If the government’s roadmap out of lockdown continues on its current course, 21 June should mark the full reopening of life as we knew it before COVID-19. So, now is the time to start thinking about what your practice can do when it comes to reconnecting with clients, the community, and potential clients after lockdown.
Here are some suggestions as to what you can do to put your practice into the spotlight and to be seen as the business which is helping people to reconnect after lockdown.
Client open afternoons/evenings
Invite your existing clients to your office or local venue for drinks and nibbles. If you or your clients are concerned about having lots of people in a small area, consider splitting these sessions over a couple of weeks or running the event throughout the day and give people time slots to choose from. That way you will be able to keep attendee numbers under control whilst providing a suitable welcoming environment in which people can mingle and chat.
Hook up with local business groups
Contact local Chambers of Commerce or networking groups to organise events to bring local businesses together. As well as providing a great opportunity to reconnect with business people it’s also a great branding opportunity for your practice to be seen as ‘the firm who brought us back together again’.
Dust off the old corporate hospitality calendar
Corporate days, remember them?! Now’s the time to look at reorganising those events which you had done prior to COVID-19, or perhaps you were thinking of doing. For the short term, there may be more of a desire to do outdoor events, so how about organizing a golf day, a get-together at a polo match, garden parties, and so on. The lockdown restrictions are easing at the start of the summer, so try and make the most of this time weather-wise!
Sponsoring local shows and events
Whilst many organisers have taken the decision to cancel their 2021 events, some are going ahead. If you have local shows, exhibitions, community, or sporting events that are planning to take place after 21 June, contact them about sponsorship opportunities or ways your practice can get involved. Not only will it help to raise your profile, but you will also be contributing financially to helping these events continue to run.
Reconnect with the team
The end of lockdown restrictions is also a good time to thank your team for their help and support during a time that has been challenging for everyone. With many people still working from home, it may be a good opportunity to bring staff back together and to help them reconnect with each other. Organising a social event and/or possibly a team-building day will help to bring people together, but also help the practice to map out the best ways to cope with similar difficult situations in the future.
Continue to offer socially distanced alternatives
Face-to-face meetings and get-togethers will not be for everyone after 21 June. There will of course be some people, including some of your staff, who feel anxious about mixing with others again, which is totally understandable. So do bear that in mind and continue to offer meetings by zoom or equivalent, 1-2-1 meetings where you can ensure all socially distanced measures remain in place, including wearing masks, but also to keep in touch regularly over the phone or email.
Other suggestions on ‘How to improve the brand visibility of your practice’ can be seen in our pre-covid blog here.
I am not saying throw caution to the wind and go out and go crazy after 21 June, but there is scope for your practice to play a key role with the ‘reopening of society’. You can of course choose to have as much or as little involvement as you are comfortable with, but there is definitely an opportunity for reconnecting after lockdown within your local area and with clients, business associates, and prospective clients.
