From Sourdough Starters to Building a Deck | What is Your Marketing Makeover?

While COVID-19 has certainly devastated the world and altered what people and businesses consider “normal” in their day to day, the virus looks like it is here to stay (at least for a while), and this is our new “normal.” 

What does this mean for businesses?

So far, we’ve written about how business leaders can:

• Pivot

• Communicate with their team

• Communicate with their audience 

• Adapt under pressure

The next step is reshaping, or remodeling the business. 

Now, this is easier said than done. A makeover requires financial support, faith, and courage. In the last few months while the people of the world have been hit with numerous challenges, they have also achieved many accomplishments. 

Many individuals have taken this time to personally reflect and “makeover” themselves by developing new skills. At one point, Instagram feeds were inundated with sourdough starters. In addition to new domestic skills, people have also used their time to double down on certifications, education, and work-related skills. 

Restaurant undergoing construction to add an outside deck in order to accomodate customers during the coronavirus.

Companies are realizing some of these pandemic changes are for the long-haul, and they’re thinking ahead. We recently noticed a local dine-in restaurant down the street from the Setup office is undergoing construction to build an outdoor deck in hopes of increasing consumer traffic. They’re investing to build a space where they hope future customers will feel safe while enjoying their delicious food.

Numerous companies have evolved during the pandemic. Some, like Ford motor Company, started to manufacture medical supplies. Retailers are online, restaurants are offering curbside pick-up and delivery, and companies like Uber Eats are delivering essential supplies. Others like Flying Elephant Productions, an event stage building company, transformed entirely. Evaluating the current state of the world and realizing that events would be on hold, Flying Elephant Productions started building desks for the increasing number of people working from home in order to stay in business. 

How can a company undergo a makeover? 

Invest in leaders 

With the pandemic, there is something new every day, leaders are treating quarterly reports as yearly reports, and the market is changing rapidly. Decisions blocked by bureaucratic red tape wastes time and energy. Executives and those at the top should handle overall decision making and empower lower-level management to make the call on smaller decisions, meaning mid-management and frontline managers will have more responsibility and accountability. Although this could lead to errors, making decisions and learning from them is better than doing nothing. Entrusting frontline managers may lead to positive insights since they interact closely with the consumer. 

Reevaluate procedures

An increase in cross-collaboration and a decrease in approval processes gives companies the opportunity to tighten up and reshape their internal processes. Less decision makers involved in every decision, fewer meetings, and more communication about accountability give people the time and power to productively use their time. 

Mold an entrepreneurial attitude 

Every company needs to act as agile as a start-up. Days won’t look the same anymore, so teams need to be onboarded to adapt quickly. In the past few months, leaders have noticed which workers are born to be leaders by their tenacity to step up and innovate. Encouraging that mentality throughout departments and hiring individuals with drive will lead to a flexible organization.

Revamp user experience (UX/UI)

Cash registers and venues are empty (for the most part), and people are shopping online. Meet them where they are, and create a user-friendly environment for people to interact with your company and purchase your products. It’s never too late (or tone deaf) to redo your website, and we have a great partner who can help you!

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The first steps to undergoing a makeover are speed in execution and revamping decision making. Get started by reevaluating procedures and processes, or remodel your “marketing” deck! In the month of June, a number of businesses quickly acted to implement, reevaluate, and reshape diversity and inclusion and hiring efforts. All it takes is the will and the determination to make a positive and necessary change.