7 Ways to Survive and Thrive During These Challenging Times

Janet Barclay is Career Professionals of Canada’s Technology Manager and a website designer. In this post, she offers small business owners helpful tips for coping with a variety of challenges presented by the current coronavirus crisis.

1) Work Remotely

Working face-to-face with clients will not be feasible for the next few weeks. If you offer virtual services, that’s great — you already have a foundation in place. Let the clients you normally meet in person know that they have this option until social distancing is no longer required.

If you don’t currently offer virtual services, this is the perfect time to get started! I have clients in several industries who work this way, including professional organizers, résumé writers, coaches, and others.

There are many tools available for hosting online meetings, some of which are free. To learn more, read COVID-19: Ultimate Guide to Free Video Conferencing & Collaboration on UC Today.

Many of these video communication tools are suitable for groups as well as one-on-one meetings. Since your local workshops or other events will have been cancelled or postponed, consider moving them to an online platform instead.

2) Develop Information Products

While facing a loss of income, some people may not be able to afford your services, but they still need your help. This could be the perfect time for you to package your expertise into e-books or online courses that will fit your clients’ budgets when your services won’t.

Start with blog posts you’ve already written or presentations you’ve given in the past, and I bet this job won’t be nearly as big as you think.

A bonus to preparing these resources is that you’ll be able to continue selling your information products even when things return to normal.

3) Explore Other Sources of Income

If you’re not ready to develop your own products, you may be able to earn commission by promoting other businesses. Look into products and services you like that would benefit your clients, blog readers, or website visitors, and find out if they offer a referral or affiliate program. If not, ask if they’d be willing to enter into an agreement with you.

Members of some of the local Facebook groups I belong to have made themselves available for grocery delivery, parcel delivery, or other services they don’t normally offer, as a way to support others and replace lost earnings. Are there helpful (and safe) services you can think of offering?

4) Work on Your Business Practices

How many time-consuming tasks do you perform in your business? You know there’s probably a way to streamline, but even that takes time to research and implement. Take advantage of the unexpected break to attend to those issues, once and for all.

5) Work on Professional Development

I’d bet my lunch money that you’ve signed up for online courses and free downloads that you’ve never gotten around to doing anything with. Take some time to go through them, decide what’s most relevant to you, and just do it! While you’re at it, delete any files you’ve downloaded that you no longer want or need.

6) Work on Your Content Marketing

There’s no need to go on a blogging or social media blitz, but there’s also no reason you can’t create content you can publish in the weeks and months ahead.

And remember — you don’t have to start from scratch! Read 10 Simple Ways to Get the Most Mileage from Your Content for some great tips for repurposing content you’ve already created.

7) Review your website

If you’re like a lot of people, you probably never even visit your own website, let alone read the content to make sure it reflects your current offerings.

I’ll soon be starting a new blog series about the elements that should be included on the key pages of your website and I think you’ll find it really helpful. If you’d like to receive my blog posts in your inbox, you can subscribe at the bottom of this page.

Janet Barclay is ormer employment counsellor who supports Career Professionals of Canada as technology manager, and many of its members with her web design services and website care plans.  When she’s away from her desk, she enjoys reading, photography, cooking, watching movies, spending time with her family, and walking her dog.

Photo by Vasin Leenanuruksa on 123RF