It’s no longer “business as usual,” to say the least. During this COVID-19 pandemic, nothing is business as usual.

You may have found yourself working from home, with or without children to care for, or finding that many of your clients have closed their operations, so you’re wondering what to do with this “found time” in your schedule.

This could be an ideal opportunity to address items on your company’s “to do” list that you’ve neglected for far too long. Here are 7 ideas to help you regain some control in your business and prepare for when things go back to “normal.”

1. Take a look at the competition.

Go online and “drag” your competitors. What are they doing? What new products and services are you offering? What are they saying?

Obviously you don’t want to copy what they do or say, but this may be an ideal time to find out how you can set yourself apart.

Look at the competition in your area and then see what others are offering in other countries. Then consider what you can do differently or what you can add to your list that shows you’re a leader in your industry.

2. Review your website and other marketing materials.

Is it time for an update? Creating new or updated content for your business is often relegated to the background as you attract new customers or work to deepen relationships with existing customers.

Now is the time to read your website with fresh eyes, the eyes of your customer, and make sure that the message you are sending is the one you want others to read.

For tips on creating conversational content and maximizing its impact, check out https://www.susanregier.com/tips.php for more information.

3. Update all social profiles.

Make sure your profiles share the results you offer and don’t read like a job search resume. And make sure your profile is accurate for where you are today. Share your achievements. Share your story.

4. Update your presentations.

If you are a speaker or trainer, review all your presentations and update them thoroughly. Stat changes. The way we do everything changes. Make sure your presentations reflect your changing industry.

Look at his talks, his slides, and his signage. Would a few small tweaks have a significant impact or does it look worn and would benefit from a full overhaul? Keep in mind that if you’re bored with your presentation, chances are your audience is too.

5. Research new perspectives.

This can be a good time to do some research and find new clients. LinkedIn is the ideal platform to find B2B contacts. Please note that this is NOT the time to sell. If you would like to share useful information/insights, please contact us. But creating a list of potential contacts now will make the job a lot easier when things start to get back to normal and you have a ready-to-go list of new connections.

6. Create videos.

You can easily create quality videos using your computer or smartphone. These can be a great way to train customers or staff, offer industry insights and helpful tips, showcase products, or introduce employees to “humanize” your business.

They don’t have to be perfect! I always recommend checking your background to make sure it’s not distracting. The focus should be on you and not on all the things behind you. With that being said, Gary Porter, president of Flash Displays, offered this brilliant suggestion for using his trade show screen (or part of it, if it’s huge) as a video background. What a great way to brand your videos! You can then use these videos to send to clients, use on social platforms, Webcasts, etc.

When I create my videos, I like to do several at once and post them over time on a schedule. This makes a lot of sense if you’re setting up your screen once, shooting multiple videos, and you’re done.

Additionally, Gary mentioned that since many trade shows have been cancelled, you can still set up your booth and video your exhibit and share your presentation, training or information about your company.

7. Get in touch with current and past clients.

This is an excellent time to pick up the phone and reconnect to find out how others are dealing with this crisis (again, not to sell). These are extraordinary circumstances, and many people are not coping well with the enforced isolation they find themselves in. Your registration call could be a lifesaver on many levels.