The pandemic has left many businesses struggling with losses, even shutdowns. Most companies have been forced to cut down on their workforce and scale down operations. For some, this unusual business model has reversed their gains or halted their growth entirely.
But, it hasn’t all been bad as some businesses have managed to stay afloat and even make a profit. If you’re wondering whether you can still grow in a pandemic, the answer is “yes.” With a few changes and positivity, you can boost your business well beyond the effects of the deadly Covid-19 disease. Let’s explore a few things you can do for this to happen.
1. Embrace Virtual Services
If you aren’t already handling some of your operations remotely, now is the time for a turnaround. When employees work remotely, you can keep down overhead costs while ensuring productivity amid the pandemic. Of course, you may not be able to offer all your services remotely, but you can have part of the workforce work from home.
Alternatively, you may decide to outsource some crucial services to your business. This is especially in departments like customer service, where you can hire a virtual receptionist to keep your customers attended to in pandemic times. These services also come in handy when working out of the office or absent some of your employees.
Additionally, platforms like Zoom, slack, skype, and the like make it easier to keep in touch with your remote employees.
2. Maintain Customer Relationships
Whether you’re using the traditional business model or a new system, your customers should be at the center of your business. The pandemic has made it challenging to stay in touch with customers, making it more necessary to find new ways to keep them.
One way to keep customers is by making it easy for them to find you. If your online presence is weak, customers will reach out to your competition. As more customers spend their time online, so should you. How?
- Ensure you have social media pages and they’re interactive.
- If you have a website, update it with the latest information.
- Ensure you offer quality content that keeps not only new customers coming back but also attracts new ones.
- Take advantage of SEO optimization to increase visibility.
3. Be Smart About Digital Marketing
With the pandemic forcing more people to stay at home, customers are now turning to online stores for essential products and services. With this in mind, digital marketing becomes a priority. The upside of moving your business online is the low costs, and you can use free resources like blogs and newsletters.
However, as more companies try to market themselves online, the internet is now flooded with information. To get customers’ attention, you’ll have to be strategic about your placement. Start by creating a winning digital marketing strategy with smart goals and stick to it. Determine the purpose of your plan and the kind of impact you hope to achieve. Then, keep track of your progress.
4. Invest In Employee Relations
Your employees form an integral part of your success, and they are your greatest asset. The pandemic has not only affected businesses but also families, meaning your employees could also be facing pressures at home. If possible, invest in counseling programs at work to help them cope with the difficulties.
On top of these, you can allow them to work from home if their job allows it. To avoid frustrations, provide them with the tools they need to work remotely. You can also prevent layoffs by doing salary cuts or forgoing bonuses for senior employees.
5. Hop Onto Webinars
Webinars are an interactive, low-cost way to generate leads. Use the opportunity to showcase products or tell potential customers about your business. Webinars are also an intelligent way to determine your customers’ needs, give their feedback, and ask questions about your products. One of the most significant benefits of a webinar is that you can communicate with customers from all over the world. This also means cutting down on traveling costs for you and your customers.
6. Leverage Data For New Opportunities
Understanding customer needs is one of the most excellent ways to get new leads. It also helps you keep up with your customers’ changing needs, especially as the pandemic interrupts lifestyles and therefore buying decisions.
You collect data through:
- Surveys in which you ask customers about their preferences
- Email marketing, where you track the number of likes, responses, or clicks
- A tracker on your app or website
- Social media pages, whereby you check the characteristics of your followers or the number of times your brand has been mentioned
Collecting data is just one part of the sales process. You need to interpret it and turn it into sales by either using tools or hiring an expert.
Worried your business might not grow in the pandemic? No need to. You can still hit your targets by going virtual to cut down costs. Because customers spend most of their time online, pursue them through smart digital marketing strategies and bolstering your online presence. On top of these, improve communication with your employees as they are your company’s greatest asset.
