This article was originally published on March 26, 2020, and was updated on April 1, 2020.
As the country hunkers down in the face of COVID-19, small businesses everywhere are looking for ways to stay open and ease the burden for their customers. If you’re on the Websites + Marketing eCommerce plan or a WordPress site with WooCommerce installed, here are three ways to offer help today.
Coupon discounts
Coupons are a great way to ease financial strain on your customers while keeping your business running.
Websites + Marketing eCommerce plans
In Websites + Marketing, you can:
- Create up to 500 coupon codes for your customers to use when making purchases on your site.
- Customize the name of your coupon codes. For example, STAYSAFE or STAYHEALTHY
- Display the coupon on your site’s home page with a promotional banner in the header, or even set up a marketing campaign to email it to your customers.
WordPress with WooCommerce
On WordPress sites with WooCommerce installed, you can:
- Create coupons for your customers to use when making purchases on your site.
Set up sale prices for your products. Review the steps under Adding a simple product > Product data.
Related: How to use discounts and coupons to increase ecommerce revenue
Free shipping for your orders
Social distancing is making online shopping more desirable. Free shipping is often a purchase incentive to many customers.
Websites + Marketing eCommerce plans
Provide a local delivery option for your customers by setting up a free shipping option with postal/zip code limitations.
- In your Websites + Marketing dashboard, select Settings > Shipping > Add.
- Next to the shipping option you’d like to use, select Add.
- Enter a description under What customers see when selecting this method, such as Free local delivery or Local Delivery, and enter the details in the remaining fields.
- Under Ship to these countries/regions, select Edit next to All countries / regions.
- Type your country in the field and select the country from the drop-down menu.
- To the right of your country, select the pencil icon to edit the settings.
- Toggle the setting for Only ship to certain postal/zip codes.
- Manually enter the zip code(s) you deliver to, and then select Add Postal/Zip Code. Enter additional zip codes as needed, up to a total of 25.
- Once you’ve added all the zip codes you deliver to, select Save.
You can also enable special instructions during checkout for your customers to leave information about delivery, such as a no-contact delivery.
- From your Websites + Marketing Dashboard, select Settings, and then select General.
- Select Checkout, and then select the box to allow special instructions. Now your customers can include special instructions during their checkout process.
WordPress with WooCommerce
Change the default shipping method for your shipping zones to enable Local Delivery.
Add or edit the shipping method for a specific shipping zone. Review the instructions in the Adding shipping methods to zones section.
Related: How to offer free shipping without hurting your bottom line
Free delivery for orders in your area
Safety is top of everyone’s mind. There are many people who may have compromised immune systems, they may lack the means to purchase in person, or they are limiting their time in public spaces.
By offering free shipping, many customers can still shop from your store without having to leave the comfort of their home.
- On your product page, scroll to Websites + Marketing, and then select Manage next to your website or store.
- From the Dashboard, select Settings, and then select General.
- Select Checkout, and then select the box to allow special instructions.
Now you can stay in touch with your customers to coordinate free delivery and special instructions.
Keep your business running while helping customers
Running a small business is often a challenge in the best of times, but with the COVID-19 concerns bearing down on us, there are lots of opportunities to continue serving your customers while helping them feel secure. Coupons, free shipping, and free delivery are small changes but will mean a lot to your customers in the long run.
You can do this!
If you need a helping hand, we’re here for you.
- Check out our How-To videos for content aimed at helping you navigate through COVID-19.
- Looking for stories and inspiration? Visit the GoDaddy YouTube channel.
- Dig into resources on the GoDaddy blog.
- Connect with like-minded people in our #OpenWeStand community forum.
- Find answers to product questions in our Help Center.
- Call or chat with one of our GoDaddy Guides.
Above all, have faith in yourself. We have faith in you.
Image by: ejaugsburg from Pixabay