Small Business and the COVID-19 Crisis
There’s no doubt that small businesses are being hit hard right now from the current Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. If you’ve hung around us for any amount of time, you know small businesses are our WHY. In fact, serving small businesses is the reason we exist. So we’ve been thinking about how small businesses survive the rollercoaster ride that is 2020? There’s no easy answer; however, here are a few ideas to start implementing and planning at least for the next three months. As we weather this pandemic together, it creates concerns in all our communities. In relation to our health and safety, but also in terms of how our small business community may be impacted. Check out our list of 4 tips to help!
1. COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Communicate with your audience honestly. Whether it’s via social media, email, or texts, strong and positive communication with your customers is vital. Let them know what your business’ plans are and what steps you and your employees are taking to keep everyone safe. Let them know you value and appreciate their business, and will do everything in your power to meet their needs as soon as it is safe and practicable to do so.
2. IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES
Your leadership as a small business owner is always important, but particularly so in this unprecedented time. Make sure you’re using reliable sources and communicating all updates to your employees. For example, our teams here at Larison Media and The Kokomo Post have been able to transition our jobs to 100% remote work from home. We’re doing everything we can to make sure our team is safe and healthy according to the most up to date CDC guidelines. Follow this link for additional information directly from the CDC.
3. LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES
Of course, you’re not trying to capitalize on the tough current events, but your business’ response to the COVID-19 crisis allows you to be creative and think outside the box. How are you doing with all of the recent changes? How can you flex your business to adjust to some of the new guidelines put in place? How do you expect your customers to behave moving forward? Can you digitize any of your products or services, and start offering them online? Can you implement technology to balance any loss of earnings by offering new ways to connect with your customers? All of these questions might offer new opportunities and are important to consider.
4. EQUIP YOUR TEAM
Your employees are relying on you during this crazy time and hopefully, they’re supporting you too. You may find extra time for your team to learn a new skill or engage in additional training. There are (seemingly) unlimited online resources that are available to you. For example, our team is continuing our enrichment hour every week, even though our entire team is self-isolating. We typically watch an educational or inspirational TED talk (free on YouTube) and then spend intentional time discussing what we’ve learned. It connects us and taps into a different part of our skill sets that differs from our typical, task-related conversations. Look for courses and resources that match the needs of your team and use this time to get enriched and come out of quarantine stronger and smarter than ever.
