Whether you are planning to remain closed or reopen your business straight away, dealing with the pandemic isn’t easy. From financial worries to maintaining an interested client base, there is a lot to worry about. Fortunately, there are ways to plan for small business recovery post-COVID while making the most of your short-term closure.
1. Scale Up Your Business Planning
If your doors remain closed following the pandemic, it might be time to flesh out a healthier long-term business plan. Though you may not be able to grow your business, you can create the right conditions for it to flourish once society reopens.
For example, you can begin working on a plan to launch new products or to modify your service offerings. Or perhaps you can even take your business model online – if you haven’t already. There’s plenty you can do while your doors are shut and dreaming big is the name of the game.
2. Outsource as Needed
You might have some big business plans on your plate that need adapting post-COVID. But to make the most of your planning, you may need to enlist some help. To get the ball rolling on your to-do list, think about which tasks you can easily outsource. For example, let’s say part of your pandemic plan involves podcasts. You might hire out podcast editing services to skip that potentially time-consuming step of the process.
Similarly, you might realise that website maintenance frustrates you to no end. Or perhaps you’re not a fan of writing blog posts but know that it’s helpful for reaching potential new customers. Outsourcing to services like Sussex Marketing can reduce your stress levels whilst ticking items off your to-do list. This is especially so if hiring in-house isn’t an option.
3. Find New Ways to Connect
Speaking of online business moves, finding new ways to connect with your audience might involve heading to the web. While your business is closed, it might feel like your potential customers are on another planet. By reaching out in new ways, you can generate support for your business and even make new sales.
Many businesses are finding that their services or products translate well online. For example, businesses are creating new ecommerce stores or holding virtual classes. In fact, there are many strategies you can use to continue connecting with both prospective and current customers remotely.
4. Streamline Your Digital Presence
You might think that joining every social media platform available is the best way to reach potential shoppers or customers. But even the savviest social media guru knows that niching down is the best way to truly connect via your digital presence.
The first step is figuring out where your target audience likes to spend its time. Facebook might be the most popular social platform, per Statista, but that doesn’t mean your audience is there. Tracking down your specific target audience ensures that you are not marketing to the masses. Rather, you can zero in on the consumers who are most likely to engage with your brand. Then, whether you’re investing in paid ads or simply ramping up your social media engagement, you can position your brand squarely in front of the right profiles.
5. Practice Being Patient
Even for experienced owners, small business recovery post-COVID isn’t easy. In fact, McKinsey predicts that it could take more than five years for some sectors to recover. And this includes those of bigger-name companies. Know that you are not alone – and prepare to be patient.
Hard work is crucial, of course. But a positive attitude and a willingness to stick with it are keys to small business recovery strategies post-pandemic.
It’s hard to imagine the light at the end of the tunnel during any business closure. Growing your business amid the pandemic isn’t easy. However, small business recovery is possible with hard work and a few smart beginning steps. For help with scaling up, arrange a consultation with Sussex Marketing and start strategising digitally and in person post-COVID.
This guest blog post was written by life coach, Elena Stewart.
