After Corona: the Greatest Comeback of Business history
The Coronavirus cases may not be decreasing, but our will to fight through it is increasing. Which brings us to the question, how do we resurrect our businesses in an environment where everything seems to be hopeless and bleak?
The popular story of Samson is one known by Christians and non-Christians alike. A man whose hair was the source of his immense supernatural strength, was the pride and joy of his people. He fought greatly to protect his people, until he married a foreign woman, who cut his hair, thus losing his strength. After some time, when presented before his enemies, Samson, who had now regained his hair and strength, destroyed his enemies in an epic finale. Samson’s story may have had a bitter-sweet ending, but it is one of the greatest comebacks in human history.
There is a lot to learn from Samson’s story, especially as business owners. Once covid-19 was declared a pandemic, many businesses went into hibernation or struggled to keep afloat. Businesses had to adopt the digital way of life, from working at home to a more consistent digital advertising. The transition, however, was not as easy for most companies.
So how would one revive their business?
Building Trust
The pandemic is not over yet, so remember to continue to put on your masks and sanitize. You should not be the only ones to follow the precautions, but so should your employees and customers. Ensure that both your internal and external publics feel and are safe. Leave sanitizers at your entrance, have the rules taped on your walls and most importantly, practise what you preach. Restaurants, especially, can post videos of how they are preparing themselves for their beloved customers arrival. This small effort creates great trust. Customers are more likely to dine in at restaurants that prove the quality of their hygiene standards even on video.
Market! Market! Market!
How often should you market? As often as you breath!
If you think that one video showcasing your company’s services and one post online will get your customers running to your doorsteps, then you clearly are not in the right business. Right now, is the best time to take advantage of social media. Post regularly, consistency is key. Engage with your customers, answer their comments genuinely, send out a survey evaluate your services. Don’t be afraid to get criticized.
Bond with your Regular customers.
Regular customers are at the heart of your external publics. Keep them close. For more relaxed companies, write to them monthly, keep them updated on the company’s webinars or discounts. Make them feel wanted because they are the key to more customers. Their testimonies and appreciation determine if you get more customers. New customers are exciting and encouraging, so you should venture to get a number, but never side-line your current ones.
Digitalize your brand.
Not just because it would be convenient for this tech-savvy after corona life, but because its 2020, and we need to move into the digital period.
There are several ways to kickstart the reopening of a business. How will you do it?
