COVID-19 has caused many businesses to close and loss of livelihoods. A recent survey shows 80% of US businesses expect the COVID-19 effects to continue for the next 16 months. Meanwhile, 90% of the companies are planning for an economic slowdown.
During the ongoing pandemic, keeping a small business afloat can be difficult. Juggling between sustaining your business, reassuring employees, and the introduction of face masks, hand sanitiser and social distancing, is a massive headache. But you must lead during the prevailing crisis.
Here are small business owner tips to keep your business going during COVID-19.
1. Focus on Efficiency
With profits waning, efficiency is the most popular among small business tips. Every entrepreneur wants to ensure less waste and fewer costs. It’s not about slashing entire expenses but more like a strategic efficiency approach that keeps your business sustainable.
Brainstorm with your team what costs to cut and how to install efficiency in your operations. Some expenses may not be necessary at all─ especially during the ongoing pandemic.
Think about the reducible expenses that may not affect the quality of your operations. You could try cutting corners around rent since you may not be using your office at all.
You should also cut down marketing expenses that don’t seem practical. For instance, some billboards may not be useful when few people are using the highways.
Make sure you’re only operating with the necessary expenses. You can leverage your free time to cover the eliminated departments. What’s important is to work at a sustainable level and keep your customers happy.
2. Keep an Eye Out for Opportunities
You can come across eye-opening moments to help your business despite all the chaos. For instance, you can find a delivery company to deliver to customers’ doorsteps. If you sell cleaning products, you can introduce sanitizers.
Essential business tips for COVID-19 is to analyze your business model to see if it can withstand the pandemic. How will you serve your customers from now on and cater to their new needs? Do you expect any changes in your customers’ behaviors?
You may need to install technology to improve customer service to avoid face-to-face meetings, such as modes of communication. Zoom has become popular and the most in-demand conferencing tool. Most businesses have put in place online stores to continue selling amidst quarantines.
3. Adapt Your Marketing Strategies
A lot of marketing strategies are ineffective with the current market scenario. It’s impossible to predict market trends and consumer behavior.
But to make it, you must study market behavior and conceive effective tactics. That way, you can reposition and come back stronger post-pandemic.
Maybe you’ve been operating offline and all you need is a website to take your business to the next level. Read this helpful post to learn more about leveraging websites. This can certainly help you reach far customers, sell even in remote areas, and grow an online market.
Most people are focused on the pandemic so a brand reposition can help you overhaul customer perceptions. Post pandemic, you can leverage a fresh image and build your brand on a new personality.
4. Take Advantage of Small Business Owners Support
With low sales, most businesses have experienced shrinking incomes. This has led to the loss of employment and some companies had to shut down. Governments have had to introduce financial aid to cushion economies from the crisis.
In the US, the government passed into law the Relief, the Coronavirus Aid, and the CARES Act. The three packages move the US economy up to $2 trillion. Citizens, government departments and any business can enjoy the stimulus packages.
For a small business, the bills provide tax deferrals, soft loans, and financial help. Other governments around the globe have also installed financial aid for small businesses.
Pro Small business owner tips. The best thing you can do for your business is to take advantage of appropriate business aid. You may not need to repay loans below $10,000. If you’re a sole proprietor or employing less than 500 people, you may enjoy a 3.75% interest on your loan.
5. Learn from Your Peers
Analyzing competitors is one of the most timeless small business owner tips. Competitor information helps you build smarter tactics. But amidst the coronavirus crisis, you may need to pay attention and apply effective tactics.
Look around your industry to establish companies that are thriving in the crisis. Collect working tactics and try to figure out how your competitors are succeeding. You may also need to talk to other industries. Some methods can work across sectors.
During crises, existing circumstances prompt creativity and innovation. The more information you have, the better you can get prepared post-pandemic.
6. Prioritize Health and Safety
During this unpredictable time, your health is the most critical asset. Your staff, customers, and partners are also your top priority. Thus despite the heightening economic challenges, you must ensure they are safe.
Embrace remote working for your staff as long as it ensures their safety. This is the time to digitize to reduce crowding and improve online customer service. Use videos or chats to keep connections and cut on the flesh meetings.
For your health and mind, eat healthily and exercise more. Stay positive and adopt a calm approach to avoid absorbing current pressures. Accept that most things are beyond your reach and give your best to realistic goals.
7. Focus on Your Customers
Here are the most valuable business tips for COVID-19. Focus on your customers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Forget your competitors for a moment and direct all your efforts towards customers. They are the difference between making profits or losses.
Figure out how you can adapt and meet their needs. If you own a restaurant, you can use apps to encourage online orders and home deliveries. Accept other modes of payments instead of cash. Also, introduce discounts to empathize with those facing financial troubles.
By satisfying your customers, you can keep them and avoid starting from scratch.
Try These Small Business Owner Tips
You may face many business struggles, but don’t give up on your business. You’re still able to keep it afloat. Everything may not work out right away but if you consistently apply the business tips for COVID-19, you can save your business.
Hopefully, these small business owner tips will help you through the rough patch. You can find more business advice on our site. Check out our blog today.