Pandemic-Proofing Your Business: Five Essential Tips

The COVID-19 pandemic has left the world uncertain and confused, with updates emerging every minute. Business owners face a challenging phase as events and projects are canceled, and income streams drop. It's crucial to recognize that this period will only last for a while, and your business doesn't have to be broken by the pandemic.

Flexibility and adaptability are crucial aspects of entrepreneurship, particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As the situation evolves, small business owners may need help to balance mitigating risk, protecting employees, and supporting customers. To help navigate these challenges, here are five tips for small business owners to implement and keep their businesses afloat.

‍

5 Tips to keep your business afloat during a Pandemic.

Drafting a Remote Work Policy: Essential Considerations for Businesses

As businesses transition to remote work, having a clear and comprehensive policy is crucial for ensuring productivity and success. A remote work policy outlines the expectations, standards, and best practices for working from a location other than the physical business address. It covers everything from work hours and productivity measures to legal rights and cybersecurity. This article highlights essential business considerations when developing a remote work policy that benefits the organization and its employees.

Develop a Digital Sales Strategy.

‍As the pandemic forces businesses to shut their physical stores, organizations are grappling with the need to move their sales strategy online. To keep your business afloat, your customers engaged, and your employees productive, developing a digital sales strategy is crucial. This can include optimizing your website, creating content around the current situation, hosting webinars, engaging with your audience on social media, and exploring the visual representation of your business. Adopting these measures ensures that your business stays relevant and competitive in the digital marketplace.

Communicate Transparently with your Customers

‍In times of crisis, it's essential to communicate transparently with your customers. They are likely experiencing similar challenges and will appreciate honesty and empathy from your brand. 

When communicating, focus on what's most important to your customers and look for ways to provide relief. Consider offering multiple communication channels, such as adding a live chat feature to your website. Be responsive and prioritize swift responses to customer inquiries. Research shows that customers value service more when they understand the effort that goes into it.

Harvard Business Review reports, "When customers are separated from the work that's being done behind the scenes to serve them, they appreciate the service less, and then they value the service less."

Pivot to New Markets and Services.

‍When your business is not achieving the desired results, it may be time to pivot. This is particularly true when the negative economic impacts of the pandemic begin to affect your business. Brainstorming ways to keep your business going and analyzing the effects of the global situation on your business are crucial steps in determining which direction to pivot. The World Health Organization recommends social distancing and self-isolation; thus, you should consider creating business content that would keep your customers engaged at home.

Developing new media content can be an excellent starting point. Deciding whether your new strategy will be temporary or permanent is also essential. Utilize this period to explore the impact of your pivoting on your business and determine if it's worth making the new strategy permanent. It is also essential to keep your customers informed of any changes or precautions you take and reassure them that your organization is working hard to overcome any temporary setbacks.

Explore E-commerce.

‍As a product-based business owner, you should now explore establishing an online presence. There are various options to consider, such as building your online store using e-commerce websites or utilizing online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. You can also leverage social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram for selling. These options have different advantages: customization, exposure to a broad customer base, and easy setup and maintenance.

A significant benefit of moving your business online is the opportunity to offer contactless delivery, which is crucial in social distancing. To make this work for your business, consider pivoting to mobile payments and implementing a cashless policy for all transactions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the global pandemic has undoubtedly affected businesses worldwide. However, by implementing the strategies outlined in this article, businesses can pivot and adapt to the changing business environment.

From creating remote work policies to exploring e-commerce options, transparent communication with customers, and exploring new markets and services, businesses can survive and thrive. It is essential to remember that this is a challenging time, but by staying positive, creative, and agile, businesses can emerge stronger and more resilient from this pandemic.

‍