Is COVID-19 Effecting Your Business? Setup A Health Notification.
Add a Health Notification to Your Website the easy way.
People are spooked right now about the coronavirus and it effecting businesses.
As Plumbers or carpet contractors, who enter people’s homes, it’s especially important to be mindful of concerns customers may have.
Adding a notification on your website is a simple way to communicate your sanitation efforts and join our efforts to defend against the virus.
And the best part, these notifications can be setup within minutes with a simple WordPress plugin.
Setup a Cookie Notice Plugin for Every Notice
Over the last couple years many plugins have been created to support European laws around website tracking and cookies.
These plugins are easy to use and can you can add any type of notification you want.
This website uses the Cookie Notice Plugin which has plenty customization options.
Main Features
- Ability to display notifications on top or bottom of website.
- Ability to link to supporting pages.
- Let’s you customize colors.
- Free to use
Downloading Cookie Notice for WordPress
Login to your WordPress dashboard, click “plugins”, click “add-new”.
Next, on the following screen type in “cookie notice” in the search bar. Then select the plugin that says “Cookie Notice for GDPR & CCPA”. You’ll see it has more than 1 million active downloads and over 2,400 five-star reviews.
Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”.
Customize Your Notifications
From the WordPress Dashboard click on “Settings” and then “Cookie Notice”.
Write Your Notification Message
Next to “Message” you can write whatever notification that you will deem appropriate for your area and market.
Button Text
You can customize the text on the button that will make your notification disappear.
Privacy Policy
You can click “Enable Privacy Policy Link” if you want to redirect users to another page on your website.
Many local businesses have created new pages on their websites which go into detail explaining what they have done in response to the COVID-19 threat (more on that below).
Colors
Towards the bottom of the plugin you’ll see options to change the Text Color and Bar Color of your notification. (Red gives a natural feeling of urgency but any color is fine.)
Click “Save Changes” and you’re set!
Please note it sometimes takes a couple minutes for the plugin to refresh. You will need to use a new browser, with no cookies, in order for you to see the notification live on your website.
Create Your “Learn More” Page
Here are some examples of emails and social media posts my team has recently seen involving small businesses and the coronavirus.
What I like about all these messages is that they convey a sense of personality that’s appropriate to each business.
(Breakfast Restaurant)
(Barber Shop)
(Brazilian Jiu Jitsu School)
Tastefully Promoting Indoor Air Quality
In this situation, people will want to increase their air quality in times like this.
Promoting your services in “troubling times” can be extremely distasteful and your business can appear insensitive if you do this incorrectly.
A email I’ve received from Verizon, I believe, hits the right note of concern while highlighting a product they offer.
Here is a screenshot of that message:
This type of message is perfect to let your customers know about the air quality solutions you offer.
End In A Good Note
Watching the news about what’s happening in our country and abroad can give a rise of concern.
As small local business owners, we are the foundation of the American economy. It’s important for us to respond in a good manner to the threat we face. We need to keep our employees and customers safe and healthy.
Communication with customers online is a great way to build solidarity in the country, to humanize your business, and put people at ease.
In my opinion, I see it as an opportunity, and its also just happens to be the right thing to do.