Month: November 2020

Categories
Blog Business Managing Your Business

Five Simple Ways to Engage with Your Customers During the Holidays

The 2020 holiday season will be different from anything you’ve experienced in the past. More people will be hosting family and friends (in smaller gatherings) and traveling less. For many, this will mean holiday traditions may change slightly. And no matter what your company sells, there will be some impact. How you approach your engagement with customers will determine whether that impact is positive or negative.

Here are some ideas to consider this holiday season:

  1. Focus on Convenience.
    That’s the name of the game right now. It would be best to offer customers a way to shop how they want and when they want. Maybe that’s offering curbside pick-up or free shipping or providing easy-to-use online shopping with a variety of secure payment options.
  2. Emphasize a Safe Shopping Environment.
    You may need to limit or expand your hours, limit the number of customers you can serve, or increase your store’s cleaning frequency. Whatever you decide to do, communicate your safety measures with your customers. It may also be the opportunity you need to discuss the many convenient ways customers can shop without leaving their homes.
  3. Promote Loyalty Programs.
    If you offer a loyalty program to your customers, promote enrollment early and regularly. Get your sales staff involved with incentives as well. Getting early sign-ups will generate repeat orders and improve your bottom line. And be proactive in reminding customers about their participation in your loyalty program and how it can benefit them.
  4. Stay on Top of Your Inventory.
    You should anticipate higher website traffic than in the past and adjust your inventory accordingly. You don’t want to sell out of merchandise too quickly as that will negatively impact your sales (and your image). If you do run out of stock, be sure to let your customers know you have something “back in stock” to recapture engagement.
  5. Provide Relevant and Personalized Communication.
    You’ll get more traction sending an email or postcard that is meaningful to a smaller group of customers than just one massive mailing about a new offer or special. Provide regular updates and information about your product or service that fits into the recipient’s lifestyle. For example, if you own a restaurant, offer “for your eyes only” recipes or a special price for holiday on-the-go meals (either by pick-up or delivery). And if you regularly send customer emails, pay attention to your subject line – the more you can personalize it, the better. You want to make sure the person receiving the email knows it’s something meaningful just for them.

While the holidays will look different this year, it doesn’t mean that your business needs to suffer. Find ways to reach your customers where they are and focus on the future. You’ll find these meaningful connections made during difficult times should increase customer engagement as you move forward.

 

Categories
Blog

How Will You Re-Engage with Your Business?

Most small businesses faced many challenges when the pandemic shut down the economy. If you’re still up and running, you should consider yourself a survivor. You found ways to adapt your business to meet your customers’ needs.

As 2021 approaches, take a moment to decide whether or not to adopt any new practices you implemented to “survive.” Here are some of the more common areas to review:

Expand Customer Payment Options.
Many businesses quickly adapted to offer contactless and mobile payment options for customers. If you were one of these companies, did you find these payment options to be profitable? Were you able to attract new customers? Are there other options available you’d like to implement in 2021?

Offer Creative Service Delivery.
With so many restrictions on in-person service, many businesses got creative in providing service to customers. Some offered curbside pick-up and expanded their delivery parameters. Others moved some of their operations outdoors or scaled up their website and mobile offerings. For example, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, and title companies worked together to provide virtual closings for homes, and it may continue to be a viable option moving forward. What modifications did you make to your service delivery in 2020? Is this a viable, sustainable option for 2021 and beyond? If not, what should you change?

Sponsor Live Stream Events.
Live streaming has allowed companies to connect with current customers and even attract new ones. There are hundreds of examples of business owners live streaming the service they would normally provide in-person. For instance, one dance studio started offering Zoom classes and expanded its fitness offerings as well. They met with students as a group and then offered individual tutoring at an affordable price. Now that things are re-opening in many parts of the country, live streaming may continue to be an essential business development tool. Have you used live streaming to help your business? If so, does it make sense to continue this effort in 2021? And can you find new and unique ways to incorporate more into what you started?

Allow Remote Working Opportunities.
Many companies immediately allowed employees to work from home, giving them the flexibility they needed to deal with their changing needs due to the pandemic. What’s happened is many businesses found that a lot of things can be done remotely and are looking to modify work schedules to meet their changing needs. If you allowed employees to work remotely, is that a viable option for 2021? Can you enable particular work to be done remotely, while other work is required at the office?

Offer New Revenue Streams.
Was there something you modified to survive in 2020? Maybe you began to offer hand sanitizer bottles or masks. Or you offered toilet paper or wipes as a giveaway. Consider whether any of these offerings are sustainable for the future. More importantly, take a look at how agile your business was in offering new revenue streams. Then look at your market to see if there is an opportunity to do something slightly different.

Keep up With Safety Measures.
Many businesses tout improved safety measures throughout the pandemic – additional cleaning, Plexiglass counters, mask and social distancing requirements, among others. Whatever you’ve done to keep your business safe, is it something you wish to continue even when it’s not required? Are there practices you’ve put into place that make sense and help customers feel more comfortable overall?

