It’s no secret that COVID-19 has turned the world upside down. Small businesses have had to learn how to quickly adapt while also realizing things they could have done better in the past. Although this pandemic could not have been predicted, there are certain tips and tricks to improve your company going forward. Below are some lessons that small businesses have learned over the past few months:
Diverse clientele - Being pigeon-holed to a single industry can be dangerous. Think about all the businesses that specifically served the travel, tourism, or hospitality industries before the pandemic? Strive to have a larger and more diverse client pool. It’s risky to have a small number of clients represent a substantial chunk of your revenue.
Expand to serve other geographies - Industries that used to be very locally focused are now open to working with businesses located on the other side of the country. If you thought you needed to be close to your clients, you are now a Zoom call away from any client. And everyone knows how to use the software.
Hire across the country - In this new normal, you don't need everyone in the office. So, tap lower cost talent pools across the country. This will also diversify outlooks and ideas that your company could benefit from and take it to the next level.
COVID-19 made virtual work the norm - Company culture is important whether you are over Zoom or in person. But more time chatting online with colleagues means more effort is needed to build connections with them. Take the time to make connections and create a thriving work environment through virtual happy hours, events, and make all meetings require the use of video so you feel like you’re in the conference room.
It’s true that COVID-19 has changed many aspects of life in the business world. But by being able to adapt and improvise, you can improve the quality of your small business.