COVID-19 has been nothing if not a huge shock to business and community. While the pandemic and community health orders are making it increasingly more difficult for some organizations to operate, many businesses can still find a powerful path forward with some creativity and adjustment to their current messaging, systems and operations.
Continue Thriving Amidst Today’s COVID-19 Challenges starts with a new focus on Brand Management
These tips are meant to help inspire small businesses and solopreneurs to remain proactive and growth-oriented, even in this challenging climate! Implementing even some of these can help business owners find new business growth opportunity or relief in maintaining their current business.
Build emotional market share. COVID-19 is a chance to build deeper relationships with your clientele. Listen to the emergent worries of your customers. By showing your kindness and caring, you can be a source of calm. Plus, you can develop a better understanding of their pain points and how you can assist.
Stay in touch. Let all of your customers know if you have to close. If you are able to remain open, in what capacity? Updating your personal search engine profiles and social media accounts have never been easier for this as many have implemented COVID-19 specific tags, category changes and post updates related to COVID.
Strengthen your phone and online customer service. It is a time of adaptation. Convey your policies and store hours to your customers, so they know what they can expect now and in the coming weeks.
Declutter your leads. Economic, civil, political unrest, global health or weather disasters can make staying in touch with clients more than difficult. So, making email delivery and impact with the right message at the right time become even more important. It’s time to tidy up cluttered databases, contact profiles, and email lists. For optimal success with email, add or refine categorization and tagging to these lists so you can target your communications more easily.
Show local leadership. Resist the urge to turn inward at your organization. An unprecedented crisis is a time to teach by example, to embody productivity and courage. It is critical to give your community honest information while also expressing hope “in spite of everything.”
Treat this as a learning experience. Businesses who mastered the latest technologies and broadened their offering were better prepared for this moment. Consider how you can better join their ranks.
Expand your knowledge. It is an excellent time for you and your staff to realign with your industry and brush up on your skills through online courses. These meetings can be inspirational, compelling you to stay current, bolster your brand, and move a new initiative to the front burner.
Network. You can also build your network without having to leave home. In fact, it’s simpler these days. Making a new connection is as easy as private-chatting another video event attendee and asking for their contact info.
Take meaningful action on digital projects and website refreshes. A positive of these difficult times is that things are simplified. With fewer distractions, you can be productive on big-picture concerns.
Always be systematizing. While you may not be able to sell as actively, you can optimize your sales process and delineate your standard operating procedures. It’s also a great time to refine your website and expand your social media presence.
Brighten your brand. Clean up your brand with a fresh look and revived content strategy. Launch a continuity audit to ensure your design bible, mission statement, and messaging are consistently conveyed throughout your digital footprint and printed assets.
Keep pushing with your marketing efforts. As your competition withdraws from the market, get out in front of your target audience. Successful organizations use down economies to attract attention. You can be ideally prepared for the reopening of society by impressing on customers who you are when they have time to hear your message.
At Back2Basics, we look forward to helping you find the opportunities present in a tricky environment. Please contact us to strategize new ways to advance your business today.
To your health and strength —
Back2Basics, LLC | ☎ 763.951.3913
