Hey there! It’s been a minute!
How have you been, especially since corona? It seems like such a long time! Who knew that in the new decade wearing masks and greeting with the Wakanda salute would be essentially-fashionable?! Wow! How things have changed! Our normal routines and habits such as hugging loved ones and shaking hands with business partners are now abnormal. Our private lives have been altered and so has work and business. The pandemic has left us either short of breath or waiting to exhale; but exhale, we must.
Yes, it’s a fact that businesses across the world have been badly hit by the pandemic but needs and bills are also a fact. We have to survive somehow and the key is to find ways to navigate through these unusual times. If you don’t accept the reality of this pandemic and move with the tide, your business might not survive.
So here are 3 tips that could help you pandemic-proof your brand:
1. Review and Re-Strategize.
Find the opportunities within the obstacle of Covid-19. Which way is the market moving- essentials, tech, convenience? With all that has happened, it's no surprise that most customers want less of luxury and more of essentials. Where does your brand fit in or how can you fit in the new market trends to your brand? Go back to the drawing board and start designing new strategies. While at it, you might want to go digital (with your marketing), the world has.
2. Focus on customer satisfaction.
Next, you need to figure out how to satisfy your customers now. What can you do to give them an experience like never before? Be creative! Create exciting deals and packages for your customers. Think about how you can meet their (changing) needs while still making profit. You know, they've also been affected by the pandemic and most people have a lean budget now and although you're not a charity, we could all use a little charity.
So, show them that you genuinely care by not only reaching out to them but by infusing some freebies into your packages. You might try cutting them some nice deals like the good old “buy two get one free” or by selling three items at the cost of two. Another idea is to feed them with great content such as interesting blog posts or even DIY tricks and useful tips via social media. Talking about social media, you really should do the next thing
3. Go big on social
The heart of your brand is in your customer’s hand. Every business needs people to survive, and that’s why networking, collaborating and building an online presence is so important for startups.
Now more than ever, your brand needs to go social. From virtual learning and webinars, to meetings, graduations and conferences, everything has gone virtual, and so should you.
Yes, the lockdown is being eased and businesses are reopening, but social media will always give you some ease - in marketing, advertising and sales. Think about it… social media gives you the wide reach of mainstream advertising but saves you the cost! I mean, with Facebook promotions, IGTV and IG Live, and of course, YouTube Channels, you can reach thousands of potential customers. All you need is data and you’ve got it, so maximize it!
And news flash (if you’ve been under a cave!), social media is great for networking with customers and collaborating with other small businesses (which by the way is the trend because coronavirus has shown that like the rest of us, small businesses need each other.)
That's not all! Facebook and Instagram have specially curated Covid-19 business resources and tools, so if you're not on what’s your own?!
Go ahead and maximize social media my friend!
There you have it! 3 tips on how to pandemic-proof your startup – be strategic, increase your serve and go social.
If you find this useful or have any more tips please like, comment and share
Remember, when the going gets tough….
Kachi.