Pivoting Your Small Business During Covid 19 and Beyond

Instead of panicking, it's time to pivot.

Alright, we as Americans have gone into a bit of a panic over the past week with the COVID 19 virus forcing must of into a lockdown situation. If you aren't there yet, chances are, you will be relatively soon. I want to encourage you to think about how to pivot in your business, especially if you are service-based or you have a physical storefront so that you can not only survive but thrive through this change.

First, let's talk about focus.

If you've been a listener of this podcast for a while, you've heard me say where you focus is what you will experience. So if you are focusing on scarcity, fear, and hysteria - that WILL be your experience.  So get your brain to focus on what you want instead and you will have that experience.  Don't believe me? Give it a try and report back.  Turn off the news, change your thoughts, focus on abundance and what is possible for 24 hours and come tell me if things didn't change over in the Facebook Group.

In Episode 82 of the Feed U Podcast, I am sharing five MUST ask questions to keep you on track during the shutdown, and help you plan post-shutdown so that you can not only maintain but grow your small business. For a detailed account of what to do and examples of businesses that are killing it already, listen here.

Question #1 - What can you do now to quickly move your business (or part of it) online?

Can you provide your services through an online application like Zoom? Perhaps you can convert your products into an online store that offers pickup, curbside service or delivery so that you can keep employees working and product heading out the door.  Last week I created a video tutorial on how to set up an online store using Square. You can see it here on my brand new YouTube channel. Can you create online training that your ideal customers will pay for? Can you build a paid or free online community? I give a ton of examples for each of these here in the podcast.

Question #2 - How can your brand become or stay visible?

Do you need to become more active as an asset on social media? Spend more time nurturing your existing or building a new audience? Perhaps you can start sending direct mail again, handwritten notes are always a hit. Or you could physically show up in the community as a resource, authority and go-to person like one of the local businesses did here.  For all the details tune into Episode 82. This is a great time to build brand awareness by giving back.

Question #3 - What can you do now to prepare for re-opening?

We all have some time on our hands. Whether you are still working and have more time at home for weekends, evenings or lunch breaks. Or you are finding yourself at home because you can't be open. Regardless, let's use that time to create some wanderlust in our business.  Where do you want to go in the next 3, 9, or 12 months? What's your long-term vision? Do you need to buckle down and dig into some of those marketing projects you've been avoiding? Does your email list even remember who you are anymore? In this episode, I give you a ton of real-world examples of how to spend your time and the importance of getting clear on your goals, purpose, and vision so that you are prepared for re-opening and beyond.

Question #4 - What you can do now to bring in some revenue?

This piece of the podcast segment is packed full of examples for salons, realtors, food, and beverage industry companies and even alternative medicine providers like energy healers, chiropractors, yoga instructors and more.  I walk through several examples of companies that are doing it right, have already pivoted and are seeing massive success and it's only been a week.  To see how they are doing it and follow their example, listen to the entire episode here. In the meantime, here are so examples:

Food Industry: Offer food delivery and curbside service. Sell ingredients as a meal kit. Sell meal kits. Hand deliver wine, beer or other cocktails (if allowed). Switch from wholesale to retail. Provide hard to attain ingredients like milk, sugar, flour, eggs, etc.

Salons: Create a product & service bundle sell now with a discount. Upload products you recommend or sell and create how-to videos to go with the product to grow your email list. Sell the products on your website or by creating an Amazon store where you can earn affiliate income. Offer gift certificates.

Realtors: Host virtual video tours, a watch party or live open house. Take questions from viewers. Become a resource to potential clients now and follow up when things settle down. Follow up with previous and current clients. 

Alternative Medicine Healers: Pre-sell service packages for post lockdown when everyone will need a reboot. Offer online options for energy work. a Teledoc opportunity to get professional advice or online classes. Complete current and previous patient follow up and create an offer to get them excited about coming in again.

Questions # 5- Ask the following questions:

1. What does your ideal client need now?
2. What will they need after the lockdown is lifted?
3. How can you offer a solution to both?

 

What are you doing to pivot your business during this unprecedented time and how will you run your business differently in the future?  Head on over to the Facebook Group and share what you're doing to thrive through the coronavirus.

Listen to the entire episode here: