5 Ways Small Businesses Can Survive the Rest of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Gloria Martinez - 26th August 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on everyone, including small business owners. According to APAC Insider, the businesses that have embraced creativity and pivoted are those that have managed to thrive throughout this difficult time. If you are an entrepreneur looking for ways to stay afloat during the remainder of the pandemic, this guide from Enactus Aston offers some helpful tips.
1. Revamp Your Website, Social Media, and Other Digital Marketing
As vaccines are rolled out and more people are venturing out of their homes, it's a great time to boost your marketing efforts. You want to remind consumers that you're still there and ready to serve them. Start by upgrading your website, then share the new platform via your social media channels. If you need assistance for your marketing efforts, or other external affairs, get in touch with a digital marketer for all your SEO and web needs.
2. Invest in Technology to Make Your Business More Pandemic Friendly
A low-demand business period is also a great time to implement and test new technologies. Focus on implementing tools that will make your business more pandemic friendly. For example, if you don't have contactless payments in place yet, this is a great time to take care of it. Small Business Computing provides a handy how-to for adopting contactless payments.
You might also use this opportunity to develop a mobile app for your business. This can make it easier for customers to place orders and pay remotely, further accommodating health measures like social distancing.
Streamlining operations is much needed during tough times, so it's vital to invest in software that will help to simplify business tasks, such as accounting, customer relationship management, and scheduling software.
3. Find a Larger Workspace
Are you operating your business from your home? You may seize this opportunity to move into a larger home that can better accommodate your business. Connect with a dependable estate agent and start looking for homes with the features you’ll need to run your business effectively. Carefully consider how much you can afford—using a mortgage calculator can give you a realistic estimate.
4. Take Advantage of Reduced Foot Traffic to Implement Renovations
If you have a brick-and-mortar business, you might also use this time to make renovations. When remodeling your business, make sure to hang on to any receipts and invoices. You may be able to write off some of the expenses in your annual tax filing. If you aren't sure what qualifies as a deduction, consult a tax professional.
5. Know What You Can DIY Versus What You Should Outsource
As an entrepreneur, it can be tempting to keep a tight hold on every aspect of your business operations. Unfortunately, this can leave you overloaded and result in entrepreneurial burnout. Social Triggers explains that burnout can result in lost motivation, and is a form of depression.
Avoid this outcome by outsourcing specialised tasks to external professionals. Web design and social media management are just two examples. Pinnacle Cart identifies other areas that small businesses can outsource, like accounting, IT, human resources, logistics, and customer service.
The Final Word
The COVID-19 pandemic may have left you nervous about the future of your small business. Luckily, it seems that the pandemic is reaching a turning point. Take advantage of this moment of change to revamp your business and prepare it for a more successful future. The above list of actionable tips can help you get started.
