How Independent Professionals are Helping Businesses Through COVID-19
Here are a few ways independent professionals are helping businesses, transform, survive, and thrive during the COVID-19 crisis and global pandemic.
During COVID-19, much of the world is being forced to shift to a way of work freelancers already know and love: Remote work. This has put many independent professionals in a position to step up and rise to the occasion, helping businesses struggling amidst shutdowns and uncertain times to pivot their strategies, fill critical gaps, and increase production on the fly.
1. Pivot Strategies to Lead Generation and Growth
Many independent professionals have had to adjust their hustle during the shutdown, diversifying their offerings and ramping up projects that don’t require in-person interactions. Businesses are doing the same — and remote talents are helping them get it done.
It’s been amazing to see how companies are pivoting their own products and services to help in this time, even delivered virtually” quoted by an independent content writer on Upwork’s platform. Lester, in addition to independent business strategists, PR pros, and digital marketing experts, has helped to guide businesses through the transition with timely, targeted messaging and campaigns designed to drum up new leads and broaden audiences.
Freelance content writers, graphic designers, copywriters, developers, online coaching and social media strategists have been working with businesses to
- Drive leads with social and email campaigns
- Develop lead generation websites
- Ramp up outbound marketing and support
- Create gated content and premium resources
- Coding and Programming for new program and product
- Online coaching and consulting to advise management, individual or communities to navigate business better
And, they’re shipping these projects fast so businesses can stay ahead of the curve while customers are staying home to flatten the COVID-19 curve.
2. Create Relevant, Engaging Content to Help People Through the Crisis
When people want news and information about current events, they go online for questions, updates, resources, and tips. The organizations answering those questions with helpful, relevant content are the ones “showing up” for their customers and building brand loyalty for the long term.
Content writers have been in high demand to help organizations meet this sudden, high demand for volume — Lester included.
“I’ve helped several new clients, as well as long-term ones, create content related to COVID-19,” Lester shares, noting that freelancers are perfectly poised to “take some of the burdens off our clients to send out emails, add language related to COVID-19 to websites, write articles, and create marketing content focused on the ways that companies are pivoting in this environment.”
Some content projects getting cranked out include
- Articles, blogs, emails, and updates — whether they’re about an adjusted service offering, cancellations, discounts, or support programs.
- Thought leadership pieces, resource pages, content packages and guides — One client created a series of articles to support anyone new to working from home with productivity tips and suggestions, while another created packages to send to their clients that demonstrated how to set up remote work stations from home.
- Gated, premium content — for digital, downloadable resources that not only drive new leads but create new revenue streams too.
- Digital, email, and social campaigns — Client leveraged a team of freelancers to create social media content, then translate and localize that content for use in 30+ markets worldwide. Others have launched educational campaigns to help individuals follow best practices to prevent further spread of the virus. This is also where graphic designers, animators, and video editors can lend expertise to creative campaign assets.
3. Branding Refreshes and Messaging Updates.
Where messaging needs to be fine-tuned for the current climate, branding experts and copywriters can give brands the confidence and clarity to nail their message and avoid being tone-deaf in tricky times. Lester adds, “There were a few projects that I started shortly before the pandemic where the work and the messaging changed to adjust to the ‘new normal.’”
She adds, “The messaging has mostly been about spreading awareness of services they provide that can help businesses navigate social distancing, quarantines, and working from home. For example, I’m working on an ongoing project related to teleconferencing. Another one is for a company that creates AI to help businesses streamline their contracts and suppliers and work quickly even minus manpower.”
Web designers and branding experts are also stepping up to help companies polish up their websites, packaging, and branded assets so they can ramp back up with their best foot forward.
4. Transforming in-person to Online: Selling Online, Hosting Virtual Events, and Offering Digital Services Online.
Lester has also seen an uptick in eCommerce client work, noting “A few have physical stores and are adding eCommerce platforms, while others are opening, expanding, or testing new marketing ideas with existing ones.”
As companies are forced to stall all in-person events and interactions, many are developing new products to maintain engagement and deliver services virtually. More content is being delivered via video and live streaming, which is where video editors can swing into action in the absence of more in-person projects.
Independent talent has helped companies launch:
- Online learning. Instructional designers, e-learning developers, video and animation specialists, proofreaders and translators are all pitching in to help companies create online learning platforms. Some have engaged UI/UX and software developers on Upwork to partner with subject matter experts to help develop classes and online programs to keep the learning going.
- Training videos. One company engaged talent on Upwork to create training videos for workers that outline the protocol for returning to offices after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. One HR team assembled a team of video, animation and voice over specialists to develop short videos for their workers, providing tips on everything from best practices to work remotely to guides on how to remotely connect to internal systems.
- Virtual events, consultations and conferences. Some freelancers have helped companies to organize virtual conferences and networking events, helping determine which tools to use, how to reach their audience, promoting the event, and more.
- AR/VR tools and experiences. Developers, QA testers, UI/UX designers, and 2D/3D graphics and animation experts are helping to create AR experiences and gamification that keep users engaged, and keep sales up during shutdowns. The real estate industry is leveraging VR to digitize showings with 3D tours, while retailers offer AR-powered virtual try-on and superimposition tools to show buyers how clothes and furniture look in real life.
5. Updating Sites and Apps with Daily COVID-specific Resources and Information.
Web developers and designers have been busy since day one helping companies update customers on changes to operations and offerings in light of shutdowns. For many businesses, the efficiency and quick turnarounds independent talent can provide have been critical to staying nimble — and even staying afloat. Independent web professionals have been quick to make updates to current sites, adding new accessibility features, recommended search features, banners, landing pages, and dedicated COVID-19 FAQs and resources.
Restaurants pivoting to online ordering and abbreviated menus can make fast and frequently recommended updates with new integrations and plugins. Ecommerce sites are able to quickly update and optimize product schema and inventories. And local SEO experts are helping to optimize business listings so consumers know what’s available, how, and when.
6. Ramping Up Customer Service When Call Centers and BPO Providers Shut Down.
An unfortunate reality of shutdowns is the closing of mission-critical call centers close and business process outsourcing (BPO) providers — but remote professionals have been perfectly poised to help. Customer service in the time of COVID-19 is challenging, but manageable with the right support.
Independent customer service professionals are stepping in to handle a high volume of tickets, inquiries, and support chats, helping businesses offer a seamless customer experience despite a lack of resources.
Virtual assistants have helped with rebooking, cancellations, and extension requests for businesses ranging from travel booking sites to lenders and subscription services. And the creation of self-service portals and chatbots is also helping to offset major customer service backlogs.
7. Shifting Recruiting and Hiring Efforts Online.
Where companies still need to fill roles and recruit talent, remote recruiters have been able to step in and seamlessly handle efforts to find, vet, and interview qualified candidates. And where companies struggle to fill gaps left by essential personnel who can’t work, some independent professionals are providing the headcount to keep projects moving and maintain SLAs.
Some organizations have even tapped consultants to help guide them as they go remote. One consultant on Upwork was engaged to help a company plan out which workflows could be virtualized, and which tasks could be delegated to an easy-to-follow automated flow. For this company, the transitional model is anticipated to be a model for future work, as well.
COVID-19 has been devastating for many, and for businesses in particular it’s been a grueling test of resilience, faith, and dedication. Now more than ever, independent professionals are invaluable resources that can help keep businesses running.
Find the right resources, advice, and talents and speak to trustworthy professionals today!
