With most things at standstill for the time being, every business person will be aware that this period of time will not only affect them financially but be hugely challenging too. On top of this, they will also be questioning how solid the structure of their business really is. Below are some simple tips to keeping your business as strong as it can be during this rough road while also turning some of these new changes into positive long term attributes for your business too.
Don’t panic and stay calm
As you start to see sales fall and business dropping, it’s easy to get into a state of panic whilst desperately looking for ways to make sure it survives this turbulent time. However it’s important to not forget to take care of yourself first in a way that best suits you. Eat well, get enough sleep and get as much exercise in as you can. Keeping on top of your own well-being will give you a healthier mindset which will allow you to think more easily and remain calm which will in turn also reflect how your staff feel too. This outlook will allow everyone to work efficiently and come up with new ideas as a team that are needed going forward. When being faced with difficult decisions, remember to give yourself the time needed to step back and reflect before making any drastic decisions too. Don’t forget you’re not alone in this and things will get better.
Is there an opportunity to migrate your services to be online?
With a few small adaptations to the services they offer, most businesses can continue to provide to their customers online. If you are currently in a trade only providing in-person sales, then this could actually be a brilliant opportunity to expand your reach and start thriving as a business online too. For example, if you provide one to one tuition such as language classes or fitness, why not think about delivering them online? Check out our tips on how to get your business online at this time.
Support your local community..
Use any resources you have to support the community at this time. Not only is it good morale and shows you actively care but its also a brilliant way to gain positive exposure and visibility in the area.
Want to promote your business to the rest of the community?
Take advantage of any support given by the Government or organisations
Ensure to tap into any help or support that is being provided by the Government. Organisations around the world are already putting together many initiatives to support small business owners at this time. These are changing on a daily basis so it’s important to stay up to date to know what’s available to you.
Explore new opportunities
For many businesses types, this is the time to really think creatively about what your clientele love and what sort of extra services you can offer people at this time. You’d be surprised by some of the ingenious adaptations businesses have come up with. Some simple ideas for example if you are a cafe owner, could you use your access to the wholesale catering market to provide people with essential food packages and deliveries which are in high demand during this time. Or, if you are a chef in a restaurant, you could offer people video tutorials on creating some of your famous dishes without giving away your tip top secrets of course! 😉 In the same way, if you are a yoga instructor you could offer your classes via a live stream on platforms like Zoom. You might find yourself a brand new flow of income..
Keep your staff busy and engaged
It’s crucial to keep any staff you have happy and motivated during this time. If you have looked after them well up until now then they will be willing to support you too during this time. Make sure they are supplied with everything they need to work. It’s important to have a daily catch up with everyone too to enable a sense of normality while ensuring everyone is on the same page. If your staff are restricted on what they can work on, why not think about training them on some new skills that will be useful in the times ahead, or perhaps ways they can learn how to help in other departments of the business when staff are low or teams are busy. For example the marketing staff take up some sales training. This could make the business more productive when it’s back to normal.
This might be just the start of the challenging time ahead and most of us will learn day by day the best approach to carry on operating as normal. However we hope by utilizing some of these simple tips it will help your business come out onto the other side. Remember, every obstacle you face is an opportunity waiting to reveal itself and allow you to grow stronger – don’t give up!
