Clever Ways to Connect with Customers During Social Distancing
July 9, 2020
These are no times to disengage with your customers

The commerce world has changed before our eyes. While the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have had to find new ways to operate, evolve, and engage. As people in every community begin to find healthy ways to get together through the rapidly-changing world, businesses must also adapt to engaging with customers during the age of social distancing. If your business is looking for tips to responsibly stay connected, consider the following strategies:
Step up your social media engagement
- While social media marketing has been highly involved with the marketing strategy of businesses for the last decade, it is critical now to be accessible via social sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The ability of a business to remain personable through digital interactions shows consumers that you’re dedicated to them and their satisfaction, no matter the situation the world is facing. Best of all, it’s free! While some social platforms do have paid features, setting up an account costs nothing.
Lighten up your persona
- Not suitable for all business types, but the toll of social distancing is being felt by consumers everywhere. Not only is it challenging to get to their favorite local businesses, it is hard to see their favorite people as well. While a business can’t replace the lost connection with a loved one while social distancing, you can certainly approach your customers with extra care. When engaging with customers, focus less on the task at hand and take time to really talk with them – this applies to both digital and real-world situations.
Give away merch
- This strategy works with a few different potentials – Friendly Instagram competitions for merch, gift cards for recommending friends, or just care packages sent directly to consumers with each purchase all help to add an extra level of connection with both return customers and those who are new to your business!
Work with charities
- Nothing feels better than spending money for good. Taking up work with charities, especially those which are close to the cares and concerns of your consumers, helps prove your dedication to the communities with which you work. While it may not aid your direct relationship with customers, it will help them see that not only are their communities still active but that you are directly involved with them.
Schedule an “Ask Me Anything”
- Ask Me Anythings (or AMAs) are a chance to flaunt your transparency. Especially effective if your business owner or location manager can host the sessions. AMAs are most often hosted on Reffit, but other platforms also offer the same potential for a live-time, open-to-the-public question and answer session. Of course, come prepared for anything, but many times the interests of the consumers are surprisingly not business-oriented. Fully digital, fully engaging, an AMA is the ultimate “open book” opportunity your business can take.
A socially distanced world has created a challenging new landscape for both personal and business engagements. Navigating this new world has been and will continue to be challenging, but vital for your continued growth. Whether you invest in strategies new or old, MysticMedia is here to help you along the way. If you’re looking to take the next step down your path to digital success, check out our services and feel free to contact us. We look forward to helping you.

For years, small businesses have treated social media as a necessary chore. You post a graphic, use a few hashtags, cross your fingers for likes, and hope it eventually turns into a lead. But if you are still using social media just to keep your feed "active," you are leaving serious revenue on the table. In 2026, social media is no longer an isolated echo chamber. It is the primary data source that Large Language Models (LLMs)—like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google’s AI Overviews—use to understand, verify, and recommend brands. When a prospect asks ChatGPT, "Who is the most reliable commercial HVAC contractor in Tampa?" or "What is the best local managed IT service?" , the AI doesn't just scan your website. It pulls from Reddit threads, YouTube tutorials, and LinkedIn discussions. Here is how smart brands are shifting their strategy from chasing cheap clicks to engineering AI visibility—and how you can do it, too. The Shift: From "Content Calendars" to "Signal Generation" Traditional SEO focused on stuffing keywords into website pages so Google would rank you higher. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) require a different approach. AI search engines look for E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). They find this by scanning social platforms for authentic human context. Your goal is no longer just to get a user to double-tap your photo; it is to feed the algorithms the exact signals they need to cite your business as the definitive authority. The New Rule of Search: Social Media ➔ LLM Context ➔ Global Search Authority. The 2026 Playbook: Winning the Major Platforms Every platform requires a specific signal to prove your authority to search engines. 1. LinkedIn: Optimize for "Dwell Time" (Not Just Likes) LinkedIn’s algorithm—and the AI systems crawling it—heavily rewards passive reading, or "dwell time." Stop treating LinkedIn like a bulletin board for company announcements. Instead, treat every post as a high-value mini-article. Lead with a strong hook, break down a complex industry problem, and provide the exact framework you use to solve it. When executives spend two minutes reading your post without scrolling, it signals immense authority to the algorithm, establishing your leadership team as true industry experts. 2. YouTube & TikTok: Own the "How-To" Space Google’s search results now prominently feature video carousels, and AI tools constantly pull transcripts from videos to answer user questions. To capitalize on this, your spoken words must be treated as an SEO system. If your target customer is searching for "How to fix a leaking commercial roof," those exact words must be spoken in the first five seconds of your video. Pair this with highly accurate closed captions and keyword-rich descriptions. You aren't just making a video; you are building an evergreen asset that will rank in search results for years. 3. Reddit: The Ultimate Trust Signal Right now, Reddit is one of the most frequently cited domains by AI platforms. Why? Because it represents unfiltered, authentic human experience. However, brands cannot just drop promotional links in subreddits—the community will immediately reject them. The strategy here is substantive participation. By monitoring local or industry-specific subreddits and providing genuinely helpful, brand-agnostic advice, you build a digital footprint of trust that AI engines rely on when recommending solutions. Stop Guessing. Start Dominating. The landscape of search has permanently changed. Trying to manage traditional SEO, run a business, and engineer AI signals across five different social platforms is a recipe for burnout. You need a strategy that aligns your Web Design, SEO, and Social Media into one frictionless ecosystem—maximizing your visibility while removing the operational headache from your plate. At Mystic Media , we don't just post content; we architect your digital authority. Our integrated approach to AI Content Optimization, Social Media Management, and Better SEO ensures that when your customers ask the internet a question, your brand is the only answer. Ready to future-proof your digital presence? Request a Demo today or call our team at (866) 764-2877 . Let's build the digital success you deserve.

Consumers trust other consumers more than they trust brands. User-generated content (UGC) turns your customers into storytellers, advocates, and marketers, building credibility, boosting engagement, and driving conversions at scale. This article explores how businesses can encourage, collect, and leverage UC to grow th










