Due to cancellations and other impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, some people are finding themselves with more free time during the workday. If you or someone on your team is in this category, now is a great time to work on long-term projects that used to fall to the wayside. Spending time on these will help set your business up for success after this period of quarantine ends. Don’t know where to start? We have you covered with five long-term project ideas that can benefit any business!
1. Polish Up Your Website
Your website is often the first impression people have of your business. Outdated aesthetics, wonky formatting, or unpleasant user experience can turn people away before they even know what you’re about. Sites like Squarespace makes developing and formatting a website straightforward, while tools like Canva can help you easily create icons, images, and other visuals. If your website is a good place, make sure all content is up-to-date and consider building out some sections further, such as incorporating employee bios, free downloadable resources to provide, videos, and more.
2. Create a Template Arsenal
Ever do a task and think “I wish I could easily hand this off to someone”?
Enter the template arsenal. This is your go-to place for all common documents that your team would need. From email outreach copy to budgets, once you have a template or example document for something in one place, delegating or training someone new becomes a lot easier. Being able to link an example instead of walking others through your process will save you time and frustration. Start assembling your arsenal on a service like Google Drive or SharePoint- trust us, you won’t regret it.
3. Revamp Hiring Procedures
While hiring may be the last thing on the mind of most industries, now is a good time to revamp processes so that you can hit the ground running when things pick back up. When is the last time someone reviewed interview questions (or do you even have them?), onboarding documents, or copy for job postings? Creating a streamlined recruitment and onboarding process will allow you to find qualified candidates with ease when you’re ready.
4. Start a Blog
Blogs are more than a fun resource to write about your company and industry- they are a valuable SEO (search engine optimization) tool. This Hubspot article, which further explains the importance of blogging for your business, explains that “blogging helps boost SEO quality by positioning your website as a relevant answer to your customers' questions.” In other words, it helps you to be seen in the vast online world. Blogging is also a great creative outlet for you and your team, from brainstorming to writing. So identify some keywords, get writing, and drive traffic to your website!
5. Test Out New Tools
Frustrated with your bookkeeping software but never have time to change it? Does your email platform no longer serve the needs of your team? Now is the perfect time to test drive new software and programs at work. Many people have the bandwidth to help and provide feedback, especially if some have experienced frustration with the way things currently run or if some programs aren’t as conducive to a work-from-home set-up. With lots of brands running deals or offering free-trials, testing and eventually implementing new computer tools is a great use of your time that will have a lasting impact on how your team gets things done.
During these tough times, long-term projects can help keep your team busy and connected. Let us know what your business is working on in the comments!
