A global crisis can be challenging for a lot of businesses from various industries. Let’s take, for instance, the COVID-19 pandemic. While many companies temporarily closed last year, not all have managed to reopen this year. Some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) ended up closing their business for good.
It’s been almost two years since the COVID-19 outbreak in March of last year. If you’re one of the fortunate thriving businesses, you should have known how to cope with the pandemic by now. Most importantly, you should have found ways and means to boost your business amid the ongoing crisis and flourish it for the long term.
That said, here’s how to grow your business during the pandemic—and beyond:
1. Recalibrate your business processes
The initial step to take is to study the thriving industries during the pandemic. According to the U.S. Chambers of Commerce, these include cleaning services, grocery stores, meal prep delivery services, fitness equipment businesses, landscaping services, and telehealth services.
If your business falls under one of these industries, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to grow your business. If not, think of how you can recalibrate your business processes to see how you can make them relevant to the pandemic and cater to the needs of people.
2. Update your business website
In recent years, more and more entrepreneurs and consumers have been doing business online. E-commerce has even become more apparent during this pandemic. Why? People and businesses have gone digital. So it’s safe to say that having a website is no longer an option—it is a necessity.
If you have a physical store, be sure to turn it into a click-and-mortar business. While at it, create a visually appealing and highly functional website. Ultimately, ensure it has an excellent user experience (UX) optimized for mobile devices.
3. Employ digital marketing strategies
When it comes to marketing a business and promoting products or services, going digital is the key. Digital marketing matters now more than ever, given the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, be sure to employ online marketing campaigns for your business.
For online visibility, implement search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns. For branding, product promotion, and customer engagement, employ content marketing. Plus, don’t forget to resort to email marketing for product or service promotion.
4. Take advantage of digital tools and technologies
In recent years, digital transformation has never been this important. This significant transition has all the more surged among various businesses during the pandemic. There is no other choice but to adapt to the new business landscape to grow and survive.
That said, big companies and even SMEs must take advantage of digital tools and technologies. These include the use of automation, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), extended reality (ER), robotic, and cloud computing.
5. Harness the power of social media
We can no longer ignore the use of social media in today’s business landscape. Gone are the days when people used social media channels only for personal interactions. Today, businesses utilize social media for proper branding, sales and marketing, and customer engagement.
That said, go ahead and advertise your products or services on Facebook. Also, be robust in your product photography and post your product images on Instagram. Lastly, strive to increase your following so you can build an online community of loyal supporters.
6. Strive to earn international standard certification
Growing and expanding a business entails setting standard practices in place. However, this is easier said and done. You must sit down with your management team, plan for business strategies, and set best practices in place.
Furthermore, it’s best to work toward achieving the ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification. With management solutions certification, your business will become an industry leader. Ultimately, it will grow and flourish for the long term.
7. Push for sustainability
In recent years, there has been a strong push for sustainability in the world of business. Sustainability means making your business sustainable for the long term without harming the environment.
As there has been a push for sustainability in business, align your strategies with green initiatives. These include recycling waste products, repurposing materials, using sustainable materials, and employing renewable energy sources. With all these in place, you’ll be able to grow and expand your business over time.
Nothing can stop a resilient business from growing—not even a global crisis. But to grow your business, be sure to consider our practical tips recommended above. With all these crucial steps, you’ll ensure your overall business growth and success during the pandemic—and in the long run.
