Images_May_2020_Digital_Edition

www.images-magazine.com MAY 2020 images 17 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT and skillset as you go by carrying out the review and analysis yourself. Familiarise yourself with the different social media channels, and test out different pieces of software for CRM, email campaigns and social media scheduling. Also, with B2B website traffic likely to be reduced, now is the ideal chance to assess your business’s website; review it, work on any maintenance and updates, and ensure it is optimised and ready to go for a ‘relaunch’ when the time comes. It is an unprecedented time that presents many challenges, but for the optimistic business owner, this time is a great opportunity to look at your business, think of where it was, where it is now and where you want it to be in a year’s time. Use the time to develop your skills and your business. C ovid-19 has had a profound effect on the UK nation as a whole with many industries coming to a grinding halt. The garment decoration industry has not seen anything quite like it and yes, it is difficult at the moment to see business picking back up, but inevitably it will. While just getting through the pandemic in one piece is a great challenge for businesses, it also presents a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to reset, recharge and prepare for what awaits once this is all over. From a marketing perspective, it firstly provides a chance to evaluate, analyse and review your existing strategy. Identify what is working and what is not working, areas you would like to target, and areas that aren’t being targeted effectively, then work out how to get the maximum return on your marketing budget. Purse strings are likely to be tighter than ever before, so it’s imperative to squeeze every bit of value out of your marketing tools and plan accordingly. Look at online marketing tools, such as sponsored ads on social media and Google Adwords, and identify if there are any opportunities there for your business. Plan a strategy and budget, and build all the keywords so that they’re ready to go live to your audience once business is fully operational. You might think all this sounds a bit costly. Well, now is the perfect time for a bit of marketing DIY. Grow your knowledge Making the most of the current situation Andrew Langridge is from ETrader, one of the industry’s leading suppliers of websites to garment decorators across the UK. www.etraderwebsites.co.uk W ithout access to formal programmes normally available to big companies’ employees, small business owners must recognise the symptoms of extreme stress and even mental illness in themselves, especially at this time. Dr Lowinger, a Melbourne-based doctor with a particular interest in the mental health of small business owners, notes a number of symptoms that are easily recognisable. Emotional numbness, conflict with family and colleagues, and loss of motivation at work can all indicate stress and burnout and should serve as a cue to find help before the symptoms worsen. Dr Lowinger also suggests that feelings of worthlessness, difficulty sleeping, appetite changes and suicidal thoughts can be symptoms of depression. If any of these types of symptoms interfere with your life, your work or your relationships, then it’s time to seek professional help. She offers a number of tips for managing day-to-day stress as a small business owner. Some may not apply to your particular circumstances, others may have to be adapted, but all these tips are worth considering if they can help keep your stress at a manageable level: take regular breaks (both lunch and holidays); learn how to say no; set times to have your phone and email turned off; make time for enjoyable activities; get enough physical activity, sleep and healthy food; learn some relaxation techniques; nurture friendships and work relationships; look for creative or practical solutions to Healthcare advisor: looking after your mental health problems; and try to accept the things you can’t change or control, so you can focus on changing the things you can control. As the owner, your health and that of your business are inextricably entwined. There are some things for which only you can take responsibility. Your mental health is one of them. For advice on mental health and where to get help, go to www. mentalhealth.org.uk or talk to your GP. If you’re in need of immediate help and are unable to see a GP, go to your local A&E. Michael Best is a print industry veteran, accountant and author of Characters Who Can Make Or Break Your Small Business . Through 39 characters, Michael covers all aspects most small business owners can expect to encounter in the life of a business from inception to disposition. It is available from Amazon and www.smallbusinesscharacters.com .