This post will show you how to stay ahead during the slow season.
Given the situation now, it is quite evident that the COVID-19 coronavirus health crisis will leave some economic consequences, which would definitely hit businesses hard.
While business owners need to focus on developing new strategies to keep their businesses afloat, it is also crucial that they plan for the future and be prepared for whatever may happen next.
Now, if your business is hit by the slow season, take a deep breath and have an open mind. We have enumerated some ways to help you get ahead while you still can.
1. Do not stop looking for leads.
Your business may be struggling to continue operating in the new normal. However, don’t let any issue discourage you. Now maybe your chance to find a new set of target customers.
Take the time to generate new leads. Find new avenues and channels where potential customers may be hiding. By doing this, you will have a pool of leads to call and tap into once things go back to normal.
Now, you don’t just stop finding leads. You have to do everything you can to increase their confidence in you and trust you as a business. If you look after your potential clients at a crucial time like this, you are showing them that you are staying on top of things.
2. Alter your products or services in a way that answers the need for the current situation.
In major cities all over the world, the general public is advised to stay at home. This poses difficulties for business, especially those that follow the B2C model and depends on real-time and face-to-face interactions.
So, to stay in the business, be creative. Think of ways to deliver your services and products to your clients who are at home. For example, if you are a restaurant owner, you can offer free delivery or give away discounts and incentives to keep up with your competitors.
3. Market your products and services with the current crisis in mind.
Ask yourself if any of your products or services could be beneficial in this health crisis. And if you find one, come up with a marketing strategy to highlight it.
Remember that a versatile marketing strategy is effective right now because many consumers are wondering whether your business is still operational. Make sure they know you are open and going strong.
4. Check if your services are still essential later on.
Aside from thinking about now, you have to think of what will happen in the future. What if your business survives this health outbreak? What strategies do you have in place to move forward and step up your game? Do not think that once this COVID-19 crisis is over, things will go back as if nothing happened. There will be significant changes, so you have to prepare for it.
One thing you need to consider is the fact that consumers who have been used to enjoying the perks of staying at home may stick with remote or online solutions. There is a chance that they will no longer opt for the solutions they were once accustomed to prior to the pandemic.
Again, assuming you are running a restaurant business, some of your consumers might no longer want to visit your physical location once the virus has been contained. They’d rather order food online as they find it more convenient. So, prepare for this situation. Will you continue your online ordering system and have your customers’ food delivered at their doorsteps? Or will you have another strategy in mind to answer their demands?
5. Determine the risks and challenges involved.
To come up with better and effective strategies, you need to identify all the risks and challenges that your business may come across with. You need this information in strategizing solutions for various scenarios.
Take into account everything, from finding consumers to difficulties in communications. Include every possible scenario, even if it’s the worst case you can ever imagine.
6. Prepare solutions for each scenario.
Once you have identified the challenges, think of solutions that can resolve each. Although it’s quite impossible to simulate or think of what’s really going to happen, it’s better to have a plan ahead. This way, you can make quick adjustments, should the unimaginable become a reality.
7. Think of other ways to continue your daily operations.
Soon, the coronavirus health crisis will affect your daily operations. It will possibly affect your staffing, communication lines, supply chains, and even your future travel plans. Hence, instead of canceling scheduled events, business trips, or other plans, get your creative juices flowing and think of alternative solutions.
For instance, if you are expecting a visit to your office from a potential customer, it is possible that they won’t pursue the trip, considering the current situation. So, provide them with an alternative. You can schedule a meeting via FaceTime or Skype. If they want to see your production area, you can have a virtual tour or send them a pre-recorded video.
8. Upgrade your programs, machinery, and equipment to get things flowing.
The health threat may have forced all your staff to pursue a work from home setup. But don’t let it affect your daily operations. Come up with a plan to ensure communication remains as efficient as possible. Sure, chats and video calls won’t be as fast as in an office setting, but you can always do something about it.
If you are having a meeting with your team, use online platforms like Asana for planning and Google Docs for collaborative document creation. You may also use Stormboard for file-sharing. Introduce these technologies as early as now so that if the need arises, your staff already knows what to do.
9. Teach your staff the basics.
If the need to pursue a remote working setup arises for you and your business, everyone in your team should know the basics. Teach them things like PC repair strategies, some of the most common Mac error solutions, how to speed up computers, and even how to delete junk files. They may not appreciate these pieces of information right now, but in the long run, they’ll thank you.
Wrapping Up
We can never tell how this pandemic will end. Hopefully, you should be able to stay ahead during the slow season.
Things may be back to normal in a matter of weeks. It could also result in a worldwide recession in the next year. But if you are truly determined to keep your business afloat during these slow times, never give up. A firm and solid strategy will keep you versatile and adaptable to changes.
What other strategies can you think of that will help businesses stay up and operational during these slow times? Let us know in the comments.
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