Amidst the coronavirus pandemic and a global economic downturn, some small business owners are facing dry spells or slow seasons. In the meantime, there are several things you can do right now to save both time and money for your small business.
Read on for five simple actions you can take for your small business right now.
1. Optimize your social media pages
It's important to take advantage of all the features each social media platform makes available to small businesses. Double check that you are harnessing the full power of your social media business pages with these guides:
2. Update your web presence
If you don't already have a website, now is the time! More and more customers are looking to online resources amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, a website allows you to solidify your brand and serves as a resource that customers can come back to again and again, saving you time in the long run.
Some elements to include on your website:
Products/services displayed in a clear, straightforward manner
Links to your social media channels
An FAQ page to answer some of the most commonly asked questions (this will save you time responding to customers!)
Contact information so customers can contact you, make an appointment, or make a purchase.
3. Network with other professionals
While in-person networking is not really an option right now, you can participate in virtual networking and use it to your advantage. Networking can help you build out your contacts and learn more about your industry. You may even learn some invaluable tips and tricks or find opportunities to collaborate with other professionals.
Social media networking
Take a look at your social media followers and who you follow on social media. Is there an opportunity to connect with additional professionals or peers? Consider auditing your LinkedIn as well to identify opportunities to connect with others.
Webinar and online event networking
Do a search or consult your favorite resources to see if there are small business or industry webinars available to you to participate in. These webinars will allow you to learn new tactics and skills, but a lot of them also allot time for networking opportunities.
Face to face networking (kind of)
Set up individual virtual meetings with other business owners and professionals that you might want to connect with. Use these informal interviews to ask them about their industry, professional journey, or anything else that you might want to learn. Don't forget to send them an appreciative note afterwards thanking them for their time!
Mentoring or finding a mentor
Would you benefit from a mentor? How about offering mentoring services? This is a great way to be a contributing member in your immediate community, while building your network at the same time. Explore mentorship opportunities in your industry. They don't even need to be in your area anymore; open your search up to virtual mentorship as well!
4. Explore resources available to your small business
Look for deals offered to small businesses, government resources, and resource centers that you can visit frequently for updates. Some of these resources can save you and your business both time and money.
Check out our monthly news updates and a few other resources for more information:
5. Upgrade your social media presence
Content creation tools can save you both time and money by making it easy to create and schedule your social media content. Use Ripl on a regular basis to spend less time on social media, and more time running your business.
Ripl also allows you to create professional, quality social media content so that you can put your best social foot forward.
Use our February 2021 content calendar to explore professionally designed templates for every day in February and plan out your social media content now!
