How Can Your Business Stay Competitive during the Covid-19 Lockdown?

The Covid-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented situation where everyone willy-nilly has to follow self-quarantine and social distancing. Conducting face-to-face business while working in offices and conducting live events and conferences have come to a standstill. The situation is indeed alarming and has the potential to push traditional businesses ‘off the cliff’ unless they adapt to the new reality. Yes, this is the time when digital can not only come to the rescue but even help businesses to tide over the crisis with some smart planning and execution. Since things digital can work perfectly fine while maintaining social distancing, businesses should adopt the model and build from there. Also, this is the time when digital marketing services comprising SEO, social media marketing, content marketing, and influencer-led campaigns can help businesses, both in the B2B and B2C segments, to reach their clients and customers quickly and effectively.

Digital marketing services to the rescue

During such uncertain times, businesses must adopt a collaborative approach to leverage the reality of remote working. Turning to digital channels and transforming the way business is done, say by creating or updating websites, mobile apps, launching new eCommerce channels and social media campaigns to reach existing and potential customers should be the new mantra to stay competitive. With the below-mentioned tips let us understand how businesses can survive in this situation.

# Search for leads and customers and stay ahead: As businesses struggle to maintain their normal operations, you can focus on building a new network of prospective customers. But how? Let us understand one thing; with most activities coming to a standstill, your prospective customers sitting at home are likely to spend their time on the digital platforms, namely, social media. So, it’s time to launch a social media campaign and garner visibility for your brand. Engage the services of any social media marketing agency to create interesting posts about your brand, products, and services. The idea is to build a network of prospective customers who can be relied upon when the lockdown ends and the situation limps back to normal.

# Take the eCommerce route: Even before the crisis, eCommerce was growing at a phenomenal rate – the global retail eCommerce sales expected to touch $4.13 trillion in 2020. And now with social distancing, the push towards doorstep delivery of services has generated greater traction. So, why not take your brick and mortar store to the online platform and reach your customers at their doorsteps? Now it is time to hire eCommerce website design services and build an online store having a rich user interface, secure payment gateway, easy-to-manage product inventory, and advanced security features, among others.

# Use alternative solutions to run operations: As the lockdown has disrupted communication and travel arrangements, it is likely to impact your supply chain and operations hard. So, instead of putting your business plans on hold, brainstorm to use alternative solutions. To begin with, use digital platforms (Skype, WhatsApp etc) to keep the communication lines clear. Also, migrate the critical part of your operations online and let people work from home. Here, using cloud platforms to run your database, servers, or other critical functions can be a definitive measure to implement.

Conclusion
The Covid-19 crisis is expected to hit everyone hard in one way or the other. However, business continuity plans should be considered from the short and long-term perspective. If you are a traditional business, it is time to move online and reach out to your customers on digital platforms. Develop websites, mobile apps, and eCommerce solutions during the uncertain period and prepare yourself for the times ahead. And since people providing professional website design services, mobile app development services or digital marketing services are following a ‘work from home’ arrangement, you need not worry about delays or disruption. Stay safe.