"Fall seven times, rise eight." - Japanese Proverb
The COVID-19 pandemic forced small businesses around the world to ditch long-term plans for digital transformation. Instead they flipped a switch, putting a remote workforce in place and providing teams with tools and technology essentially overnight. Although the majority of countries and businesses are still very much in crisis management mode, some businesses are exploring how they can turn these last-minute transformations into long-term solutions that position themselves for growth on the other side, according to the World Economic Forum.
You’re a visionary at heart. And as a small business owner, you’re probably thinking ahead and wondering how best to move forward. Here are three actionable ways to create a more resilient business for the future.
Develop a Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
A BCP outlines how you’ll continue critical operations in the event of an unplanned disruption or disaster. Keep in mind that most incidents that could interrupt your ability to conduct business effectively are close to home: a major weather event that takes out power, a burst pipe that causes flooding in your offices, a fire nearby that closes local roads, or a cybercriminal who attacks your infrastructure. Your BCP should include contingencies for processes, assets, human resources, business partners, and any other aspect of your business that might be impacted. A disaster recovery plan is a key component of your overall BCP and should include strategies for handling IT disruptions to networks, computers, servers and mobile devices.
Here are some free templates to help you get started.
Leverage the Power of Social Media
Social media is a highly effective marketing channel, ideal for reaching your intended audience, strengthening customer relationships, and sharing relevant industry information. But with limited resources, how can you leverage social media to expand your reach and grow your business? Here are some tips to get you started.
1. Use hashtags strategically
Engaging on hashtag feeds can build exposure to your brand. Associate up to three hashtags with your LinkedIn company page so that you can react and comment from your brand’s perspective, exposing your name to a wider audience. Identify three to five hashtags that are top of mind for your business and add them to your social posts to expose a larger audience to your content.
2. Tap into your existing network
Invite your connections to follow your company pages. You can also notify employees about important company posts to boost organic reach and engagement. Empower employees and loyal customers to become brand advocates, sharing company social posts on your behalf.
3. Amplify content with paid ads
Paid social media ads allow you to reach a much broader audience of potential customers than organic social alone. They also enable you to target unique audiences by title, function, industry, and more. You don’t need a background in advertising or deep pockets to set up effective ads and begin generating new leads. Boost, sponsor, and promote social post with the highest engagement across all social profiles.
For more great insights watch the LinkedIn Learning Social Media Marketing for Small Business class online. Social media engagement humanises your brand, differentiates your business from the competition and builds trust among your audience. Get five tips for becoming a savvy social media marketer here.
Studies and success stories show that being a lifelong learner is crucial for business success and is an integral part of entrepreneurship. New technology, new marketing techniques, changes in regulations or systems all require growth.
Lifelong learning and self-directed learning readiness are both keys to business success.25
Small businesses like yours have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing learning can help you hone your management, sales, marketing, finance, and self-care skills. In addition to the Social Media Marketing class, LinkedIn Learning offers many other free courses to help you navigate the challenges of today’s economy and help you thrive into the future.
If you’re looking for additional resources and support, Cisco's small business resource center connects you with peers and industry experts around the world and keeps you up-to-date on the latest resources and solutions to drive your business forward. Discuss product roadmaps, influence product direction, participate in early adopter trials, get advice, and share your expertise around Cisco technologies.
Throughout this crisis, you’ve worked tirelessly to navigate uncharted challenges and keep your business running securely. Along the way, you’ve acquired quite a bit of knowledge. Now it’s time to take what you’ve learned and use it, along with the right technologies, to build a stronger, more resilient business. “This moment is not to be lost,” states a recent McKinsey article26, going on to advise that those who step up their game will be far better off and more ready to confront both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Visit Cisco’s curated Small Business portfolio here.