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Strategy

10 Business Planning Steps for Post-Coronavirus

Here’s what you should do when you’re back in the office.

At the risk of putting the cart before the horse, we should think about what comes after the coronavirus pandemic.

As the economy rebuilds, your business will, too. Every aspect of your company will be impacted. You’ll need to plan for what to do when things return to normal, so you can best serve your clients and employees.

planning

Here are 10 steps in the planning process:

1. Analyze Budget
Determine where the company stands financially. Factoring in the disruption of the coronavirus, reconfigure your projections for the year. Figure out how much funding you’ll need to meet your goals and what costs you can cut to help get there.

2. Manage Staffing
If layoffs were needed during the pandemic, balance the workload with remaining staff. Let any furloughed employees know you’re back in business. Resume the hiring process if positions need to be filled. If you can’t afford to rebuild your staff yet, perhaps recruit some summer/fall interns.

3. Update Equipment
Before returning to the office, make sure the building is deep cleaned. It’s a necessary expense to prevent any lingering bacteria, dust, debris, etc. Check to see if all computers, equipment and machinery are functioning. Perform any software updates and ask your employees if they have everything they need to hit the ground running.

4. Inform Clients You’re Back
Send a mass email to all your clients letting them know you’re back in the office and operations have resumed. Assure them that even though your company has to adjust, you have their best interests in mind and can service them as before. Inform your clients ASAP so they’ll go to you with all their needs before the competition returns.

5. Contact Your Suppliers
See who’s fully staffed and operational, who’s got inventory and if anyone’s running any, “We’re glad you’re back!” specials. Also, if you could pay suppliers within 30 days and with half upfront, you’d win their undying loyalty.

6. Create Calendar
While there’s a lot of work to be done when you return, you also want to prepare for the future. Set up a calendar filled with projects, events, goals and deadlines to focus on. Events that were canceled because of the coronavirus may be rescheduled, providing an opportunity for you to reclaim or even gain new business.

7. Launch Social Media Campaign
After building up your social media presence during social distancing, announce that you’re back in the office, ready to pick up where you left off. Promote new products from suppliers or additional services that you can offer. If you’ve grown your social media following, parlay those new interactions into beneficial relationships, and eventually, sales. Don’t be afraid to try new skills, apps and techniques you learned during the hiatus.

8. Strategize Clients’ Returns
What’s better than returning to the office? Your clients reopening their businesses! While keeping in touch with them during the hiatus, be proactive and suggest marketing ideas for when they can go back to work. There are plenty of opportunities to help them with promotional products, signage, social media and other aspects of their business. Additionally, you should build storyboards and presentations based on their annual events, so when they’re finally able to hold them, you have them covered.

9. Pursue Prospects
After spending the hiatus prospecting, now is the time to fill your pipeline. Invite your potential client to the office or offer to travel to them for an in-person meeting. Show them what you’re capable of now that your company is back up and running. Remember to diversify your accounts and tap into new markets. As the economy tries to rebound, it’s important to avoid keeping all your eggs in one basket.

10. Foster Company Culture
Schedule a luncheon or happy hour to bring everyone together and thank them for adjusting over the past few months. It’s an opportunity to catch up with everyone, build morale and recharge your batteries before rebuilding your business.