What does your small business need to do now in light of COVID-19?

By Henry Brown

There is no denying that the past two years have been difficult for a lot of people. The pandemic has really changed the way that we live, and this has made a massive difference to small businesses all around the world. Some small businesses have needed to shut their doors altogether. And there are those that have had to rethink the way they operate because of the latest rules and regulations. With that being said, below, we are going to reveal some tips and pieces of advice when it comes to powering through over the next year in light of COVID-19.

– Put health and safety first – There is only one place to begin when it comes to navigating the current business climate, and this is by putting health and safety first. The importance of this simply cannot be overlooked. Rules and regulations have come into play regarding factors like health and safety. Therefore, you need to make sure that you stay up-to-date with the information pertaining to this. After all, it is a fluid situation and the details are changing all of the time, so make sure that you keep updated with all of the details.

If you are reopening after behind shut down, you will need to update your PPE and implement social distancing. Mask recommendations have changed in the wake of the Omicron variant; take a look at these face masks to help choose what’s right for you and your employees right now. You may want to consider staggered start and finish times. By doing this, it will make it easier to manage the number of people entering and leaving your premises at the same time. Aside from this, you need to upgrade your company’s cleaning efforts too. A lot of people think their typical cleaning approach will suffice, but that’s not the case. You need electrostatic office cleaning to ensure you protect your own health and everyone else’s who enters your office space.

– Think about how your customers’ needs have changed due to the pandemic – In addition to the new health and safety requirements, there are plenty of other things that have changed because of the pandemic. For example, the attitude that customers have has changed. People’s priorities have also changed. You need to think about how COVID-19 has impacted your customers. What do they care about now? What do they want? What is their current financial situation? These are some of the things you need to keep in mind when it comes to understanding your customers and what matters to them the most. You will probably need to revisit your strategies and address the customer journey. You may even want to think about the sort of products and services you’re pushing at the moment, as COVID-19 will impact this as well.

– Communicate with your employees effectively during this period – Communication is critical for everyone business, and it is even more so important when you consider the uncertain times that we live in at the moment. A lot of employers do not realize that their staff members are in a state of panic. A lot of people worry about their jobs and what the pandemic means for their future. You may assume your employees are assured and that they know that their job is okay. However, how will they know that this is the case if you do not tell them? Plus, you need to be open and honest when things look a bit murky and things have gone wrong. By communicating with your workforce, you make sure that they are on the same page as you. Even if the news is bad, it gives them the opportunity to make provisions so they can limit the damage. Simply staying silent will not help anyone.

– Invest in marketing – You also need to think about how you are going to market your business successfully during this period. This fits in with the earlier part we mentioned about understanding your customers and how their needs have changed during this period. You need to do this before you can put together an expert marketing strategy. You may also want to rethink your approach to marketing in general. A lot of businesses have had to tighten their purse strings due to the pandemic. If this applies to you, you may be looking for low-cost and free ways to make an impact with your marketing strategy.

A good place to begin is with social media. After all, social media is free to use. Not only this, but it is a great platform for building meaningful connections with customers and potential customers. Social media gives you the ability to show off your brand’s personality. You will be able to connect with customers based on shared interests, answer queries, and ensure that people can get closer to your brand than ever before. This personal touch is something that really matters to customers, especially during this uncertain time.

– Be flexible – Last but not least, making your business a flexible one is critical. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we never really know what is around the corner. This is why it is vital to try and inject some flexibility into your company. Look for different ways to make your business more fluid. Perhaps you may want to think about expanding your services, for example? Maybe you may want to look at different ways to move some of your business activities to being carried out on a remote basis?

So there you have it: some of the different considerations to help you through the difficult period that lies ahead. While things have changed because of COVID-19, you can still get through this difficult period. We hope the tips and advice that has been provided in this post will assist.

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Henry Brown is an online marketing executive. When he isn’t talking shop, he’s roaming the streets of London, uncovering the extra-ordinary in the ordinary.

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