We’re gradually coming out of lockdown. Cue massive sigh of relief. 

Restrictions are easing and we’re out and about that bit more. I’ve been meeting family and friends who I haven’t seen in months (at a distance of course). Others are heading to parks at the weekend to escape the apartments they’ve been cooped up in for weeks.

So yeah, a lot of us are probably the happiest we’ve been in a while. 

But not everyone feels this way. Business owners, particularly startups, are facing some real challenges coming out of lockdown. 

It’s important to be aware of these challenges in order to source some timely, viable solutions to help your startup weather this unsettled period .

1. GOING BACK TO THE OFFICE

Many startup teams who were used to working in an office or co-working space we’re forced to work remotely as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. 

While some individuals can’t wait to get back to the office, others are a little more hesitant.

Although many of us have become more confident about leaving our homes in recent weeks, some are still fearful about being in small, communal spaces, such as buses, trains and confined office spaces.

If you or your team members aren’t comfortable heading back into an office environment just yet, that’s completely understandable. However, if you’re worried that your team dynamic is going to suffer due to the lack of face to face interaction that you’d usually have in the office, know that there’s loads of great ways, tools and resources to maintain and even improve your team dynamic online. 

Zoom will forever be a legacy of the Coronavirus. Whether you used it for morning yoga, pub quiz catch ups with mates or investor meetings, Zoom helped get us through the pandemic and, with a little creativity and some clever implementation, it can be a great asset for team building, installing company culture and facilitating collaboration. 

If you need a few ideas to get you started, I recently wrote a piece about 5 different ways to create and improve your company culture on Zoom.

2. TAKING ON FULL-TIME STAFF

If your startup needs to fill a skills gap but simply doesn’t have the budget to take on a full time staff member, hiring agile talent could be a good option at the moment.

If you need professional photographs for a new campaign or someone to work on your branding, taking on agile talent gives you the flexibility to only pay for what you need at a given time. 

3. TRANSITIONING YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE

If your startup was conducting business from a physical space, it may have taken quite a hit in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

In order to reach new and existing customers, transitioning to an online business could be a long-term solution. 

To do this successfully, you’ll probably need to update your old website or build a new one. Social media is also a great way to promote your business, so I’d definitely recommend that you revisit your social presence to ensure your links, branding and posts are all on point. Try to post original, engaging content fairly regularly to help increase your brand awareness and encourage platform users to purchase your products.  

4. ADJUSTING YOUR MESSAGING AND MAKING YOUR BRAND MORE INCLUSIVE

Throughout the lockdown period, we’ve seen some pretty horrendous events unfold across the world. The brutal murder of George Floyd was certainly no exception.

This horrific act of violence sparked widespread protests and initiated much needed and long overdue conversations about racism worldwide.

Many businesses have realised that their products and services, along with the promotional content they use to market these entities, need to be more reflective of the racially diverse society we live in.

Consider making changes to your social media content, website and other promotional materials to ensure your brand is inclusive. 

5. A LACK OF OR REDUCED FUNDING

Funding from government and private organisations may be impacted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Startups relying on funds to enable them to expand their resources, such as taking on full-time employees, may have funding withheld or decreased. 

Sometimes it’s no harm to anticipate the worst possible outcome and be ready to deal with it if it comes. Therefore, when planning projects over the next few weeks and months, factor in how potential cuts in funding might affect your work. 

As we emerge from lockdown, many startups will face one or more of the challenges I’ve highlighted above.

These challenges will be tough and many startups will need to find creative solutions to overcome them in order to keep their businesses afloat.

If you think a freelancer could help you overcome any of the challenges your business is facing, post a job here at no cost.