Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, more people stay at home to stop the spread of the disease. As a result, businesses face a dilemma: find a way to adapt to this temporary new way of life or shut down entirely.
During the pandemic, only essential businesses remain open (e.g., supermarkets, convenience stores, and pharmacies). Non-essential businesses, on the other hand, are required to shut down their brick-and-mortar operations.
Fortunately, there are different strategies you can use to still serve customers, advertise to potential customers, and add new services.
Go Online with Your Services
If you do not have a website yet, it’s time to call up your local web design agency in IL, Chicago and let them build you one. Everyone’s at home so most of their shopping activities are done online. Use your website and social media platforms to advertise your business and allow customers to make purchases.
If your business involves holding in-person classes, brainstorm ways you can host all of your courses online. Keep in mind that you’ll need to offer curbside resources to supplement your programs, such as cooking tools, yoga mats, or art kits.
Live stream classes are also a growing trend in this new state of normal. Use online platforms to maintain an active sense of community with your current and new clients.
Adjust Your Delivery and To-Go Tactics
Most businesses are now utilizing a “touchless” system by providing clients with delivery and to-go orders. Initially, some customers might be hesitant about this new form of delivery of their products. Ease their mind by offering free or discounted shipping, which can encourage more online orders and protect your employees and customers.
Get Creative to Stay Relevant
If you have the opportunity to create new products that will help customers during this period of the pandemic, do it. For example, if you are a fashion boutique, you can make your own reusable masks or source for fashionable washable face masks.
If you are a liquor manufacturer, you may reformulate your alcohol ingredients and produce alcohol disinfectants and hand sanitizers instead. You’ll need help from experts to do this.
Use Your Spare Time to Take Courses and Learn
Spend your time reading more about the current market, particularly articles on your industry. Learn what other businesses are doing during this time of lockdown. Research what your competitors are currently doing and figure out how you can improve their techniques.
Consider this quarantine as your opportunity to condense information, which you can use to your advantage. You may also use the time to plan. Gather your team (if you have) via a video conferencing app and discuss your next plan once the lockdown has been lifted.
Your business can still function in the midst of a lockdown. If you can find ways to implement social distancing and help your customers and employees get through these tough times, your business will stay relevant.