Google and COVID-19: How Google is Helping Businesses to Navigate During COVID-19

Owing to COVID-19, businesses all over the world are adapting to an ever-changing environment that has compelled them to think differently. Google is also helping its customers sustain their business during COVID-19. It is endeavoring to help employees work remotely, making social services accessible. Plus, it is making sure that communities can access the latest information on the coronavirus.

Although Google focuses on delivering the near-term solutions its customers need, it also wants to help them become better prepared with a solid foundation for the future. The company aims to organize global information and make it universally available and feasible. Google believes it is vital to support people in getting the right information about staying healthy during a global pandemic like COVID-19.

In this article, we’ll shed light on how Google helps businesses respond to the ongoing crisis due to COVID-19.

Google and COVID-19: 9 Ways Google is Helping Businesses Respond to COVID-19

Google has always been supporting businesses across all industries, as well as governmental agencies and researchers who are leveraging its technology in remarkable ways. It is going above and beyond to support companies, especially during COVID-19. The company strives to help governments take the burden off their IT systems and switch to the work-from-home model. It is also helping healthcare systems support those in need. Plus, it supports businesses in industries such as retail to improve how they manage changes in customer demand.

Here’s how Google is helping businesses during COVID-19:

1. Provide Useful Info

Google is joining forces with the American government to develop a website that focuses on educating people about COVID-19, its prevention, and local resources countrywide. This initiative includes best practices on preventing the virus, links to credible info from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and useful tips and resources from Google for individuals, instructors, and companies.

Google is also helping people find opportune and practical info via its products, which include Search, Maps, and YouTube. There is a campaign that raises awareness regarding easy steps people can take to slow the spread of the virus on its homepage. The YouTube homepage directs viewers to videos from the CDC and other relevant public health organizations.

Moreover, Google is also highlighting content from credible sources when users search for coronavirus. It has inserted info panels to offer additional context from authoritative sources. For example, for people looking for airlines that are offering flexible cancellation policies and change fees, Google helps them by directing to a dedicated page with the info they require.

2. Protect from Misinformation

Google is also playing its role in removing misinformation on coronavirus on its products like YouTube, Maps, and developer platforms such as Google Play. For example, it is taking down thousands of videos on YouTube that have misleading information on the virus. It is also removing videos that are promoting medically unproven methods of treating COVID-19.  They have a clear policy regarding pharmaceutical product advertisement.

On Google Maps, it is automatically and manually reviewing systems to remove incorrect and risky content like fake reviews and dubious info about healthcare sites. Moreover, Google is adopting stricter advertising policies to regulate the kinds of ads they allow on their platforms. This includes a sensitive events policy that forbids advertisements that attempt to capitalize on devastating events like natural disasters, wars, or demise.

3. Support Relief Efforts and Government Agencies

Google is providing $50 million to the worldwide coronavirus response, with a strong focus on health and technology, access to educational resources, and support for small businesses. It’s also working closely with the WHO, offering $5 million in donations to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the WHO (via the UN Foundation). This funding initiative intends to help the WHO track and understand the coronavirus’s spread and support frontline workers with the necessary resources and info. Google is also providing a $500,000 grant to a team of researchers, epidemiologists, and software developers at Boston Children’s Hospital. They are working on HealthMap, a site that presents the latest trends of emerging public health risks and outbreaks. It is also supporting governments and relief agencies via its $25 million Google Ad Grants crisis relief initiative.

4. Advance Health Research

Google is also focusing on the effect of COVID-19 on all communities, including its employees. The company has created a coronavirus fund that allows all short-term workers and vendors to take paid sick leave internationally if they show symptoms of coronavirus or can’t come to work due to quarantine.

Google is also making sure its employees are supported as the health crisis evolves. It plans to continue helping people take care of themselves and their communities.

5. Keep Customers Informed

Companies are being forced to adjust their operations during this critical time. They are changing their hours, temporarily shutting down, or changing the kinds of products and services they provide. Google is helping them communicate this info to customers with a Google My Business (GMB) Profile.

How To Use GMB Profile During COVID-19

If the coronavirus pandemic impacts your company, update your GMB profile to provide the most accurate info to your consumers. Here’s what you can do:

Update Your Business Hours

• For businesses with changed hours – Update the times when you’ll be open or closed so your customers know exactly when they can visit your location.
• For temporarily closed businesses – You can mark your business “Temporarily closed.” When you fully or partially resume operations, you can reopen your business.
• For businesses with special hours – Set special hours (instead of marking your business “Temporarily closed”).
• For businesses with more hours – If you offer specific services at varying times (such as senior hours, delivery, takeout, etc.), you can set More hours instead of special hours.

“Food and Retail” Use Attributes to Show Service Availability

Food and retail companies use the attribute feature at the top of their GMB profiles to let consumers know about available service options. These include Dine-in, Takeout, and Delivery. This new information prominently appears on your GMB profile when consumers search for your company on Google Maps and Google Search.

