Staying connected to your customers has never been more critical. It can be difficult, especially right now, to close the distance between you and your customers. But there's a lot you can do to stay connected, especially on social media. Check out some ways you can use social media to keep connected to your consumers.

Post Updates

Keep your audience informed of any changes or updates that you're making during this time. If you have new hours or decide to temporarily close, be sure to tell your customers. They want to know what's happening with your business during this time, and social media is one of the best ways to keep them updated. It's quick and allows you to make updates in real-time as needed.

Respond

One of the best ways to connect with your consumers is to interact with them. Be sure to reply to any comments that they make and answer the questions that they have. You might take this time to flesh out more of your business's personality. Switch it up and use GIFs or memes when it's appropriate. This will keep your audience engaged and help lighten the mood of an unfortunate situation.

Go Live

Facebook and Instagram Live are both fantastic ways to reach your audience on an informal level. Try holding a Q&A for your customers and answer any questions they might have for your business. You could even show a behind-the-scenes look of what you're doing while this crisis is happening or conduct a How-To live video. For example, a professional cleaning business could show their audience how to organize a closet. This allows you to communicate with your audience and showcase your industry expertise. It will also give your audience something productive to do while they are potentially stuck at home.

Use Stories

Mix up the ways you reach your audience by using Stories. Instagram and Facebook both offer different types of stories. Try creating a poll or a quiz for your audience. For instance, an HVAC company could create a quiz that asks various questions from their audience, like how often they change their air filters. This is a great way to get direct feedback from your audience, and you can use it to create more specific content in the future. It will also help you engage with your audience on a different level and have a little fun with them.

Social distancing is important, but connecting with your consumers doesn't have to stop. Try the tools above, and connect with your audience today!

Dani James is a Marketing Specialist and writer for Atwill Media. She has a bachelor's degree in Strategic Communications from Arkansas State University with focuses in Public Relations, Advertising, and Social Media Management.

When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading a good book, and watching The Office.