Even before the COVID-19 crisis, businesses of all sizes were moving towards increasing their online presence. Look back two years ago, when Forbes hit on this very topic for small businesses. While traditional marketing is no longer enough, “it isn’t enough to just be present online, you need to be active too.”

What Were the Stats and Where Were the Trends Before COVID-19?

Before COVID-19, there were interesting and valuable stats and trends for small businesses going into 2020, as found on Fundera. After reviewing these 28 items, there are a few questions you should consider.

  • If COVID-19 didn’t happen, were there moves that you were ready to make to increase your online presence?
  • Now that COVID-19 is here, were you able to make the moves, and are there more to make?

Find the Opportunities and Upskill the Staff

Understandably, many small to medium businesses may need to secure the financial resources they need to stay alive. Found on Entrepreneur, valuable tips may help you focus and move in the right direction.

Don’t Miss Out on Online Opportunities
Understanding your missing opportunities is crucial right now, especially if the business is slowing down.

  • Have you reviewed your business model, and does it still work?
  • If not online, are there missing opportunities with an online presence?
    • Do you have a website? If so, are you active?
    • If applicable, do you have an online store?
    • “Can you implement technology to balance any loss of earnings by offering new ways to connect with your customers?”

Upskill Staff to Increase Efficiencies and Future Productivity

Just as the Entrepreneur article recommends, if you have a great team, keep them and use this time to upgrade the business. By integrating technological advances into your system, you have the opportunity to create an even more productive and efficient team, in place of having to hire additional employees in the future.

It’s Time to Transform to AI-Powered Technologies

The COVID-19 crisis is a wake-up call that it’s time to move into the digital age or increase your presence. For traditional companies that haven’t stepped onto the technology highway, it’s so exciting once you’re there, you will never look back. Why? There are many reasons, but let’s look at the ones that every business wants to improve, and that’s the opportunity to run more efficiently and increase the bottom line.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now highly advanced, and deep learning is supplying businesses with the capabilities of doing more than humanly possible. An excellent review of “how artificial intelligence impacts business,” is found on William & Mary – Raymond A. Mason School of Business.

“Artificial intelligence isn’t just theoretical. It’s also a deeply practical way to manage data, and to relieve the burden of automatic tasks from human workers.”

  • “Visualization and KPI Tracking”
  • “Deeper Insights into Consumer Behavior”
  • “Maximize Human Labor”

The Tech Trends to Consider
During this tough time, technology is proving to be the power behind many businesses. Another Forbes article emphasizes the “six technology trends that will shape businesses in 2020.”

Creosen: The Partner to Meet
At Creosen, we are a full-service digital website design and development agency. We focus our talents to help local government, small to medium size businesses, universities, colleges, education institutions, and nonprofits develop and manage their website. We help clients integrate and learn how to strengthen their presence online, utilizing today’s AI-powered platforms.

Use this time to grab new opportunities to strengthen your digital presence. Creosen is ready to help you survive the crisis and power your business for the future. It’s exciting, and we’re excited to show you more.