Add a Coronavirus Update Post

You can use the new coronavirus post type to share more in-depth and timely updates about the happenings at your end. You can add info about:

• Closures or reduced hours.
• Safety and hygiene practices.
• Availability of gift cards to support your company.
• Virtual training and tours.

Connect with Your Customers

Consider downloading the GMB app and enabling messaging as a way to help your consumers reach you. If you can’t be reached by phone or outside of your operating hours, messaging can help consumers get the support they want.

Edit Your Business Description

Use your business description to share info about your company like:

• Availability for takeout or delivery.
• Additional services you offer.
• Delay in business services.

Disclaimer on Hours and Services

Google is also adding a disclaimer on GMB profiles to inform customers that the business information may not be updated. However, verified businesses can remove this disclaimer after updating their latest special hours. If you haven’t set hours of operation or have marked your business “Temporarily closed,” then this disclaimer won’t appear. Marking “Temporarily closed” on your profile will not display takeout or delivery info.

Recommendations for Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers can use GMB to claim and manage their facility’s information. You can add info on services like telemedicine, and modify your profile on Google Search and Maps.

You can include a dedicated page that provides details on your practice’s operations during the outbreak. This includes coronavirus testing info, restricted visiting hours, a coronavirus hotline, and in-person visits and appointments.

Recommendations for Hotel Owners

For hotel owners affected by the pandemic, Google allows them to use their GMB profile to provide the most accurate info to their consumers. You can add particular facilities and details on your profile, like free or discounted accommodation for coronavirus responders. Hotels and travel industry is linked together and both affected during this pandemic.

Embrace the New Normal with Google’s Help

Google provides a plethora of useful information regarding COVID-19. You can find emerging topics and common queries people are asking by location with Google Trends. You can also explore how other thought leaders are managing similar business challenges on Think With Google. Plus, you can work with your employees using shared documents, video meetings, email lists, or chat rooms.

How to Respond to Google Reviews During COVID-19

Managing customer queries and messages can be overpowering, particularly during an outbreak. Here’s what you should do:

• Respond to all reviews and messages promptly.
• Make sure all responses are on-brand and consistent.
• Flag important messages that may need an additional response.
• Discover ways to enhance your customer experience in terms of GMB or Google reviews.

Responding to your Google reviews and maintaining your GMB profile helps put your company in front of your consumers even during coronavirus. When you respond to customer reviews, it shows that your company is customer-centric and prioritizes your customers’ experience from start to finish.

6. Offer Easy Online Appointment

Google Appointment setting program allows merchants to offer secure online appointment bookings that consumers can book directly from their GMB listing and then add to their own Google Calendar. This feature is especially useful during the COVID-19 pandemic that has resulted in a surge of new traffic across Maps and Search alike. Vendors who are verified through GMB can alert their consumers that they’re working in a new capacity by including profile attributes such as “online classes,” “online appointments,” and “online estimates.”.

7. Adapt to New Customer Behavior

Customer behavior is altering with new policies, which might confuse you about what your customers want from a business like yours. It’s best to ask them directly through your social media accounts. You can also use tools such as Google Trends, Google Alerts, and discover the rapidly growing retail categories in Google Search.

You may also want to pivot your business online. Think about what value you provide to your consumers. Can you offer that value via an online channel? For instance:

• A merchant with a brick-and-mortar store might sell products online.
• An eatery might offer online ordering for pickup and delivery.
• A fitness trainer might start online training sessions.
• A musician might host a YouTube live stream to offer music classes.

8. Adjust Your Advertising

Online advertising is a powerful way to keep your existing and prospective consumers updated. With Google Ads, you can provide relevant info such as changes to your services, inventory, or hours. Google Ads has inherent automated solutions that can help modify your ad campaigns to deliver the right message to the right person at the right time. Also, consider updating your Google Ads campaigns to ensure your ads are reflecting your company’s priorities.

9. Run your Business Remotely

Your company may already be working remotely, or you may be getting ready for that possibility in the future. Leveraging digital tools can help your employees stay connected and productive.

• Host a video meeting with conferencing tools such as Google Meet and ensure everybody is familiar with video conferencing.
• Collaborate with your team using a shared document or establishing an email list or a chat room.
• Access essential files from anywhere by uploading them to the cloud via Google Drive or downloading to your phone or computer for offline access.
• When using Chromebooks, make sure your devices can access business resources remotely while keeping data secure.

If you are an agency or digital marketer you can learn how to run campaign after COVID-19

Wrap Up

In this article, we discussed everything you need to know about Google and COVID-19. Google is striving hard to ensure that you have the right tools and support to sustain your business operations during this challenging time. It is dedicated to supporting its users and communities, both in the short-term as everybody adjusts to the new normal and long-term as companies and governments start planning for what the future holds.