Coronavirus. Quite possibly the most said word today, and yesterday, and probably tomorrow. We all know the score when it comes to slowing the spread of the virus, to social distancing, hand-washing (twenty seconds!) and avoiding public gatherings. However, for business owners, the self-employed and freelancers the reality of these measures can look alarmingly bleak. Businesses in the events, hospitality and catering sectors are facing enforced closures for the foreseeable future; white-collar industries are looking at the prospect of a workforce in quarantine, the creative industries are suspended and supply chains are under increasing pressure... How can we work to ensure that we have a business to return to after the pandemic is over?
Three key stages to think about: Trying to face the difficulties presented by the current crisis all at once is enough to overwhelm anyone. Let’s break down planning into three separate areas that we can get our heads around: - Impact Assessment – Whether it’s staff working from home, stock deliveries being delayed or premises closing – it’s important to think about the forecast for continued trading. It could be that, actually, your particular business might be somewhat insulated and can continue operating semi-normally by using teleconferencing solutions (see below) – or it could be that you need to take more significant action. - Contingency Planning – If the worst comes to worst, what’s the plan? This can cover elements of business such as reducing overhead costs, liaising with insurers, or adapting your business offering to one that can be reliably delivered and marketed in the new climate. - Returning to Normal Operations – Considering how to adapt your business to operate during the pandemic is critical, but it’s also very important to think about how to return it to normal operations. This can include things like giving incentives to temporarily-suspended employees to return to work when the crisis improves.
Our Top Tips Planning is great, but what should we do? Here are our top tips for business survival during the COVID-19 outbreak: - Workforce ManagementIf you have large numbers of staff in isolation at home, set-up remote working systems to help your staff co-ordinate. These can include teleconferencing systems like Skype, Zoom or Discord – and project management platforms such as Trello. - If you need to reduce your payroll bill, consider offering key members of staff a percentage of their usual pay if possible, this can help ensure that they are ready to jump back on board when business can return to normal. - Know the difference between termination, suspension (AKA furlough) and layoff. In a broad stroke, termination is the same as dismissal, suspension is enforced and indefinite unpaid leave and layoff, while similar to suspension, implies a shorter term of absence. Talk with your HR Consultant about what’s best for you. - Continuing TradingThe best way to weather the storm, as it were, is to maximise income during this difficult time. For many, that won’t be possible, but think about whether you can repackage or remarket your product in a way that complies with current restrictions. Can you lower prices to reflect a subdued economy? Can you open your product up to different markets? - Master your Digital Marketing, with the majority of your customers now likely to be at home and online, it’s absolutely critical that your SEO management, content marketing and PPC are up to snuff. We’re helping businesses of all sizes get on top of this during the crisis. - Staying PositiveThis is a difficult time, where all of us are having to change our approaches to work, and life. One of the most important things you can do now, for your business, your customers and your staff, is to keep a level head, remember that we’re all in this together and that together, we will see the back end of this crisis before long! Do keep in touch with us and our SEO experts in Cambridge and let us know how you’re getting on. For help with your Digital Marketing, take a look at our completely free upcoming webinars that can give you valuable knowledge when going online.
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