5 Tips to Stay Busy During COVID-19
Tip 1. Revisit Your Business Plan or Growth Plan
The reason I have this ranked as the number one tip is because it is something that is rarely, if ever revisited. What you will read just might make a lightbulb go off on something you completely forgot about. As we go through our daily routines, business takes us down a path or paths that are different than what we had originally visualized. You had one idea or growth plan that changes with one contract, retail store, distributor and so on. It is important we revisit these parts of our business goals and plans, but seldom if ever have the time. Because of this, we push the idea of revisiting our business plan to the back of our minds, very back… When business slows because of something like what are currently going through, it gives us the ability to utilize time different than we normally would be able to. Happy reading!
Tip 2. Review Your Website
Even if you have a company handling your website, remember they are a website design and/or hosting company. They are not in the field or industry your business is. In reviewing your website, take the time to think about what has changed since the last time you did anything with your website. Sure, new products or services may have been added, but what has changed in your industry? How does the competitions websites look? I’m not saying to copy what others are doing but take the time to look and see if they have made any changes to keep up with times. This is just a part of market research. Our website tells a story, and every customer, client or prospect sees the story being told. Is your website telling the story you are happy with? If yes, check tip 2 off, and move on. If no, what needs to be tweaked?
Tip 3. Your Social Media
What do you do for your company’s social media involvement? I am not talking about one specific social media outlet; I am talking about all outlets. Some work better than others and make more sense for your specific industry. But, are you utilizing them the way you could? Much like your website, if you have a person doing social media for you, they are good at their job, social media. You are the one who understands your industry. Is your social media tied to your growth? No matter what type of business you have, you should have a YouTube channel. Why? Because video is gaining ground and starting to get higher rankings on search engines. Video does the best job explaining your point. Another outlet that is a must is a Facebook page for your company. Link back to this, get involved in FB groups having to do with your industry. These two outlets alone will help as things start getting back to “normal”. Also, does Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and so on give you the ability to get your word out? It is worth the time to investigate each possibility.
Tip 4. Revamp Your Print
It is easy to fall into the norm of past printed flyers and what has been made. If your touch pieces are doing a good enough job, why change them right? Wrong. With a little extra time on your hands, this is a perfect time to look over your print and email templates and make sure they are how you want them to look. Don’t keep anything active that looks dated. I understand that you may have 5,000 or even 10,000 pieces still in some closet. The thing is, dated material can cause you to lose business. Keep a fresh look, this will keep people’s interest. As you start looking over your print, don’t over think the cost. You are always better off printing what you need, you can always print more later. The 20% you save is not worth the space those boxes are taking up in your supply closet.
Tip 5. Write an 18-month Bullet Point Plan
From a business coach prospective, maybe I saved the best for last. Or did I just book end this article? Tip one was about revisiting your business plan, tip five is about writing an 18-month plan. You have the time to plan, now more than ever. Don’t just write a plan around sales growth, write a plan for your business. What do you want to accomplish over the next 18 months? Sure, adding customers needs to be on there, but how? Does social media need to be a part of the plan? New products or offerings? Maybe even some type of seminars or educational offerings. Get creative but make the plan realistic. Once you start, you will be on a roll. You will start remembering things you have wanted to do but have not got around to it. Now’s the time, right it down and make sure you get around to it.
We are in an interesting time, there is no doubt about this. However, rather than watching the news or talking to others about how bad things are and continue to get, use this time to think about the positives. This is what will have the biggest impact on you. How you come out of this.
There will be three types of people one the COVID-19 pandemic is gone. A. The person who blames this virus for the next three years for everything they lost and how hard of a time it was on them. B. The person who will just get back to the norm and start life back up as though this virus never happened. And C., the person who will be a part of the charge to help the economy surge and look forward to all the opportunities ahead of them.
Keeping busy with a positive mindset and revisiting positive things will get your brain moving. We will move past this and business will get back to usual. The only difference is we have to opportunity with time to make the business as usual a little bit more than just usual.