A significant number of businesses are hurting at the moment. Many have been legally compelled to shut their doors. And worldwide lockdowns have caused foot traffic to dry up to virtually nothing, negatively impacting even those companies allowed to remain open.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Some businesses are actually doing ok. Amazon, for example, has taken on 100,000 new employees to deal with increased demand. The pharmaceutical, delivery, and video conferencing sectors are also doing extraordinarily well.
Now you might be thinking, “I’m not involved in any of those areas.” But the real point here is that despite far-from-perfect circumstances, there are a handful of opportunities. In particular, those brands and businesses that are able to effectively transition online are much more likely to weather the storm.
In this post, we’re going to look at six ways you can quickly take your business digital, ensuring that you’ll emerge from the coronavirus crisis in the best possible shape.
Prioritize Digital Communication Channels
Most companies have an online presence, usually in the form of a mailing list or social media channels like Facebook and Twitter. Often, however, these channels aren’t given much attention beyond the occasional update or email broadcast.
With internet usage at an all-time high, now is the perfect time to prioritize these channels and build out your audience while also engaging your current subscribers, many of whom will be eager to buy products and services from you online.
Focus on crafting a consistent content strategy for your social media accounts and email subscribers, leveraging those platforms that might have previously been neglected.
Offer Clients an Online Meeting Scheduler
With the majority of people working from home, meetings have moved online. And the use of video conferencing apps like Skype and Zoom has surged. But organizing appointments can still be cumbersome, requiring numerous email exchanges, appointment tracking, and clunky video links.
One way of streamlining this process is through a scheduler, which is a simple tool that automates many parts of the booking process, allowing clients to access an online portal where they can schedule, reschedule, and even cancel appointments without any input on your part. They’ll also receive a reminder in the run-up to the appointment along with a video link. And your calendar is immediately updated so you’re kept in the loop.
Take a look at these reviews of five online meeting scheduler apps and pick a scheduler that fits your needs. Your clients will thank you.
Leverage Ecommerce if Possible
If you sell physical products and don’t already have an ecommerce store, then now is the perfect time to build one. This is especially the case if you have an existing base of email subscribers or followers on social media, many of whom will likely be interested in purchasing your products.
What’s more, platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce make the process of creating a store from scratch relatively straightforward. You’ll be up and running, with a catalog of products for your existing customers, in days rather than weeks and months.
As brick-and-mortar shops around the world have shut their doors, consumers have moved online in droves, and ecommerce is booming. Take advantage of this change in buying behaviour while it lasts.
Consider Online Events and Classes
In-person meetings and gatherings are a big no-no. And many businesses, like events venues, gyms, yoga studios, and so on, have struggled to find alternative sources of revenue.
But live-streamed events – from fitness classes and yoga sessions to meditation groups and church services – have proven incredibly successful. Some night clubs have even hosted online raves.
Live-streaming tech and software are inexpensive and easy to use. If you’re not doing so already, consider shifting your events timetable online. And don’t be afraid to charge for tickets. People understand that businesses require support, and with a glut of time on their hands, they’ll likely be looking for something to do.
Explore Alternative Digital Channels
Many brick-and-mortar businesses have incomplete digital strategies. Even some online companies have tunnel-vision when it comes to the way they generate leads and clients.
If day-to-day tasks have taken a backseat and your employees have more free time, you have an excellent opportunity to “build out” your digital game plan and experiment with new lead generation and promotion strategies like paid advertising, search engine optimization, joint ventures, and more. Taking advantage of these new techniques will provide you with a much-needed source of new customers. And with your fuller understanding of online marketing and sales, you’ll be primed for growth when the economy fires up again.
Streamline Online Workflows
Your online workforce is likely relying on an array of digital solutions to perform tasks related to project management, video conferencing, employee time-tracking, and so on.
One way to cut costs and boost efficiency when employees are working at home is by refining your tech stack, opting for platforms and apps that out-perform your current tools.
There are two ways to do this. The first is by combining everyday processes in one solution. Many project management apps offer a gargantuan array of features, removing the need to rely on separate tools. The second is to sync up and automate your software through services like Zapier and any native integrations you might have overlooked.
Conclusion
The coronavirus pandemic has turned the business world upside down. Companies of all sizes, from mom-and-pop retailers to multinational conglomerates, are unsure if they’ll survive.
Now is the time to take stock of the small opportunities that are available, the vast majority of which are online. When things do finally settle down, businesses that sought new avenues to generate clients and revenue are much more likely to thrive.
