Adaptability is quickly becoming the make-it or break-it quality.
#1. Shift Your Mindset:
Make a plan and be willing to change it as needed.
There is nothing glamorous about the behind-the-scenes of any company right now. Even larger ones are having to adjust in ways they never could have planned for. The good news here is everyone is in this boat.
You have an opportunity! Make a plan for the current state of things. Think of ways to innovate. Switch to Zoom calls instead of in-person meetings. Use companies that are helping their employees during this time. Find ways to give back. I know, right now this last one seems like that last thing on your mind but we will get to why in a minute.
#2. Adjust your offerings:
Get creative. Come up with new offers. Change your offers to fit the needs you see.
Take a good look at how your business is run. Now more than ever is the time to cut costs and be more efficient. When we are more efficient we have hope to being more effective overall.
What is it your customer is going through right now? How can you serve them? Think about Chick-fil-A who is known for customer service and how they have been pivoting with upping app usage, having customers pay through the app, or swiping their own cards to keep social distancing. There are a few coffee shops in my local area that have adjusted to online ordering and social distance pick up and a few who have makeshift drive-thrus.
There are a few online boutiques that have started to offer clothes at a discount for those needing to find work. Others have used social media to encourage during this time and not just try to make a sale. Another business, like Victoria Secret, has had to close a few stores, adjust their hours and procedures, and also have increased their amount of sales.
Now, for those of you with already online stores now is your time to SHINE in the online space. Make the most of your free resources like social media. So many people are on their phones. Utilize the time they have on there but make sure every post is about them. Think about their struggles and how you can help. Even adding encouragement or appropriate humor right now. People are feeling isolated, even those not in quarantine.
#3. Adjust your market:
Go digital as much as you can.
Whether you are a start-up because of the pandemic or you’ve had a business for decades, we all have to look at it the same. Everything is shifting and shiftable. So we must be too.
Marketing is key, especially now. Be where the people are and for many that is online through social media, email marketing, etc.
Many companies think the best place to cut costs right now is marketing but actually, this is a huge mistake. One of the best ways to show how well a company is adjusting is to show it on social media.
The absolute best way to grow your audience is through email marketing. Why? Because social media is rented land. We have seen Vine disappear and with current talks about TikTok, we are all reminded that social media is great but the goal is not to just keep the customers there.
If you want to always have contact with your audience use this time to adjust them to email marketing through social media.
#4. Thinking bigger:
This is more to be found in this time than just adjusting plans. Every time you adjust and re-adjust you are helping.
Not only your customers but future customers and the entire nation/world.
We can all agree the world is hurting right now. More than ever we need to see businesses being led by people not just dollar figures and product sales. Trust me those will come if you first think bigger.
How we handle this time as people and as businesses will have consequences. Some sooner rather than later and some good while others have to shut their doors online or in-person.
Keep in mind: no one is exempt from this. Everyone is pivoting. Everyone has a place in the market. Things will find a new solidity again. We just have to adjust for when.
Looking for inspiration for how others have done this successfully? Here is an article, “How Three Women Pivoted Their Small Businesses During the Pandemic”.
Another article that will help you see the bigger picture this is having also on larger companies such as airlines, see this Forbes article: “10 Examples Of How COVID-19 Forced Business Transformation”.
No one can tell you what the right pivot or transformation for you and your business is at this time. Only you can make that decision.
For Right Message Media, we have gone completely online. Before I would meet with various local clients but now we meet over Zoom or Facetime. Another example of how we have pivoted is reaching out to all the clients we have helped in the past with one-time services and offering to help them pivot as they need to with discounts and free offerings.
Whatever your business, you can be part of the positive transformation happening to our world and the world around us.
Here at Right Message Media, we are cheering you on!
Not sure what social media platform is right for you, read this article “Choosing Your First Social Media Platform” next.
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