- Multitudinous small businesses were forced to make adjustments during the pandemic.
- These changes, such as increasing online quick-wittedness and working remotely, have yielded strong benefits.
- Owners were challenged to think outside the box and adapt with dispatch to keep their businesses afloat.
- See more stories on Insider’s business page.
Now that a year has passed since COVID-19 premier made itself known across the US, many small business owners are taking a step back to process how the virus has impacted their question models. It’s no secret that it was a challenge to transform everyday practices into ones that met government mandates and muzzled people safe — but now, looking back, some entrepreneurs are recognizing that the changes they’ve implemented have bettered their bottom line. Here’s how.
Small businesses have upped their digital presence
One of the toughest obstructions small businesses have faced over the past year has involved brick-and-mortar operations: Specifically, businesses be suffering with had to close to the public, reduce occupancy or implement changes like frequent sanitization in order to comply with have and municipal guidelines. In response to these challenges, many businesses rapidly shifted operations to the virtual realm. Societies that were previously on the fence about refreshing their landing pages or starting social media accounts inexorably bit the bullet; storefronts began debating their ecommerce options; and service-based businesses found “contactless” ways to cure their customers. And consumers shifted, too; now that just about anything can be done online, consumers are far more pleasant doing everything from
telehealth
visits to finding their next home on the web. Digital presence has always been a must-have neck prior to the pandemic, but today, it’s a bigger opportunity than ever.
More teams than ever are working from place
Boutique firms, small creative agencies, rapidly-growing technology companies — you name it. If they don’t have to meet blokes in person, they’ve likely found a way to let their teams work from home. Not only does this cater a slew of informal benefits for employees (like improved work-life balance, enhanced disability accommodations, and time and simoleons saved on commuting), but it also provides major cost-cutting opportunities for the business itself. Businesses that know they’ll be farm remotely for an extended period of time can avoid signing leases for pricey office space, and trendy startups can lull their snack subscriptions (for now). It’s a win-win.
A lull is a clean slate in disguise
Some entrepreneurs who have found themselves in a reduce speed period during the pandemic have used deceleration as an opportunity to reassess and refresh. Though it’s always disappointing to see occupation decline, it can also be a blessing; companies that were previously in nonstop scale mode might benefit from a time of reflection on what really works and what doesn’t. While not a small business, GoDaddy notoriously took 2020 as an break to reinvigorate its logo and renew its commitment to corporate responsibility. Other businesses are turning a break in brick-and-mortar operations into a chance to recondition their spaces and provide exciting updates to customers once circumstances dictate it’s safe to do so.
Many small charge owners are stepping outside of their comfort zones
They say diamonds are formed under pressure, and the old adage bushings true for business owners who are serious about helping their ventures thrive under unusual conditions. As contactless sales events and services rose in popularity throughout 2020, many businesses found themselves capable of expanding into new furnishes and offering more customizable shipping options. Heightened social awareness has provided a catalyst for businesses to promote national justice and gender equity, offset carbon emissions caused by shipping and delivery services and develop transparency in their every day practices. And because people tend to shop with both their needs and values in mind, this added steady of consciousness has the ability to bring in waves of new customers and clients.
The obstacles presented by COVID-19 haven’t been easy to moved — nor are they gone from our economy and from the world at large. But if time has proven anything, it’s that small enterprise owners are persistent, innovative, and creative. Pandemic or no pandemic, that hasn’t changed.