Adapt to New Consumer Trends With These Ideas and Tools

“Adaptation” is one of the words you hear more often in discussions about businesses navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s true: Adaptation is key to manage through these circumstances. But adapting is easier said than done. Use the following ideas and tools to gain insights into new consumer trends so you can adapt your business strategy accordingly.

Go Online

The importance of having an online presence during the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overstated. Go online if you haven’t done so. If you are online already, then expand your digital footprint. At the very least, you should have Twitter and Facebook accounts as a communication channel with your customers. However, the ideal is having also a website you can use as a base to deliver your services online if that makes sense for your business.

Just Ask

Having at least some social media presence is important because it makes everything else so much easier. If you have a Facebook or Twitter account, you don’t have to rack your brains trying to uncover some mysterious new customer trend—you can just ask. Use your social media platforms to ask your clients what their needs are right now, what changes they’d like to see in your business, and what partnerships may make sense for you. Sometimes, finding game-changing insights can be that easy.

Additionally, if you have your clients’ email addresses, you can use Google Forms to send them a survey and glean useful information.

Use Technology to Discover Consumer Trends

Until not so long ago, spotting new consumer trends was an achievement only available to big companies with a research department. Now you can do it too, no matter your industry, your location, or the size of your business. Google Trends is a powerful tool that allows users to discover topics as they trend in real time. You can also enter a search topic (for example, you could enter “sneakers” if you sell shoes), and see useful information such as the areas where that topic is searched more often, and the words associated with that search.

Update Your Information Across All Platforms (Including Video)

Making sure that your information is up to date across all online platforms should be one of your priorities. This includes your profile on Google (the information that comes up when people type the name of your business) and the opening hours and the address that appear on Google Maps. If you don’t have a YouTube channel for your business, you may consider opening one. Don’t let the idea of shooting video intimidate you; if you have a smartphone you can start making videos today.

Here you will find a useful playbook made by the guys at YouTube themselves. They walk you through the process of creating your channel and provide you with some useful tips about how to make your videos more attractive and searchable.

More Coronavirus Resources

From communication strategies to ideas to advance your career working from home, these are some posts you may find useful to navigate the current circumstances.

At the Pomona Chamber of Commerce, our mission is keeping you up to date with the most relevant developments in business management and administration so you and your company can take advantage of new opportunities. Contact us today by email (info@pomonachamber.org) telephone (909-622-1256), social media, or click on this link to join and start enjoying the benefits of membership today.