ communication or television does not generate immediate feedback. Therefore, in the message that you will pass, do not forget to mention an address. The interested listener or viewer will take note of it and know how to reach you later. In terms of responsiveness, it is a different experience from what one can find in digital communication. But it is a solution so as not to be forgotten!
LAUNCH A NON-MEDIA COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN
Deconfinement allows everyone to go out and resume their activity, small groups are also allowed, on condition of not being more than 10 people, an opportunity for companies to organize an event campaign, before being able to s’ exhibit at fairs and shows. The latter could take place virtually to reach as many people as possible. This is a must-see when it comes to communicating with the public. During this event, talk about the new strategies implemented for consumers’ greatest satisfaction, the idea being to orchestrate small contests that will make the public more active.
Moreover, we can note that if the confinement was experienced by some as a moment of rest, for others, it was a very boring moment. During deconfinement, we could then observe a massive exit. Companies will be able to take advantage of this crowd to install urban posters, a good means of communication to improve their notoriety.
Also, the company can use a letterbox. This can take the form of petty cash on display in front of the company, which will collect the opinions of customers, a great initiative in terms of communication to measure the degree of satisfaction, and a good way to define a new strategy if the opinions are negative or particularly critical.
WHAT ABOUT THE PARTNERS?
After deconfinement, your suppliers and partners will not necessarily be informed of your activities’ resumption if they are not on the lookout for any information, particularly economic information. For this reason, you will have to re-establish contact once again. To avoid any stock shortage, the supplier must be contacted several days before the resumption of activity. A small note sent to the supplier will, therefore, be essential for a good recovery.
Managing communication after deconfinement is a task that promises to be quite complex. All employees of the company must participate in the relaunch of services in one way or another. Communication in this context can be summed up in three stages:
- First, it is necessary to establish communication with the company’s staff (internally): define the means of communication, ensure a good return to work, and limit the number of absentees.
- Second, once the company members are together, rationally choose the means of communication to communicate with customers (externally). Three means of external communication can be used.
- Third, communication with suppliers (externally) is crucial to avoid any shortage of stock and inconvenience. Finally, the partners in this plan must not be neglected.
Author Bio
Mukul Mahajan is one of the Directors and founder of Tetra Information Services Pvt Ltd. Company is focused on providing Cost-effective solutions to Corporates using Open source technologies.
