13/03/2020
Helping businesses survive in uncertain times…
We work with many small businesses who are seeing the effects that the current health situation is having, with many people not buying or booking, not going out to use local businesses or leaving things until the very last minute before they book.
Understandably, the health of us all comes first, but we also want to make sure our businesses continue to survive whilst we get through this.
We have been helping our clients to put out positive messages to keep business flowing and afloat in these testing times – take a look at our tips, hopefully they will help you too..
✔️ Let your customers know what measures you are taking to ensure your venue is as clean as possible. Highlight the practices that you are encouraging such as extra hand-washing stations, moving your tables further apart or any deep cleans that you are planning for example.
✔️ Reassure your existing customers who are booked on events or planning to visit you, they may be filled with doubt and considering cancelling - make sure you put their mind at rest or give plenty of notice if you do need to cancel.
✔️ OPEN for business? If you are open and still able to operate then tell your customers you are - don't stop promoting! Many may assume you are closed or your events not going ahead unless you reassure them otherwise.
✔️ Communicate transparently and positively with your customers on social media/e-newsletters – highlight that you are monitoring the government advice continuously to ensure your business can carry on in the safest way.
✔️ Keep in your customers mind – regular communication will ensure that when their buying confidence comes back again – you will be front of mind.
✔️ Where appropriate, make sure you keep your content engaging and light hearted – people need this at the moment!
✔️ If you are able to sell online, then highlight this to your customers and sign post them to buy online where possible to help support your business.
✔️ Are there any added extras that you can offer to ensure customers keep on buying? Can you arrange delivery of your goods rather than pick up for example?
✔️ Ask your friends and family to share your business on social media to help keep small businesses alive
✔️ Do you need to change your business strategy for a few months, are there areas of your business that you can focus on which don’t involve as much human contact? If you can, push these services and change your strategy for a short while.
✔️ We are all busy in business and life – if you find yourself quieter than usual, can you use your time to take a step back and develop your business in another way? Perhaps work on your business strategy, or work on that website you never got finished, or plan & promote your 2021 activities?
✔️ Planning & time is a luxury most business owners rarely get - use it as an opportunity! Whilst we appreciate this might not pay the bills, it will help make sure you are better prepared to hit the ground running in a few months time.
✔️ If contracts fall through and jobs get cancelled, are there other businesses who may need your services at this time? Make sure you are promoting what you do through social media, everyone is in a changing environment at the moment and you never know who many need you or your services.
✔️ Share your stories of how you and your business are trying to combat the issues faced at the moment – let’s all help each other.
✔️ Does your business benefit from more people staying at home? If so, then make sure you promote that part of your businesses – people may be taking up new hobbies, getting DIY jobs done or reading more for example – can you help them facilitate this? If you have a book shop, could you offer free delivery of new books? If you organise cycle rides or runs, can you set up virtual rides to keep people active? Think about what people may choose to do when they are staying at home more, and how could your business accommodate this?
And finally, SUPPORT EACH OTHER, buy local and help businesses get through this together!
