Tools and Strategies You Need for the Tough Times Ahead

From global pandemics to wars that disrupt supply chains, there is a great deal going on in the world today that can affect even the smallest local business. When things are going well is a good time to prepare but it’s never too late. Here are four strategies and tools to help you when things get tough.

When things are going well is a good time to prepare but it's never too late. Here are four strategies and tools to help you when things get tough. Share on X

 

Strategies for Busting Stress

Troubled times can come in all shapes and sizes but one thing they have in common is stress. How do you face these challenges without freaking out and falling apart?

Troubled times can come in all shapes and sizes but one thing they have in common is stress. How do you face these challenges without freaking out and falling apart? Share on X

An essential tool for thriving in tough times is an arsenal of stress reduction strategies. You’ll need to talk yourself down when you’re feeling overwhelmed in the moment.

Effective stress reduction techniques include:

• Deep breathing
• Physical activity like jogging or working out
• Mindfulness meditation
• Long walks
• Yoga, tai chi, or qi gong
• Creative activity to get your mind off work.

Do any of these sound suitable for you? Get into the practice now when things are calm and they’ll help you when you need them.

An essential tool for thriving in tough times is an arsenal of stress reduction strategies. You’ll need to talk yourself down when you’re feeling overwhelmed in the moment. Share on X

 

Tools for Content Planning and Creation

During tough times, you may find your resources pinched. However, you need to keep pumping out useful content for your audience in order to keep your inbound marketing going. You can also use these tools to produce additional information products to give away as freebies for added value.

Content planning and creation tools can help with a variety of tasks. They can give you SEO guidance, keep you organized, help with productivity, manage your content team, and help you write and edit. Some good tools to check out include Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, and Semrush.

Of course, you can also use AI tools now both for writing and design, tools like Chat GPT, Bard, Jasper, DALL·E 2 and Canva. AI can be a powerful tool for marketing your business, but it is important to be aware of its potential drawbacks and to use it carefully. You also need to ensure you have proper safeguards in place to protect customer data, avoid bias and review what you’ve generated for accuracy.

Check out my Tools and Resources page for some of my personal favourites.

Content planning and creation tools can help with a variety of tasks. They can keep you organized, help with productivity, and help you write and edit. Share on X

 

Customer Feedback Tools

Knowing your customer well is important for getting through tough times. You’ll need to create a strong brand they feel attached to and offer excellent value at a good price. You can’t do this unless you understand their needs and values, and the unique value your products and services offer.

While you should have as much personal contact as possible with your audience, there are also tools that automate gathering customer feedback. These tools offer surveys you can give your customers through email or social media and some also offer customized reporting.

Knowing your customer well is important for getting through tough times. You’ll need to create a strong brand they feel attached to and offer excellent value at a good price. Share on X

 

Engage by Email

If you aren’t already using one, you should have an email autoresponder program. This is a software program that allows you to maintain an email subscriber list and broadcast messages to them on a set schedule. My current favourite is one called Mailerlite but there are plenty of others, such as Constant Contact and Aweber.

Email allows you to create a closer relationship with your audience. People are much more responsive to emails in their inbox than messages on social media or elsewhere. This is especially important during difficult times as you can maintain a personal connection and offer helpful content there.

 

 

Are You Ready for the Tough Times Ahead?

Are you worried about the tough times the future may bring? Stop worrying today and prepare your business so that it will not only survive but thrive in hard times. If you need help mastering your marketing in tough times then download our Report/Workbook to help you prepare.