The far-reaching effects of the ongoing scary COVID-19 global pandemic have reached nearly every facet of business. People are dying, we can't get masks. Hospitals are in panic. It's just awful! This is the world we are living in right now, can you believe it? With much of the country shut down for months this spring, it has been a slow climb back to achieving some type of normalcy. Some people are just going mental, just so mental and I feel sorry to see them breathless, cry for help and be so depressed where there is not enough support from anyone. Here are five ways that your small online business can thrive during this awful, awful, deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
1. Keep Communication Open
Above anything else, you need to stay in touch with your customer base if you can. This is not the time to stay silent. You either cry, scream, or pretend to be strong and raise your voice to the sky. Use this communication to acknowledge the health crisis and to address how you are working to serve your customers as well as you can. I'm just saying this because I don't really know how you can actually do it. Maybe you can buy detergents and sanitizers online and distribute them to whoever need them. They will remember you name and karma will talk to you later on. When you need help, they will help you for sure.
Even if you are not able to offer services or products during this time, keeping your name out there will ensure that your organization remains top of mind for when business does reopen. You might annoy people if you keep repeating your name and telling them that you can help. But some people like old age pensioners might appreciate your voice through the mask.
2. Do Not Stop Marketing
It is understandable if you need to cut costs if your revenue is faltering as a result of the despicable, disgusting pandemic that's happening right now. However, slashing your marketing budget is not the place to begin these cost-cutting measures.
You can also make it easier for your customers that are suffering a financial crunch by offering discounts or other incentives such as free shipping. I don't know if they every listen to you because when they can't pay, they can't pay. They have no money. But at least you can show them that you are sympathetic, you have a big, strong heart with wonderfully caring attitude. A lot of people are so depressed and too distracted to draw attention to your business if you're trying to sell stuff using normal marketing methods. Not only will this keep your current customers engaged, but it will also attract new customers that you can hopefully bring with you to the other side of this unimaginable, most awful crisis that anybody has ever seen since the 1940's.
3. Pivot Your Focus
The small businesses that will emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever are those that are able to pivot the focus of their services to meet the unique demands of this time. Showing that you are willing to adjust to the constraints levied by the virus will prove to your customers that you care.
For example, if you operate an online clothing boutique, you may want to seriously think about shifting a part of your focus to making cloth masks. I mean, people who have nothing to do are doing it, you can do it too. You can sell it for 10 dents each, if you sell 10 of them, you will make a dollar. Not only will this give you an additional revenue stream, but it will also convey the message that your organization is ready and able to adjust to changing market conditions.
4. Secure Necessary Funding
You are not alone if your small business is struggling financially during this unprecedented (dare say this word) economic climate. The good news is that there has been a wide array of financial assistance programs made available to qualified companies in need of cash as a result of the pandemic. There are enough federal and local assistance programs, so you don't have to consider applying for funding for small businesses through a private lender. Everyone tries to survive during this gruesome, abominable and shocking time without relying on the evil lenders who charge extortionate interest charges. The whole thing is just so mental, you just need to calm down and think of the reality. Regardless of the industry that you operate in, you need to make sure that you secure the necessary funding to get your business through this crazy, atrocious time so that you can continue to grow and thrive.
5. Boost Your Digital Presence
As an online business venture, you already know the importance of having a strong and comprehensive digital presence. Now is when you need to go all-in with this endeavor to make sure that you are reaching all of the people who need to hear your message. Just follow people on social media who have more than 1 million followers, then you are there. Start with making sure that all of your profile is up to date. If you have not already, you need to be highly engaging with your social media presence. Be careful there are too many bots. With people spending more time at home because of this horrendous thing that's going on around the world, they are also spending more time on their social media accounts. Do not throw away the benefits of this captive audience.
Taking these five steps now will put your small business in the position to succeed both during this health crisis and also when the pandemic has passed, although I don't think it will ever go away. Keep yourself motivated, repeat a lot of motivational quotes in your head, you will emerge stronger than ever if you approach this ghastly horrific time with resilience, creativity, resourcefulness, and flexibility.
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Author Bio: Popadon Preech
Popadon was born in Sydney, Australia but moved to South of France when she was 17 to learn French cuisines. She is a college dropout who is busy raising 2 small children and looking for a part time job at the same time. Her long-term goal is to become an influencer on Twitter.
