COVID has put a lot of businesses at a disadvantage, and it is going to take many of them a long time for them to recover. But the good news is, if your business has survived so far, then once lockdowns are over, you may be able to get back on track. Here are some tips to starting the recovery process and getting your business back up and running.
Get your team up to speed
Whether they’ve been furloughed or working remotely, you may need to invest in training and development ahead of reopening and getting back to normal. Consider holding a few online team building activities to bring everyone together and get them all on the same page. If you have a physical location, consider holding a meeting if it’s safe to do so, so you can prepare the work environment and also offer refresher training.
Assess the impact so far
Not all businesses have been impacted by lockdowns, some have thrived in areas where people have stayed at home. Others have managed to get by due to adapting and changing what they do, while others have struggled. It’s important to look not only at your financial situation, but the current state of your business and how it has been affected. You may decide to make some of the changes you’ve made into a permanent thing or change the way you work overall. Whatever your situation, you should try to be objective and flexible. Think about your average customer and how their life and finances will have been impacted, and how your business can serve them in the future.
Invest in marketing
Lockdown being lifted could potentially mean an influx of customers as people go out to celebrate, spend the money they saved while staying at home, and catch up with all the things they missed. That’s why your business needs to invest in marketing and make sure people know you’re reopening and ready to give them what they want.
Some marketing techniques you might want to consider include:
- Social media campaigns
- Paid advertising – from PPC to social media adverts
- Boosting SEO for relevant keywords
- Get in touch with previous customers to let them know you’re back
Both on and off-line marketing could work well post-COVID, so you might want to try a number of channels to get your message across.
Follow local advice
While there is now a roadmap out of COVID lockdowns, it’s important to keep an eye on the news, in case things change. We all know that things aren’t always as smooth as we’d hope, and there could potentially be a return to lockdowns, so make sure you follow local guidance as to what’s safe for you and your employees.
When it comes to COVID, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and no doubt many business owners are now looking forward to getting back to work. If your business has been affected by COVID, then there are steps you can take to help the recovery, so you can start to rebuild and look to the future.
Infographic created by Clover Network, a retail POS company
