Taking Your Small Business Virtual During COVID-19

With the COVID-19 outbreak, small businesses and their customers are facing unprecedented challenges. While caution must certainly be exercised, many small business owners are conducting business in new ways. From offering an online product demonstration to consulting with a key client, many are turning to virtual delivery methods to preserve revenue streams and strengthen customer loyalty.

Providing customer access to your products and services online can help buoy your business in turbulent times, while also establishing an additional delivery channel going forward. As you consider the move, keep in mind that protecting your company’s data and that of your customers must be a top priority.

You’ll undoubtedly experience some growing pains as you transition from face-to-face customer interactions to videoconferencing and telesales. But, with some persistence and commitment, you might find that your business emerges stronger than ever.

With an eye toward resilience and innovation, here are some ideas for adapting your business:

Embrace Experimentation

A great customer experience is the foundation of any successful business. However, moving your operations to cyberspace will require some practice as you explore new delivery methods. Know that your loyal and first-time customers won’t expect perfection in the early stages. There may be connectivity issues or camera glitches, but you should be able to iron out most of those wrinkles in no time.

One benefit of technology is the wealth of online resources available to enhance your knowledge. For every social media site or teleconferencing tool, there are numerous articles and virtual training modules on how to best leverage these applications to conduct business remotely. You can take learning one step further by enrolling in formal online classes. Watching how more established online businesses conduct training might give you new ideas for your own virtual services. Read More