Moving your small business online during the pandemic

With the whole world either in lockdown or self-isolating, everything is now taking place online. From shopping, business and socializing, everyone is using the internet now more than ever.

People are already used to doing many daily tasks online like making transactions, purchasing goods and corresponding for business reasons so for small businesses to transition to operating online full-time won’t be that difficult, and the public are already used to the idea due to the pandemic- and now actually prefer it.

Thanks to the technology age we are in, there is a massive range of online tools that can be used to support your small business. There are many platforms to communicate with employees and clients via video, voice and data.

Almost any business can move online. For example, personal trainers, accountants, lawyers and therapists can have video meetings/classes and share data and documents via email etc. The possibilities are endless if you have the right platforms and equipment.

Most digital service providers already do their work online and also have meetings with clients to build personal relationships, but due to the pandemic it isn’t possible. But there is no reason why it can’t all be done online.

There are definitely some businesses who will find it more difficult to work online full-time compared to others, but with the right research and tools it can be possible for most businesses. Sometimes thinking outside the box is the way to go. There have been pre-school teachers who have started online exercise classes for toddlers and story time hours in the afternoons. They have been able to maintain an income and reach more kids than they would have at their school.

Another way of moving your business is online is transforming your service into a product. Caterers can create at-home cooking kits with instructions and online cooking classes. The possibilities are endless.

If you put enough time into the planning and use all the tools and resources available online and elsewhere, your new business methods could turn into a long-term income even after the pandemic ends. Spending time and money will be part of the package, but it will be worth it in the end if you create ways to earn an income working online. You don’t have to completely change your business, but transform the ways you operate and increase what you have to offer.

Before moving your business online, it is important to put a lot of time into deciding how you will pivot your services to deliver online. If you will be offering virtual appointments or a video series for example, your content and service needs to be of the highest value and quality and be worth the payment people need to make to access your services or content.

Finding the right digital platform is one of the most important aspects. Your digital products can make or break you. If you are having live sessions, pre-recorded videos or sharing documents or materials, you will need the right platforms to deliver a quality product/service. Zoom and Google Hangouts are good for live consultations and classes where as Soundcloud is good for podcasts.

All the technical aspects need to be in place before you start. Online payments, scheduling programs and using CRM to track your online leads and customers is very important for long-term sustainability.

For businesses that might not be able to move online, there is still hope. The coronavirus pandemic will end and you can get back to business. In the meantime, use the time you have to refresh your website, work on your marketing strategy and fine tune your business plan and discover new ways to expand.

The work you do now can set you up for future success, and putting in the time, effort and money now can reap large rewards later.