While this is not a complete list of items to review, it will help you start your 2021 planning. The more you can learn from your experience during the pandemic, the stronger your company will be in the end.

Now may also be an excellent time to discuss your 2021 plans with one of our Business Bankers. We’ll help you find ways to maximize your profit as you improve customer engagement.

Learn more about business banking at Pinnacle Bank.

 

 

Categories
Blog Fraud & Security Safety & Security

Working from Home – Keeping Your Data Safe

Working remotely has become a necessity for many businesses over the past year. While a great way to keep your staff employed, it presents some unique challenges to information security. Consider these guidelines for you and your employees to follow:

Use Secure Wi-Fi, Hotspots or Another Way to Encrypt Your Internet Connection.
Never use public Wi-Fi to transfer sensitive data between employees or share any other personal data you may have. If your company provides cell service, consider adding a hotspot to help ensure secured Wi-Fi access wherever your employees may be.

Keep Your Computer Updated or Use a Remote Access Environment.
Typically, your company’s IT professionals keep your computers running as securely as possible. They install regular updates, run antivirus scans, block malicious websites and more. You must follow the same protocols with your personal computer to keep your work information safe. However, an even safer option may be to allow employee access to a portal or remote access environment (such as Office 365) where they work online and avoid downloading or saving files to a personal computer or other devices

Encrypt Data in Emails or on Your Device.
In some cases, you may need to send sensitive data via email. There’s a risk of doing so because it may be intercepted or viewed by a third party. But if you encrypt the attached data, it may prevent any unintended recipient from viewing your information. And be sure to set any device you use to encrypt all stored data in case of theft.

Take Precautions Against Phishing.
One of the most significant risks to company security is phishing emails. These emails will often appear to be from a trusted source, but don’t be fooled – they’re scams. Don’t open any attachments or click on any links from emails when you’re unfamiliar with the sender. And if you think an email or text is from a legitimate source and don’t feel comfortable providing the requested information, delete the email or text and call them about it. For example, Pinnacle Bank will never email or text you to ask for your personal financial information, such as your Social Security or account number.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings.
Now that some coffee shops and restaurants are open, many people may want to step away from home and work in different environments. No matter where you decide to work, be sure you pay attention to your sightline. That means if someone’s behind you, they can see what you’re typing or may even identify confidential information. Additionally, if you have to use the restroom, take everything with you – even if it means you’ll lose your seat.

Be Careful of What You Share.
Since the start of the pandemic, most of us have attended a video conference call in one form or another. If you meet via Zoom, Skype, or other video conference service, make sure you’re in a quiet location in your home, and keep your device on mute until you need to talk. Also, be aware that people can see everything in your home, so take note of what’s behind you (and who may be behind you). Use a PIN if possible to get into any video conference call, and don’t broadcast your meeting information to those who shouldn’t be on the call.

Working remotely is an excellent way to help people balance their work and personal lives more effectively. If you can work remotely, follow these guidelines to keep your personal and other information safe and secure.

Categories
General News

Employee Insights – Miranda Harned

Miranda recently joined Pinnacle Bank as a Mortgage Banker, bringing nearly five years of experience in the banking industry.

Miranda grew up in Carnesville, Georgia, and has stayed close to her roots throughout her career.  Starting as a personal banker and teller, she worked through the ranks to become a consumer and mortgage lender beginning in 2018.

As a Mortgage Banker at Pinnacle Bank, Miranda is passionate about giving the best service possible to her customers. She loves helping them find the right loan for their dream home or getting them into a stronger financial position through refinancing.

When she’s not working at the bank, Miranda enjoys singing and outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking. She loves spending time with her fur babies, her family, and her husband.

We’re excited to have Miranda on the Pinnacle team and look forward to great things happening in the future.

Categories
General News

Employee Insights – Jim Stewart

Jim Stewart recently joined Pinnacle Bank as the Chief Technology Officer, bringing over 32 years of banking industry experience.

Jim began his banking career with a de novo bank in the late 80’s working on the teller line and half days in operations. Since that time, he’s held leadership positions with financial technology providers as well as regional banks and has been heavily involved with the technical side of banking, seeing it evolve over the past few decades. He is currently a member (and past chairman) of the Georgia Bankers Association Operations and Technology Committee and is a faculty member at the Georgia Banking School.

Now that nearly everything in banking requires technology in some form, Jim enjoys collaborating with customer-facing and back-office personnel to create a better overall banking experience for customers. He truly believes banking is a people business and focuses on providing the best solutions available for employees to serve Pinnacle customers effectively and efficiently.

When he’s not working at the bank, Jim enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf with his friends, and supporting the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Additionally, he’s the public address announcer for the football team at Lumpkin County High School and the basketball teams (men’s and women’s) at the University of North Georgia.

We’re excited to have Jim on the Pinnacle team and look forward to great things happening in the future.