10 Steps To Bounce Back Faster:

1. Workers First. Before you do anything with external communications – start speaking personally with each employee at least once every week. Offer any assistance you can, keep them updated, show you care. Your employees will be your most valuable resource when America is open for business again.

2. Good Works + Good Will = Good Business. Still open? Remind people of how your workers are striving to keep vital goods and services available. Consider channeling a share of profits to a local charity or first responders. If you already have a loyalty points program, double all numbers for the duration. Customers get something tangible but it won’t be redeemed right away!

3. Shine A Spotlight. Consider adding an intro page on your website, spotlighting employees who are helping others cope and get through this crisis – whether it’s making masks or delivering dinners.

4. Check Your Mail. Closed down and complying? Use this downtime to clean and update your business e-mail list. Plus – if you haven’t tried direct mail in a while, what better time to do it than when everyone is stuck at home.

5. Early Refund Season. Those $1200 checks will be arriving soon for many people. Some of that money will go directly to mortgage payments or rent and utilities. But for others, it will be just like getting an unexpected tax refund – and it will be their patriotic duty to spend it, to bolster the economy!

6. Site Visit. Re-evaluate your website to make sure it’s doing everything your customers and employees need – then, do a quick competitive comparison to see what they are doing differently – better or worse!

7. Prep Race. Start working on your post-virus re-opening plan ahead of time, so you’re ready at when the starting gate flies open. If you are a restaurant, should you have a soft opening or a big gala event? Retail stores, is this to BOGO for more? It may not feel like it, but you are in a race to prepare.

8. Hone Your Competitive Edge. When the “stay at home” orders are lifted, everyone will be rushing to take advantage of the pent-up demand and cabin fever. Look at creative executions (both traditional and digital media) making sure the communication is clear, concise and compelling.

9. Money Talks. Louder Than Ever. Everyone with a 401K has taken a big hit and it might take months (or much longer) for the nation’s economy and the stock market to recover. Consider ways to improve the value proposition for your goods/services, or how your communications can reposition your offerings.

10. Reach For The Remote. Everyone has learned a lot about working remotely during this crisis – many Americans will be working from home from now on. The time to leverage digital and traditional media strategies to reach them in their new work environment will be critical moving forward

If you want additional suggestions or simply to bounce ideas off a communications professional, call Doug Powers at 502-641-8065 and leave a message – or send an e-mail to dougpowers@dougpowers.net.