You can’t turn on the news without hearing someone talk about social distancing and how it’s affecting people and businesses across the U.S. For some people, social distancing is nothing more than an inconvenience keeping them stuck at home.
But for many businesses, social distancing has a much more damaging impact. Business owners have been forced to shut down indefinitely, putting both their business and livelihood at risk.
It’s a challenging time for small businesses around the world. However, there are ways that businesses can make adjustments to accommodate social distancing policies and still remain profitable.
How Businesses Can Adjust to COVID-19
Right now, the biggest priority for everyone is reducing the spread of COVID-19 and its harmful effects. For businesses, this means limiting person-to-person interactions among staff and customers.
Here are four ways your business can adjust to social distancing policies:
1. Adjust your services
Unfortunately, it may not be “business as usual” for a long time. This doesn’t mean your business can’t continue to thrive, but it does mean that you’re going to have to look for new opportunities and new ways to serve your customers.
Are there any new products or services you can offer to customers right now? Are there ways you can accommodate your current offerings to make them work with social distancing?
For instance, many restaurants are focusing on carryout orders or partnering with meal delivery services like DoorDash.
2. Look for alternative ways to communicate with employees
At this point, it’s likely that most of your staff are working from home. But you still need a way to touch base with your employees on a regular basis. This is where video communication software can be a lifesaver.
Not to mention, there is an abundance of collaborative software business owners can use to stay in touch with their employees. Slack is great for communication and file sharing, and Asana is great for project management software.
3. Reach out to vendors and customers
Businesses that are facing the biggest threat are the ones that rely heavily on customer foot traffic. In particular, many companies in hospitality, amusement, and retail are scrambling to find ways to cover costs due to lost revenue.
Make sure you reach out to your current vendors and partners and let them know what’s going on. This is a great opportunity to form mutually beneficial partnerships with other companies. And these relationships will continue to benefit your business in the future.
It’s also important that businesses continue to find creative ways to reach out and provide value to their current customers. Continue to stay in touch with your customers on social media and through email.
4. Look into disaster relief programs
The government is beginning to roll out initiatives to help struggling businesses through this difficult time. The SBA is issuing disaster-relief loans for up to $2 million for eligible businesses. And you should check to see if your state is offering any relief efforts for businesses.
To your success!
Written by Brian Johnson