To say that living under COVID has been rough would be an understatement. We had to adjust to all the health and safety protocols, which meant social distancing, wearing masks, and many other regulations. But while everyone was affected, it seems that businesses have taken the biggest hit from the pandemic.
The revenue they once had dried out, and millions of businesses had to close their doors for good. With reduced earnings, they couldn’t pay the rent costs, insurance, and other monetary obligations for longer periods. The persistent ones tried to work around the pandemic by changing how they work to have at least some income. But, even some of those owners had to shut down their businesses.
But all is not lost. Although selling products or providing services during the lockdown is difficult, you can plan for the future. Think about your next ventures so you can get your business on track as soon as possible when the lockdowns get lifted. And with that in mind, here are some things for you to consider.
Update Your Goals
Having a clear idea of what you want to achieve is crucial for every business. So take this time to reevaluate your goals. Make a plan for everything you want to do, what you want to improve and what you want to continue doing. But make sure you set realistic objectives and write down the steps you need to take to reach those goals. That way, you and your workers will know what needs to be done to succeed.
And if you want to make this process as effective as possible, incentivise your goals. Give awards for every achieved objective. You can celebrate by going out to dinner with your team or even giving cash bonuses. You can also give them corporate gifts. They are practical items your employees will surely appreciate.
Consider Rebranding
During this calmer period, think about how you can improve your branding. If your logo has been the same for years, think of ideas for a new design. Maybe add a splash of colour, or change the colour palate completely. Simplifying the logo by changing the font can also have positive effects on your brand.
And it’s never been more important to stay innovative. In our constantly evolving world, designs can quickly become outdated. New entrepreneurs are continually coming out with brilliant ideas, and if you don’t keep improving, there is a chance you could lose customers to your biggest competitors.
It’s essential to modernise your brand because that will show your customers that you are constantly working on improving your business. And if you cannot do it on your own, hire a graphic designer. They know what things to avoid and will help you with your rebranding.
Update Your Website
You may be preoccupied with other business obligations that you completely forget about your website. But don’t let that happen because your website can be a useful branding tool. Think of it this way, all the people that can’t reach you physically will go to your website for information. And if your website is not up to date, those people may get misinformed, which can drive them away from your business.
You can revamp your website, now seeing as you have some spare time on your hands. Check if all the prices are correct and update them if they aren’t. If you changed locations, be sure to leave the current address in the “Contact us” section.
And if you think your website needs some refreshing, hire a web designer to change it. They can suggest designs that will work best for your type of business, from which you can choose the one you like the most.
An up-to-date website can become an even more important tool if the pandemic worsens again. Customers won’t be able to come through your doors, but you could set up an online shop through your website. That way, you can keep doing business and not lose all the revenue.
Refresh Your Uniforms
While on the topic of rebranding, consider refreshing your uniforms. Brighten up the designs to make your staff always look up-to-date. You can add a couple of different colourways to your branded T-shirt lineup or change the design entirely. The good thing about the whole process is that your options are limitless. For example, you can create shirts for more formal situations, custom polo shirts and personalised outdoor clothing, among others.
Also, it’s a good idea to give your employees new shirts every four months. Shirts can get worn out fast, and you wouldn’t want your staff to look unprofessional by wearing dingy attire to work.
Additionally, when you expand your set of shirts, you can create a schedule based on what shirt you and your team will wear on what day. Mondays can be a polo shirt day, Wednesdays can be a day for formal shirts, and you can wear casual t-shirts on Fridays. Mix it up, and be sure to take pictures. You can use them to freshen up your company’s social media profiles and introduce your followers to the people who keep the company running.
And again, if you are not sure how to do this, you can hire a team of professionals to help you with the design of your uniforms. They can draw up several styles, and you can then choose the ones you like the best.
Prepare Marketing Campaigns
You have to be ready to hit the ground running as soon as it’s time to reopen. And a great way to prepare is to come up with a new marketing strategy. With a few in your pocket, you can get off to a strong start and begin earning money to cover the losses you experienced during the lockdown. However, what makes a great marketing campaign?
Well, the first task on the list is to make the campaign ahead of schedule. You don’t want to be thinking about your marketing strategy a day or two before reopening. You will have a lot of things on your plate, and you won’t be able to focus solely on selling your brand to the best of your abilities.
What’s more, you should take into account all the ways you can market your brand. You could create a plan regarding marketing on social media that will involve what you want to post and when. Also, create an email campaign that could serve as a one-time newsletter. You could inform your clients that you are working again in those emails, and you can tell them about upcoming discounts you have in store for them.
And last but not least, order promotional products that you can use in your marketing campaign. We have a variety in our collection such as custom printed bags, logo mugs, printed pens, and personalised notebooks. They are powerful tools for spreading brand awareness, so make sure you have enough of them in stock.
Welcome Your Employees with Enthusiasm
Remote work has been the most used model of business during the pandemic. Some have found that this way of working suits them perfectly, while others still prefer the in-office working environment. Many find motivation and joy for working when they have some form of physical contact with colleagues.
Luckily, your employees are coming back to their workspaces, and that is the perfect opportunity for you to boost their spirits even more with a gift. You can give them a nice branded water bottle or Terracotta Plant Pots that will brighten up their working stations.
Such gifts are signs of appreciation that can go a long way with your employees. That little burst of positive energy can motivate them to put in the extra effort now that they’re finally back in the office, which in return, can help your business immensely.
Summing Up
Coronavirus has significantly changed the way we live and work. Many businesses had to shut down, and many others are struggling. But there are ways you can make the situation better. As we’ve seen in this article, creating a solid business strategy before reopening can make all the difference.
So use this calmer period to recharge and think ahead. Take some time to analyse your business and see what needs work so you can begin with redesigning. It’s important not to stay idle for long as you might need to dedicate more time to some segments than you originally planned. You can think about refreshing your business model or adding certain services that you didn’t have before. Also, you can invest some time in creating new marketing campaigns.
Also, consider your staff. They will be coming back to work so you can perhaps organise some team building activities. They will help you and your employees catch up on everything you’ve missed during the pandemic.
Additionally, you can ask your customers for feedback about what improvements they would want to see from you. You can then use this information to upgrade your business and hopefully boost your sales.
And if you are not sure where to start and what to focus on, use this article as guidance. Carefully go through all the steps that are mentioned, and maybe you will get some inspiration.
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