Currently, we all are going through a difficult time, and it is affecting how the customers interact with the businesses at all levels (local, national, and global).Due to the COVID-19 crisis, customers are avoiding their visits to brick and mortar stores. And even though online businesses are still operating amidst this crisis, people are still skeptical of ordering things online.
For the past few months, there have been a lot of uncertainties in the market, and the small businesses are being affected the most. It is quite evident that what worked in the pre-COVID world will not necessarily work in today’s market. If you are running a small business in 2020, you need to evolve your business model with the changing times.
How to Determine the Customers’ Needs During This Time?
In a situation like a pandemic, people are more inclined to fulfilling their basic needs before they move on to fulfill the more advanced ones. During this COVID-19 crisis, people are more concerned about keeping themselves safe from the infection and getting only the essentials such as groceries, toiletries, etc.
During this situation, we are seeing some customer behaviors that are different from what we generally saw before the pandemic. And these behaviors are most likely here to stay. Some of these behaviors are:
- Continuing to wear masks in crowded places and washing hands more frequently
- Being more careful about buying
- Working or studying from home as much as possible and avoiding social gathering
- Prioritizing brands that are more conscious and empathetic
Hence, you need to really think about how much the customer needs have changed during this crisis, and what do your customers expect from you now. If you can find the answers, you will be able to improve your business model to meet the new requirements.
How Can You Improve Your Business Model?
It will take a significant amount of time for businesses to get used to the “new normal.” And this new normal is more likely to encourage social distancing and less traveling. So, how exactly can you upgrade your business model to meet the new needs of the customers?
Here are a few suggestions:
- Focus more on health and safety measures through communication:
Since most people are skeptical about availing any product or service besides the essentials, you need to think of ways on how you are going to communicate with the customers.
The most effective way to regain the trust of your customers is to assure them that your products and services are safe, and you have all the necessary safety measures in place to ensure good hygiene.
It is better if you inform your customers about the safety measures and health-related steps that your business has taken. You can use email marketing, or update your website with such information. You can also use social media platforms to your advantage to provide the information to your customers and prospects and put their minds at ease.
- Adopt new approaches:
Several food-delivering businesses have started no-contact delivery. Also, there has been a surge in the number of telemedicine sessions. From these instances, it is quite evident that some businesses have already started talking about different approaches to operate their business, and it is time you do it too.
This is a good time to observe what is working for your business and what is not, and improve your business accordingly. If your business does not sell essential goods or services, you may need to change your approach of marketing your products/services.
You also need to consider the fact that this COVID-29 crisis has impacted a lot of people financially. So, you need to pivot your business model accordingly.
The internal operations of your business will also need to change. Your employees must be comfortable working from home and attending video conferences, but you need to decide whether you want to continue in the next few months as well or not.
How Can You Meet the New Customer Needs?
While updating the business model, you also need to make sure that you are able to meet the needs of your customers. Meeting the needs of your customers is a continuous process. So, you need to adopt these following measures to be on top of your game:
- Listen to your customers:
It is not going to be easy to operate in the market full of uncertainties. This is why it has become more important than ever to know what your customers feel about your business and what they need from you.
Monitoring online reviews and sending out questionnaires will be quite useful in learning about what your customers feel. You also need to listen to how your customers are interacting with your brand content on social media. Such insights can help you develop a more effective marketing strategy.
- Engage with the customers:
As mentioned, it is absolutely important to communicate with your customers during this crisis. While sharing the news and information regarding COVID-19 is important, this is a great opportunity for your assignment help business to interact with your customers with more inspiring and engaging content.
You can use your website and social media accounts to communicate more effectively with the customers. Since a majority of your customers and prospects will be spending the next few months in their respective homes, you can engage with them via more actionable content – such as How-to blogs or useful tips on how to be more productive during the lockdown.
Don’t resort to the sales gimmick since it is not the best time to do so. Instead, focus more on communicating with your audience and connect with them during these tough times.
