Secure your liquidity first
Review your financial situation and cut what is not needed right now. «Not needed» is a vague term, though, so what you need are targeted measures.
Negotiate with suppliers about longer payment terms or other conditions. That gives you room to breathe and keeps you solvent for longer.
Cut
Expenses and investments you do not need at the moment, so that you do not run short of cash.
Keep
What works in the long run. An online marketing strategy that is already running successfully (SEO or SEA, for example) should not be cut without thinking it through.
Stay in touch with your customers
Reach out to your customers, especially while the shop is closed. They will understand your situation. Talk about different order quantities when certain products are currently not available.
- Website Advertise the new products you can offer, and show your expertise in product groups or advisory topics.
- Newsletter With it you reach almost every customer today and share current information.
- Direct advice Guide your customers personally to the right products.
Offer vouchers that can be redeemed once the shop reopens, or give a discount on certain products and services for a limited time.
Vouchers and promotions bring money in right away, even while the shop is closed.
Win new customers
Collect new addresses and also write to the prospects who have been on your list for a long time. Tell them about current products, promotional items and the new form of customer care.
It helps when prospects can open advice by phone or chat straight from the newsletter with one click. A free hotline (0800 number) for questions is well received too.
Advice by video
Find out which products are suited for online sales, and set up advice by video conference.
Zoom is a good fit. The free basic version allows video conferences with up to 100 people, with or without camera. Zoom is easy to use, and talking face to face comes close to a real meeting.
- Meeting You send customers a personal link by mail and invite them to a conversation that way.
- Webinar For a selected group of customers, and presentations such as PowerPoint can be shown without trouble.
- Recording An event can be recorded and made available later as a YouTube video.
This works particularly well for closed groups, such as health coaching or a dance studio offering courses.
Involve your employees
Your employees know situations from daily business that can lead to new deals. Brainstorm with them how your business can develop further online, including those who have to stay at home. Zoom works for these meetings too, and you plan them in the calendar and agree on them by mail.
How to bring the team on board
- Enable home office Where there is no arrangement yet, create one.
- Arrange working hours The range goes from working time accounts to short-time work.
- Reward ideas Whoever finds new customers or sells goods from stock receives a bonus, such as vouchers or tickets for cultural and sporting events.
