2021 is going to be a good year for business. People are going back to work, all businesses can be open in some fashion, and people are starting to operate like “normal” once again. A lot of changes were made to help businesses stay afloat in 2020, and while some of these are no longer necessary, they have helped businesses develop a healthy set of protocols.
More In-Person Meetings
Some people love to meet in person. Getting your team back together and meeting with clients in real life is a great way to make your brand stand out. These connections are invaluable for your business going forward. It doesn’t mean you have to get rid of virtual meetings, just that you can now offer both. Training sessions, team building, and more can all happen in-person in some places now, and if your team is willing, then go for it.
Going to The Office or Not
Maybe pre-pandemic you were against remote working. But when 2020 hit you realized the only way to get work done was to allow people to work from home. Seeing how well it worked, you can offer your staff options. Flexible options are a great way to help your brand stand out. You no longer need to be so strict about only working in the office if people are getting the work done at home. But, for those who miss the spontaneous collaboration and impromptu meetings, getting back to the office is vital.
In-Person Interviews
Virtual interviews worked well when needed, but going back to in-person interviews can help your brand stand out. For people who like to interact in real life, get a feel for the office, and get a sense of the job, in-person interviews are valuable.
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Flexible Options
It’s important to be mindful of other people’s needs. Your brand can stand out if you offer different options to your clients. Maybe you are used to meeting at coffee shops or in the office. If a client would prefer an outdoor meeting because they feel more comfortable, it’s a good thing to offer that as well. Additionally, we all know that Zoom and other video meetings were very popular in 2020. It might be a good idea to offer this as an option to your clients who are slowly getting out again and aren’t yet comfortable meeting face-to-face. Understanding the pandemic and how it affected different people is crucial.
COVID Precautions
People want to know what precautions you are taking. What does your office cleaning schedule look like? How will you handle employees who are sick? Will you require masks or social distancing? Do you clean in between clients? All of these policies may be relaxed now, but it doesn’t mean that they completely go away. Communicating to your staff and customers what you’re doing will help create buyer confidence in you and your services and products. Be transparent when necessary and share what you can.
HR Policies
Having clear policies can help your brand stand out. When you can be transparent about things like credit checks and a background check for job opportunities within your company it creates trust from the start. While some of this is internal, there are external facing HR policies that can give people a good impression of your company. Often applicants never hear back if they aren’t selected for a job. This is one area that can be improved upon. Post-pandemic policies can also include being upfront about whether a job can be remote or if it must be in the office. Many people love the flexibility of working from home, so a good policy on that would be very helpful.
Social Media
We all know that social media is great for your brand. Make sure you are using the right platforms and that you are connecting in real ways. Videos, podcasts, and even photos all help create engaging content for your followers. Treat all of them as people in your pipeline. Your social media should serve your vision and your brand values. But remember it’s a tool to help you gain more business and build trust around the products you create. Your brand will stand out if you share how you’re moving forward from the pandemic in 2021.
