By Paul Rowlett, CEO of promotional printing company EverythingBranded.

This is a trying time for all of us: people are worried about their loved ones, many are struggling with the lack of social contact, and a lot of us have been hit financially by the coronavirus crisis. And, because this is such an unprecedented situation, we're learning how to deal with everything as we go.

Of course, if you're a business owner, you'll want to do what you can to keep your company afloat, but you'll still want to be sensitive to everything that's happening. And, one of the ways in which you can remind people about your work while supporting them through this pandemic is by using your platforms to spread positivity.

Here, I'll look at why you should be doing this over the coming weeks.

It will encourage people to keep your brand in mind

Unfortunately, a lot of businesses have seen a dramatic fall in sales over the last few weeks. A lot of people are only shopping for essentials and, with most physical shops closed, companies without an ecommerce element are in an especially troubling position. Whatever situation you might be in, it's important to continue reminding people that your business exists, so they know they can make a purchase now, or might be tempted to once the lockdown's been lifted.

That's why it's vital that you still remain active online throughout the pandemic. Sharing positive stories on your social media profiles and answering people's questions, checking in with you mailing list every once in a while, and keeping your site updated as much as possible can really help to keep things ticking over. Then, if someone does decide to make a purchase while they're stuck at home, or they're making plans of what to buy once this is all over, it'll be far more likely that they'll think of you.

It can help to raise brand awareness

Spreading positivity online can also have the added benefit of helping to raise awareness of your brand. At a time like this, when people are looking for ways to cheer their friends and family up from afar, you could well find that your positive posts — whether they're motivational quotes or fun little videos — get shared far and wide. The people who see your posts on their friends' timelines then might take an interest in your business and, ultimately, make a purchase.

People will remember how you handled the crisis

Over last few weeks, we've seen different brands be separated into good and bad, depending on how they've handled the current crisis. And, it's likely this information will influence people's shopping behaviours in the long-term. For example, people have been disappointed by the likes of Topshop and Wetherspoons, who have left a lot of their staff without any support. Meanwhile, Home Bargains has set up at £30 million fund to help their workers, and fashion labels like Barbour have stepped in to bridge the PPE gap. Here at EverythingBranded, we have also donated 20,000 strip thermometers to help in the fight against COVID-19.

I think we all have a duty to do what we can to help, but doing so will also reflect well on your business, which could translate into sales down the line. So, if you're doing any good deeds, make sure you shout about them through blog posts, email newsletters, and social media updates!

It's completely understandable if you aren't quite sure how to keep your business ticking over at the moment, but spreading some positivity has a whole host of benefits.

It can really help to stand you in good stead, so you can keep your venture afloat during and after the crisis.

Photo by Andreas Weiland on Unsplash