Your Website is Even More Important During Power Outages

The aftermath of Irene is a trying experience for most people living on the Shoreline.  But for many businesses, it has  been a disaster.  Without adequate communications between customers and business owners, customers desperately searching for  a  specific product or service  clog  the telephone lines with numerous questions, and more often than not, fail to obtain the information they want.

However, for businesses able to post even brief messages, the hurricane can be a wonderful opportunity to leverage their websites especially for the growing number of smart phone users  who “stayed connected” despite power outages.  And more important, unlike  places of business, websites are  accessible twenty-four hours around the clock.

An example of an effective message was posted by Petes Home and Hearth in Guilford notifying  potential customers that the store has full power and is open during normal business hours.

Suggestions for Effective Messages:

1. Retail Stores: List basic status information - hours of operation, operating with generator (yes/no), any limitation of services. Also let people know the stock situation of popular items.  For example a local sports store quickly ran out of batteries and flashlights. Rather than spending wasted time on the phone, they could could have posted this information on their website with an anticipated time of availability.  Many already frustrated customers would apreciate the thoughtfulness of management.

2. Social Services: List basic information that answers frequently asked questions, such as where to get drinking water, shelter, emergency food, hot showers, and updated school schdules.

3. Restaurants: hours of operation and any menu limitations.

4. For a special way to show appreciation of your clients, consider an email blast offering any special assistance you may offer.  A great example of this idea came to me from Ed Lazarus, president of the Branford Chamber of Commerce.  When the Shoreline lost power, he sent out an email telling its members that the chamber had power and Internet and that members could come and use its wifi. (Full disclosure: I have been taking advantage of his generous offer for several days.)