Dusting Off Your Digital Strategy for Business Development

There is no such thing as normal.  There, I said it.  This is not the “new normal” and we are likely never going back to “normal.”

We are now living in a world where change is the rapid, continuous, and ever-present.  We need to meet this new reality with agility, optimism, and a growth mindset.

Omicron was a punch in the face JUST when my whole family got vaccinated.

But, where is the gift in all of this?  How can we look at this new spike of cases and see opportunity rather than adversity?

This pandemic has taught us that we CAN meet new prospects, deepen relationships, and close business digitally.  It might not be our preferred method, but it is possible.

Double Down on Your Digital Strategy for Business Development

So, now is the time to double down on your digital strategy. Do more of what works best for you in the virtual world. Remember, your time and insight is only a generous gift if your prospects and clients WANT IT.  So, keep them and their needs front and center as you create your digital strategy for business development.

Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Idea #1: Create Digital Content

Create digital content your clients and prospects want: social media posts, videos, podcasts, webinars, curated fireside chats.  If you don’t know what your clients and prospects want, ASK THEM.  People love being asked their opinion.

Question: If we could never travel again to meet in-person, how would you want to <gain new industry knowledge, deepen relationships, have fun, meet new people> in a fully virtual world?

Idea #2: Create a Mini Conference

​Create your own mini-conference.  If your main industry conference just got canceled, create your own mini-conference by inviting a small, targeted blend of prospects and clients to attend a Zoom call to learn from your expertise and discuss industry trends.

Idea #2: Connect with Clients and Prospects 1:1

Connect with clients and prospects one on one to learn more.  Set up a 1:1 virtual meeting NOW with the top five people you wanted to connect with in 2022, before Zoom fatigue kicks in.

Do this now while other people are still dreaming of connecting with these folks in-person at that meeting in March.  Don’t wait until March when the meeting is canceled.

Idea #3: Experiment with Virtual Connections

Experiment with new modalities of virtual connection.  Right after the pandemic hit in 2020, I had 6 clients cancel their contracts.

My business was only a year old and I was convinced that there was no way to recover.  As I was FREAKING out, Christine Wilson recommended that I try a Facebook Live every day for a month to rebound my business.  As a result, my business spiked and I no longer had time to create and host Facebook Live chats every day😂😂.  As soon as I have time, I plan to get back to hosting Facebook Lives.  What new modality can you experiment with?

Pro tip: Don’t get resentful when your prospects and clients don’t show up to your virtual events.  That is feedback that what you are offering is not resonating.  It’s not a generous gift.  Do more research.  Re-tool. Try again. You might not get it right on your first try, but you definitely won’t get it right if you don’t try.

​We can’t change Covid, we can only change how we respond to it.  We can only change our behaviors and strategy in light of it.

Covid suxxxxxxx, but there are some silver linings too.  Try and focus on the silver linings.