7 Ideas to Use “Found Time” During COVID-19
To put it mildly, “business as usual” is no longer the case. Nothing is the same during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Perhaps you have discovered that you can work from home with or without children. Or, maybe your customers have closed their operations. You are now wondering what to do.
This is an excellent opportunity to address those things on your business “to make” list that has been neglected for far too long. These seven tips will help you regain some control over your business and prepare you for when things return to normal.
1. See the competition.
You can “survey” your competitors online. What are they up to? What are their new services and products? What are their messages?
You don’t want your competitors to do the same thing as you, but it can be a great time to learn how to stand out.
Take a look at your competition and compare it to what is being offered in other countries. Next, think about what you can do better or add to your portfolio that will show you are a leader within your industry.
2. Check your website and all marketing materials.
Are you ready for a refresh? As you work with new clients or build relationships with your existing clients, it is common for content creation to be put on the back burner.
This is the perfect time to go through your website with fresh eyes, the eyes of your customer. Make sure you are sending the right message to everyone.
For tips for creating conversational content and maximize your impact,
3. All social media profiles should be updated
Your profiles should reflect the results you have achieved and not read like a job-seeking resume. Make sure that your profile is current—your accomplishments. Tell us about your actions.
4. Make sure to update your presentations.
You can refresh your presentations if you are a trainer or speaker. Stats change—everything changes. Your industry is changing. Make sure that your expressions reflect this.
Take a look at your slides, signage, and talks. Are there any small changes that could make a difference? Or are they outdated and need a complete overhaul. You can be bored with your presentation, and your audience will, too.
5. Research new prospects.
This is a great time for customers to search. LinkedIn is an excellent platform for finding B2B contacts. This is not the time to sell. If you want to share helpful information/insights, then reach out. It is much easier to create a list with potential contacts early on. Once things get back to normal, you will have a ready-to-go list of new connections.
6. Make videos.
With your smartphone or computer, you can create high-quality videos. These videos can be used to educate customers and staff, provide industry insight and valuable tips, show products or introduce employees to “humanize” your company.
They don’t need to be perfect. To ensure that your background is not distracting, I recommend you always check it. The focus should be on you, not the environment. Gary Porter, President at Flash Displays, suggested that you use your tradeshow display or a portion of it, if necessary, as your video background. This is an excellent way for your videos to be brand! These videos can be used to send to customers or to use on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
When creating videos, I prefer to make several at once and then post them on a regular basis. This is an excellent idea if you only need to set up your display once. Then, you can shoot multiple videos, and then you are done.
Gary also mentioned that even though many tradeshows have been canceled, you can still set up your booth, video it, and share your presentation, training, or insight about your company.
7. Reach out to past and current customers.
It is a great time to re-connect with your friends and family to see how they are handling this crisis. These are extreme circumstances, and many people don’t cope well with the isolation they are in. A check-in call can be lifesaving on many levels.
