Nurturing Your Business and Growing it Post-COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many businesses to re-think their strategies as they plan for the future. Finding success, let alone staying afloat, during this unprecedented time has been a painful process for many businesses.
Although COVID-19 has brought new challenges to businesses across the globe, it has also created many opportunities for expanding your business. The pandemic resulted in a change in consumer behavior; more people are turning to the Internet for products and services, which has solidified the need for online businesses and e-commerce.
While this assurance seems like the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, you shouldn’t bank all of your hopes on this positive trend. Instead, develop a plan that intends the growth of your business in a post-COVID-19 world.
Consider the following steps.
Revise Your Current Marketing Strategy
Assess your current marketing process to determine where you want to position your business after COVID-19. This step helps you identify and change marketing materials that no longer resonate with the current social and economic situation.
Adjust your brand’s messaging to be in line with the new demands of today’s customers. Be sure to address the impact of COVID-19 on your business, as well as your updated customer satisfaction and safety protocols.
Provide Better Digital Customer Experiences
Since most people are shopping online, offering a better digital experience can set your business apart from your competitors. Some factors that can help you deliver the best experience include a user-friendly consumer interface, efficient payment options and excellent customer service.
On the other hand, the lack of strong data protection and poor website structure can easily compromise the customer experience. Sites, including payment portals, that are slow loading or feature distorted layouts easily drive away customers. Buyers also avoid businesses that are vulnerable to security breaches, like hacking.
Establish Diversified and Reliable Supply Chains
COVID-19 has demonstrated that the global economy depends on supply chains, which suffered from massive disruptions due to the pandemic. With increasing attention to online customer experiences, digital businesses and e-commerce must invest effort and time into consistent product deliveries, despite problems with the supply chain. Without a flexible plan, supply chain interruption can result in manufacturing and shipping setbacks, as well as the loss of customers.
Apart from keeping a seamless supply uptime, businesses must also consider other options for obtaining supply and labor. One of the best ways to do this is by building stronger relationships with a variety of suppliers, all of whom should have the ability to abide by the requirements of different industries.
Be Transparent with Pricing (And Considering Lowering Prices When You Can)
Post-COVID-19 customer loyalty is crucial to your business. Customers share their experiences, both positive and negative, on social media sites and online review platforms. If customers shower your business with negative reviews, you reduce your chances of winning more customers after the pandemic.
Get on their good side by practicing transparency, especially with pricing. Refrain from concealing additional fees or details that may keep you from finalizing a sale. Instead, lay down all the details during the initial stages of the buyer’s journey.
If you want to encourage more shopping, consider lowering delivery charges. Online shoppers tend to buy more when the shipping fee is considerably low or free. If your finances do not allow for free shipping, consider value addition. Offer customers discounted delivery when they reach a specific amount.
Optimize Your Website
Your website should still be responsive after COVID-19 (if not, the most responsive). Around 48 percent of people use their phones to search for information on products. Also, your website should load in three seconds or less if you want people to stay. All these statistics say the same thing: your website should be fast, easy-to-use and informative.
When customers shop around your website, they still have questions. If they can’t get an immediate response, they’ll visit another store. Keep them on your website by installing a live chat, which serves as the equivalent of in-store customer service. Live chats incorporate human interaction into digital shopping. Another bonus: you can do this remotely.
Improve Your Tech
Technology will continue to change and impact customers, even after the pandemic. Invest in advanced technology infrastructures, such as bandwidth and servers, for better traffic management. Also, conduct a thorough review of your revised marketing strategy, previous performances and latest online trends to determine the traffic you can attract. Use this information to get an estimate of demand, as well as to build the capacity to take advantage of it.
The high demand in e-commerce is likely to stick even after physical stores resume operation after COVID-19. Businesses that adapt to changes will stand a better chance at growing their sales after the pandemic.
