“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence — it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” Peter Drucker
As COVID-19 storms through 2020, hurling our habits and treasured systems against the wall, we all know we have to change to survive. From the domestic adaptations needed to successfully work from home, to the national and global adjustments our governments must make, the world post-COVID will not look the same.
If you’re a business owner, you may be feeling the winds of change blow more keenly. Amid huge uncertainty, you need to adapt at a faster pace than probably ever before.
With customers still unsure of the safety of the high street, having a strong online presence has never been more essential for survival. But where do you start? What will give you the best return for limited cash? And how do you do it quickly? Our checklist is here to guide you through the process, and help you avoid some of the most common pitfalls along the way.
1. Get a website
Seem too obvious? A 2019 survey by UENI found that 75% of UK small businesses did not have their own website. If this is you, read on.
If you already have a website, read 5 Useful Things You Can Do When Business is Quiet for some tips on making it perform better for you. Then come back and finish this article.
Businesses cite many reasons for not getting online. Here are some of the most common:
- “We already have more leads than we can handle, just through word-of-mouth”
- “I’ll never be able to compete with Amazon / Ebay / My Massive Competitor”
- “Google favours big brands so I’ll never get anywhere near the first page of search results. So what’s the point?”
- “Websites cost thousands of pounds – I can’t afford it”
- “I’ve got a business page on Facebook – isn’t that enough?”
We’ve addressed each of these in detail in our article Don’t Need a Website? Read This but here’s a spoiler: you do need a website. To not have one is business suicide. Here’s how to get it done quickly and, if you’re on a budget, cheaply.
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Get a Google My Business Profile