Keeping up your momentum, when everything is slowing down (still!)

Often, when deciding on a topic for a blog, I do a little research, simply googling “small business challenges.” Many articles are 2020 predictions (entirely out the window now!), or COVID-19 survival tips, I couldn’t find inspiration in either topic! No matter what you read, the information changes daily, and as many have said, we’re all in different boats weathering the same storm.

There will come a time where the economy once again picks up, and so will our respective businesses. We all should be taking this time to prepare for what that could look like, so we’re ready when the time comes while also looking for solutions for continuing to navigate our current normal.

What can you do today to keep your business momentum up? Here are our top 5 tips:

1. Continue to blog and be present on social media. Keep your messages upbeat and relevant, while steering away from sensitive topics. Use this platform to acknowledge the contributions and good others are doing around you while reminding your clients and prospects that you’re still here for them.

2. Continue to develop new products and services that are relevant to today. Modify your in-person programs so they can be delivered virtually. Even when we can once again hold large scale, in-person events, prepare for the possibility that many will still be cautious around travel, and offer a virtual component for others to enjoy, it doesn’t have to be the same experience, but it could be similar.

3. Keep your team energized and engaged – even if business is slow, your team needs to know what you’re putting in place for the future—touch base as a group (professional) level, and an individual (personal) level.

4. Take this time to personally connect with your valued clients (current and former) to touch base with them. Send a hand-written note or a personal phone call – we’re all craving personal connection now more than ever.

5. Continue to look for opportunities to give more to your clients and prospects, review your current packages, what possibilities are within them? Is there an extra workbook you could create, or is there a module you’d like to expand upon?

And one bonus tip we just couldn’t leave off the list – take this time to dive deeper into your client avatar – think a little more about your ideal client and how they might be doing right now. Knowing them as well as you do, how could you better serve them today? What are they going through right now that may be different from others, are they likely to be facing different challenges, or will face more significant challenges as time goes on? What can you offer them today, complimentary, to better serve them? This is not a time to market to their challenges, but to acknowledge their concerns, and to be the person to guide them.

Use this time to see the challenges in front of us, as opportunities to give with the gifts we have. We may all be in different boats, but we’ll only weather the storm successfully if we support others through it.

By Peggy Murrah, Founder of PMA Web Services