By Cliff Robbins, MSBDC Senior Business Advisor
NOW what do I do?” This is the question on every small business persons’ mind. Well, this is the time to prepare yourself for a post-coronavirus world: Especially because you have probably been forced to shutter or otherwise change your business approach.
CFIMITYM – Cash Flow Is More Important Than Your Mother. Conserve your cash. Act like you’re in a turnaround crisis because you probably are [too]. If you haven’t done so already, project your cash needs out for the next twelve months. (We can help with that) Go to www.sbdc.uh.edu to contact an advisor for free business help.
COMMUNICATE – Talk to your customers; communicate with your bank; invest in your social media; let them know that you’re still around; keep them engaged. Try selling gift certificates. This is a great time to try that for future business. Send them emails to let them know you’re still here and OKAY!
CREATE – Most small business people don’t continually create content because they say they just don’t have the time. Well, now your schedule is a little more open today, so create some content. Create educational content about your products and services; create instructional videos; create stories that you can share in the near future to tell the world how great your business has been and still is!
ADVERTISE YOUR LOCAL SERVICES – if you work at people’s homes, particularly for services like landscaping, or other home improvement services that are low-touch, get the word out that you’re available. If people aren’t ready today, the nicer weather will catch up with them quickly once this all starts to sort itself out.
PREPARE AND INVEST – Now’s the time to get a leg up on the competition:
Get that new website started, it’s going to take a little time to get going, and this downtime will help you modernize.
Optimize your business for local search, it takes a few weeks for optimizations to happen, so get the leg up once people are ready to leave the house again.
Sort out the backend of your business: Your CRM, your customer databases, your online store. Make sure these are all up and running so that you are prepared for the future.
“This too shall pass.”
Look at this period as an opportunity to get ahead, and stay focused on growth. The region sure needs it!
Source: Small Business Development Center
