The Covid-19 pandemic has proven to business owners that a major key to long-term growth and success is found in digital strategy. No matter your industry or niche, businesses need the following core attributes in order to prosper in a post-pandemic digital world.
Adopt a Flexible Mindset
Technology is perpetually changing and progressing, and it will continue to shake up the way we work. When small businesses adopt a flexible mindset, they are prepared to assess new technology and expedite change as needed. This swift adaptation allows them to gain the biggest benefits of new technology.
At minimum, make sure you have an online presence with an up-to-date website as well as active and engaging social media accounts. You will also want to create a digital marketing plan—or hire a marketing agency to create one for you.
Learn to Outsource
As an entrepreneur you might be in the habit of doing everything yourself, but the digital world moves too quickly to be able to sustain growth this way. The most effective and efficient way to run your business includes outsourcing. Smart and calculated outsourcing can tremendously boost your profits and productivity. Essentially, you are trading some measure of control over your business for “extra” time, allowing you to work smarter and more efficiently. Depending on your industry, outsourcing opportunities could include tasks such as:
- Accounting and tax preparation
- Payroll
- Web and marketing design
- Copywriting
- IT management
- Social media marketing
Embrace Digital Communication
Consistent communication efforts through digital networks are essential in today’s internet landscape for gaining and retaining clients. By giving your clients multiple channels of communication through a website, social media accounts, and email—and responding to feedback and questions in a timely manner—you have the opportunity to troubleshoot issues as they arise, improve satisfaction with clients, and retain a loyal client base. You also have the opportunity to expand your reach, share specialized messaging, and establish valuable relationships with audiences across online channels. Some ways to connect and communicate with both existing and prospective clients include:
- Launching social media campaigns
- Distributing an email newsletter
- Running banner ads
- Publishing blog posts and articles
- Sending discounts and offers through email
- Offering how-to videos, web series, and behind-the-scenes looks at products and processes through a YouTube channel
Install Cybersecurity
No matter how small your business, it is a target to hackers who want access to sensitive information of both your company and your clients. And as more companies go digital, attacks will only increase. A surefire way to lose trust in a client is to expose their sensitive data through a security breach. Invest in at least basic cybersecurity in order to safeguard your website and other digital accounts from malware attacks or phishing scams.
Some key elements to start protecting your business include:
- Install an SSL certificate for your website
- Make sure you have a firewall
- Keep software and systems up-to-date
- Use strong passwords
