HOW TO MANAGE YOUR BUSINESS DURING A CRISIS
**Originally posted in March 202 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic**
We’re literally in a pandemic and for those of us balancing the delicate life of entrepreneurship and regular life, this can cause a pure panic. As you’re run around to make sure your household is taken care of, don’t neglect your business during this time. It may seem as easy as simply saying “We’re closed until this blows over'.” but trust me, it’s not. You’ll want to be ready to continue to offer services for as long as possible or be able to reopen with ease once all this passes. So, here’s your quick guide on how to manage your business during this crisis.
——
Decide what you are doing, and why you are doing it BEFORE posting an announcement on social media.
Meaning, if you’ve decided to stay open have a clear cut reason why and explain that to your clientele. You want them to feel safe and trust that they’ll be safe still shopping with you. If you’ve decided to close, acknowledge how the closure impacts your clients and offer them something to make up for it. No, the pandemic isn’t your fault and you don’t owe your clients anything, but good customer service during this time will go a long way. A discount code for future use, free rescheduling, fees waived in the future, anything would help.
Don’t use your business channels to spread news that isn’t confirmed or isn’t correct.
This ties into keeping your business and personal profiles separate! Your business profile should be giving bare minimum news updates. Your friend who texted you their update from their friend's cousin who has a friend who works at the pentagon should not be being posted on your business profiles. You run the risk of making your business look unprofessional at best, and at worst accused of spreading false info.
Communicate with your clients even after closing your doors.
Okay, you’ve decided to close and posted about it on all your social channels. Now you’re getting all these messages asking for money back, wondering when you’re reopening, what day are you closing and blah blah blah! Didn’t they see the post? You’re closed! It doesn't matter, answer them. Don’t assume all of your clients even SAW the post. Don’t assume your post had all of the information necessary for full client communication. If you’re not returning money (I’d for one, check on the legality of this in your state before claiming that anyways) explain why you’re not refunding and offering something else. Communicate with your clients how you expect business owners to communicate with you, patiently and politely.
Don’t go ghost on social media. Now is the PERFECT time to up your social media presence since EVERYBODY is online.
You’re in the beauty industry? Now is the perfect time to post some DIY videos or tutorials.
You’re a creative? Photographer or other artist? Post your editing process or some before and afters. Do a time-lapse video of you building a set or painting a picture.
Go on IG live and answer questions or talk about your goals and plans for the rest of the year.
There is a ton of time to content right now that people are active and available to consume.
Prepare for the future.
Use this time to get the rest of your shit together. Update your website, do inventory, plan for the next quarter of 2020, update your contracts to reflect the policy you’re trying to enforce, catch up on older orders, organize your inbox, and anything else you may usually put off to the side during busier times of the year.