The coronavirus crisis has severely impacted not only the way we work, but also the way we spend. If you are operating an e-commerce store, you have probably wondered how to scale your business and retain customers during this uncertainty.
As customers’ behaviors shift into panic-buying, impulse-buying, and lack-of-buying, balancing your own needs and your customers’ needs during this crisis can feel like more than a full-time job.
If you do not already have a plan in place for how to react, read up on our five key methods for preparing your e-commerce business for a post-pandemic world.
Visualize Your Business’ Direction
No matter if you have been experiencing a rise or fall in sales, taking stock of where your business currently stands as-is during the pandemic will help you plan for the future.
Ask yourself questions like: How are my customers responding to my business during the pandemic? How are customers responding to my competitors? Establishing a concrete plan for where your business is headed can help you get an edge over the day-to-day uncertainty.
Make the Most of the Current Situation
With the outbreak of coronavirus, you might find yourself with free time on hand. Not surprising during this pandemic, but you may want to take advantage of the time available to you to research new business strategies.
Have you been putting off Google Analytics research? Confused by Tag Manager? Wanting to write a few months’ worth of social media posts? There’s no better time than now to start learning how to market and boost your e-commerce sales. Studying up on new business tools can help your business resume “normal” operations after this pandemic.
Adapt To Market Demands, But With Scepticism
During this coronavirus crisis, businesses that do their research and apply it to their customer journey will come out on top. Research products that are currently trending, and see how they have been selling.
If the product’s demand is steadily growing, you may want to consider how that product (or a variation of it) can incorporate into your current store offerings: virus protection products, grocery items, cleaning supplies. However, do not transform your store into an online virus-defense hub. You might find yourself in a few months with a backstock of items!
Listen To Your Customers
There is no better opportunity to really listen to your customers than now. Be respectful of the pandemic, but take time to genuinely check in with them, and remind them that you are thankful for their past and present business. If you have a handful of loyal customers, consider sending them a personalized email. On the other hand, if you want to attract new customers, consider running a promotion or incentivization for shopping at your online store.
Reflect on the Past
Once the pandemic has run its course, there will likely be a period of global recuperation. As you take stock of business after the pandemic, ask yourself if you had your business set-up to scale.
If you found your business to be suffering, you may need to take a step back and review your customers’ pain- and touch-points. Unfortunately, these pandemics are certain to repeat themselves, and having a pandemic-strategy in place for future breakouts can positively impact your organization.
Conclusion
No matter your industry or audience, your response to the ever-evolving situation will likely change with the times. The new “normal” could never be normal again. However, you know your customers better than anyone. When preparing your business for a post-pandemic world, make sure to consider these five key factors, and continue to serve your customers as best as you can.
