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With a second wave of this pandemic looming, And the soon to be stay-at-home orders around the country. COVID-19 is teaching us some hard lessons, and the businesses that learn quickly are those that’ll stay afloat. These measures are quickly transforming our cities into eerie ghost towns. Recently the government had shut down most nonessential businesses, and the few left operating had to survive with little-to-no foot traffic. Now with a second wave on the horizon, will your business resist?

While your business might have been the go-to choice for many of your clients before, it now needs to adapt to the impacts of the coronavirus. Now, small businesses must compete for sales in a completely new environment: the digital world.

In the digital landscape, your business can thrive amidst social distancing orders and mandatory store closures. An online presence empowers you to engage customers, make revenue, keep workers employed, and ultimately keep your business alive – pandemic or no pandemic.

An online presence is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s a need-to-have.

Businesses who had an online presence before COVID-19 already had an astronomic advantage. Because while your storefront may have been complete with a wonderful display of your products and the friendliest of staff, that didn’t really do you any good if you were closed. This is where the importance of having a quality website comes into play. The beauty and presentation of your storefront needs to be translated into a website that represents the style and values of your brand. Additionally, just like how customer service is a top business priority, a proper professional website is intrinsic to the experience of your browsers. Most importantly, you want to take advantage of any sale you can get. Showing your customers that despite our global state you’re still operating business as usual on your website with another way to secure a purchase. And in a world with ample competition, you’ll want to take advantage of every opportunity you get, because if you’re not online to grab that sale, your competitors most definitely are.

This might be the perfect time to begin with e-commerce for your business.

COVID-19 proves that every business needs an online presence. Whether you like it or not, the world (even without the coronavirus) was already becoming more connected digitally than it was physically. A digital presence is essential to staying relevant and connected to your customers even if you don’t sell goods online. You will need to future-proof your business by establishing yourself online. It will not only help you through this pandemic, but it’ll also forever improve the way you engage with your customers in real-life and digitally. Even if COVID-19 hasn’t affected your brick and mortar business personally, it will in the future as its drastic effect on consumerism continues to heavily favor the rapidly expanding platform of online businesses.

There is no need to become another sad statistic of yet another closed business. We understand that businesses are trying to navigate through a very tricky time and we want to help.

We are there to help you every step of the way both:

Financially: We offer the option of paying in several payments with no interest.

Technically: We stay on to help for as long as you need us. You are never left alone and have our support and expertise when you most need it.

If you have any questions about how RSMEDIA can help your business,
please contact us online or call us at 514-258-5112.

Give us a shout before it’s too late… – We’re happy to talk to you !

According to Research, 59% of adults age 65 and older are online, and 46% of those adults are using social media.

Despite the myth that older people can’t manage technology because of cognitive deficits, seniors are flocking to social media at a rapid pace. In fact, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ (and Hangouts), Pinterest, and Instagram all note higher adoption rates among adults 65 and older ─ and see seniors as their fastest growing audience.

Seniors Benefit Socially, Mentally, and Physically

Older adults who have had positive experiences on social media have reported elevated moods. An American Psychological Association (APA) study found that seniors who spend time on social media sites were more likely to participate in activities that can lead to greater health, such as cooking healthier recipes, and finding easier ways to clean and maintain their homes. The study also indicates that they have lower blood pressure and fewer instances of diabetes, and less negative health habits such as smoking, depression, or disease. This is attributed to the ability for self-education on any number of topics, and remaining in-the-know about the latest technology trends.

Social Media Keeps the Family Together

Facebook is particularly useful for linking up with loved ones. It makes for more frequent conversations and helps close the generation gap. Sharing current photos allows seniors to see their grandchildren change and grow, and creates a closeness and involvement that may not have existed, especially if the family isn’t living close by. Video chats also are a great way to communicate in “real time”. There is also the opportunity to relive fond memories or create new ones through postings of photos and home videos.

Family Peace of Mind

When a family lives apart, there can be stress and anxiety on both ends. Social media allows seniors and their families an easy way to check in as often as they wish. This is especially important if the senior is living alone and may experience ill health, a fall, or may not be eating or sleeping well, taking medications, or getting any form of exercise. Family caregivers can use social media to ask critical questions that will let them know what’s occurring in their loved one’s life.

Community Engagement and a Sense of Belonging

Feeling connected is very important to any senior’s wellbeing. Social media allows the senior to make plans with others to meet up outside of the home. It also allows seniors who are unable to leave home to socialize online to combat loneliness.

Shopping Online offers Convenience and Savings

Even if a senior can’t venture out of the home – due to physical limitations, inability to drive, or inclement weather, for example – he or she can always shop online and enjoy the ease of home delivery. In addition, there are lots of money-saving coupons and online sales, which can be especially convenient and sensible for those who are penny-pinchers or on a fixed income.

Some Precautions Should Be Taken

As a caregiver, you may want to monitor the senior’s activities. You may want to make sure that the loved one is not falling for phishing scams and the like. You may also want to make sure they are connecting with trustworthy people – especially if they are conversing in chat rooms and through blogs. Also watch their monetary spending – you don’t want your senior overspending on items they don’t need.