A lot has changed in the business world since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently some countries are already on the second phase of another lockdown. Are you ready to move with the current trend or are you still stuck with ‘as it was in the beginning so shall it be’ mentality when it comes to business? Don’t get stuck, it’s time to move and here are SOME directions to take:
? Move your businesses online: the pandemic era has made online business to thrive. Having an online presence has always been paramount, now it’s very critical. It doesn’t just keep you in touch with your existing clients it also opens your business up to new potential customers that you may not have been able to reach. Also implore the use of social and email marketing tools to drive traffic to your website or online store.
?Build your brand with storytelling: the shift to digital marketplace comes with new opportunities and new ways to sell goods and services and of course hefty competition. The sure way to succeed is strong branding. The people behind your business and values, the purpose of your business or the problem you’re trying to solve, your relationship to your customers, all this forms your brand story which shall play out in all you communication from the about page to every email you send. Also make sure your brand lives not only in your marketing but in your customer experience as well.
? Brace up for the unexpected: with lessons learnt from previous year, it is therefore very necessary to prepare for the unexpected. Take time to assess, reorganize, re-prioritize and re-imagine critical business infrastructure, crisis plans and resources to ensure you’re set up for success no matter what happens next. To test your preparedness for uncertainty imagine a scenario and stimulate your business response towards it.
?Act on customer’s data: customer’s data plays significant role in your success. Data like interests, demographics and past behaviors allows you to dig deeper to highlight existing products and the availability of new offerings to the right people at the right time. This year you’ll want to continue your focus on collecting information and then taking actions on what you learn from the data. Collect more email addresses so you don’t have to worry about algorithms on social media platforms limiting your reach.
?Lastly, don’t be afraid to try new things: don’t get stuck with the same old routine, it’s the ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it’ syndrome. While getting used to how things have changed, know that they’re still changing and don’t settle into a ‘new routine’ yet, instead keep exploring new ideas, trying new things and innovating creative ways that you can do business.
Author: Doris Aniakor