The COVID-19 pandemic has been the defining event of 2020 and 2021. It has had a huge impact on businesses in every sector. However, with vaccination rates continuing to climb, it appears that we may be starting to emerge from the crisis. Just as Wooster business owners and entrepreneurs had to adapt to the pandemic world, they will need to be ready for the post-pandemic one. The following tips from Main Street Wooster should help.

1. Set or Revisit Your Strategy

Whether you are laying out your first business plan for a new idea or refining your current strategy, take some time to think about what your business will look like in the post-pandemic world. A value proposition that was profitable before or during the pandemic may not be so successful afterward. For example, many businesses that are highly reliant on smooth supply chains are still struggling. It may help to get a mentor who can act as a sounding board as you refine your plans.

2. Prepare Your Business Documents

Make sure the paperwork for your company is all in order. New entrepreneurs will be filing this for the first time. People with existing businesses may need to make some updates. These documents include those for forming your business entity, getting your tax ID, and establishing your governing procedures. The Ohio Business Roadmap is a good starting point. You will want to make sure you have everything in good order so that you can focus solely on growing your enterprise.

For example, you may want to create a “doing business as” (DBA) name for your company. A DBA lets you sell products and services under a different name than your business’s official name. This is great for expanding into new markets or opening a new line of business. Some organizations use DBAs to take advantage of high-value domain names.

3. Ensure You Have Sufficient Access to Capital

According to the Southern Oregon Business Journal, a common reason for business failure is financial difficulties. To help with this, you may want to consider a line of credit. Alternatively, you may seek help from an investor. If you have healthy cash flow, you could potentially just save some money to ensure that your coffers are as full as possible.

4. Supercharge Your Marketing Efforts

Marketing is essential for any business to succeed. If you’re launching a marketing campaign, and you plan to add images to your business's marketing materials, or you’re communicating with a graphic designer or web designer about design ideas, you may want to compress JPG files to make them easier to email. However, compressing a JPG file can degrade image quality. Instead, use a JPG to PDF converter to turn images into PDFs, which preserves the image's quality. This tool even allows you to convert multiple JPG files into one PDF so you won't have to email numerous images.

You also may want to consider revamping some of your current marketing plans. For example, you could update your logo with something a little more effective. Ideally, you should hire a designer who can help you make a great first impression and foster brand awareness. However, if you can’t afford that, you could consider using an online logo maker. It won’t be as good as a bespoke job, but you can customize your icon, style, text, colors, and more to create something unique. Don’t forget to revisit your website, social channels, and ads too.

5. Get the Right Help

Finally, you should make sure that you have the help you need. For example, you may want to find someone to work on your social media accounts for you. As for social media marketing pricing, the average rate to hire a social media manager is $21 per hour. The right campaign can easily earn this back and more. Additionally, you may need someone to help with accounting. Check out job boards like Upwork to find full-time, part-time, and freelance help.

With these tips, you can be ready to find business success in the post-pandemic world. Put them to good use today. And when you’re ready to put your business out there, join Main Street Wooster!

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