There is a lot of talk right now about how small businesses will bounce back once the COVID-19 crisis is over. The fact of the matter is, businesses that don’t prepare now, or take steps to strategize, will likely have a hard time in the coming months.

But that doesn’t have to be the case for you.

There is plenty you can do today to better the odds of your business not only surviving but also thriving in the days to come.

Keep your finger on the pulse.

The news is changing every single day, so it can feel impossible to keep up. However, at the very least, you need to stay on top of what is happening in your industry so that you can be prepared to serve your clients and answer their questions. It’s your job to be a source of hope and information for your industry, and really, that’s all people are looking for right now.

If your clients and prospects are scouring the internet for information, they are most likely getting a mix of bad news, scary headlines, and probably some falsehoods, too. Sharing your own thoughts and take on the market, whether via a weekly newsletter, a social media post, or even a phone call or text message, can ease their fears and reassure them that the market will regain its footing—and probably sooner than they think.

It’s also important to know where you’re getting your own information, too. Be wary of sharing articles you found on Facebook or other social sites. Instead, opt for sources you trust that are backed by studies or from other industry leaders.

To recap, you should be continuing to share as much helpful information with your clients as you can via email, social media, or over the phone—just make sure it’s useful information.

Don’t censor yourself.

While it’s important to be practical and conscientious of the content you’re posting, that doesn’t mean you can’t share content related to your business or the industry as a whole. There are still people willing to do business with you, this strange time has simply forced business owners and consumers to get more creative about how to do it. If you’re a real estate agent, for example, you can share virtual home tours and video walkthroughs on Facebook Live. (To get the free social media images featured in the above image, click here!)

Continuing to share industry-related content is a great way to generate and warm up leads who will eventually be interested in working with you, even if they want to hold off for now. Comb through your CRM or client database, reach out, and determine which of your contacts are still viable leads looking to do business with you. Keep feeding those contacts content that is specific toward what they’re looking for, be it real estate tips, financial advice, etc.

Work on personal development.

You know more than anyone that running a business—and teaching yourself how to be better at running a business—is a daunting task. Now is the perfect opportunity to use extra time for personal development that will help you become a better business owner. There are a number of sites that offer online learning courses for business owners and entrepreneurs. Not all are free, but many, such as LinkedIn Learning, offer free trials that can help you determine if enrolling is worth your while.

ReminderMedia also has a whole host of resources for business owners to improve their practice, including e-books on relationship marketing and lead generation, success guides for mastering social media and email marketing, and so much more—all available in our resource library.

If there is a specific area of your business you’ve wanted to improve, schedule time in your day to focus on it now so that you can be stronger than ever in this area when the economy and your business picks back up.