In a perfect world, disasters would announce themselves with 3-5 business days before making an appearance. But alas, no such world exists, and crises tend to show up with no warning. For online business, brands, and even bloggers, this can come in many shapes and forms.
Everything from in-home/office issues to computer repair, or even customer data being hacked. When it comes to running a business, everything is up in the air and there is no telling what the next day may hold.
According to the US Bureau of Labor, 93 percent of companies that suffer a significant data loss are out of business within five years.
Nobody likes when that happens, and there’s little you can do to prevent deadlocks unless you can anticipate every scenario in which things could go wrong. But there is something you can do to make your life easier should a crisis emerge. We’re talking about a business continuity plan.
This type of pre-planning and security, is the same type of ‘insurance’ every business should have — which is also for piece of mind as well. You may never need such a plan or policy in place, but it’s often best to ‘be safe, than sorry‘.
It’s not something people like to think, but they should. A good business continuity plan can allow you to power through disasters, make a comeback, and continue your growth journey. And this guide can help you create a great one.
What Sort of Disasters Are We Talking about?
First of all, it’s worth determining what instances call for a business continuity plan. Right off the bat, you should know that it doesn’t apply if your crisis has to do with a public relation blunder or lousy customer service. If this is the disaster you’re facing right now, then you need a new (and better) communication strategy to improve your image.
A business continuity plan, however, can help you through those instances where there’s physical damage that can impair you from functioning Fires, floods, hurricanes, hacking, and other similar events that can put you out of business, at least for a while.
As such, the plan will outline the procedure you or your team will have to take. The idea is that following these steps can keep your business afloat, as well as protect your assets.
The Anatomy of a Good Business Continuity Plan
If you don’t have one already, then it’s time you start thinking of one. The first step would be to analyze your business and identify its processes, vulnerabilities, and estimate the potential losses in case of a disruption.
Then, follow these simple steps to lay out the plan:
Figure out to What Extent You Can Apply the Procedure
This first step brings in a dose of realism into the mix. Think, realistically, what is the true scope of the plan, what you can cover for how long, and which are the areas you have to leave out.
From a blogging perspective… consider the type of content that is created on your site, how are you managing your subscriber list, and what type of commission or revenue generating methods are being used on your site? Without the proper guidance or disclosure in place, these could cause problems down the road.
Identify Your Key Areas
Most businesses run numerous different processes at the same time. You’ll need to separate those which are essential from those you could potentially live without when you create your business continuity plan.
From a blogging perspective… take a step back from your blog or business and see all of the many components in place. You may have forgotten about some of them in the past, but they are still accessible by others. Focus on the core basics of your business and what is generating money, then consider removing the rest.
(Really) Know Your Weaknesses and Set Your Priorities
Look at the areas where you are vulnerable in your business. That will help you understand better the impact any future disaster may have, and what steps you’ll have to take.
Of all of them, which do you consider to be a priority? Think of these as essentials or the ones you’ll need to cater to immediately in case of disruption to stay afloat.
From a blogging perspective… what are you best at, and should you being managing everything you are on a daily basis? Not only can delegating different projects to individuals make your business and data more safe, it can also improve your efficiency as well.
Think of a Recovery Plan
At this point, you’ll have to think of the ways you can reduce the negative impact a disruption may have on your business. In a way, it’s like you are developing a backup plan by covering your assets to protect them.
For instance, if you are hit by floods and your shop is temporarily out of business, what do you have to do? Then, write down everything from “clean-up” to “insurance policy claims” and even “finding alternative locations.” It’s easier to think about these steps now than it would be during the when chaos installs.
From a blogging perspective… always plan for the worst. You don’t know what tomorrow might bring, but if you have a preparation and repair plan in place, it will be that much easier to make a quick come back. Assume your online business and blog disappears tomorrow… then what would you do?
One Final Word
As final advice, you should never create the plan, lock it up, and only bring it back in case of a crisis. Things may change over time, so it’s in your best interest to review the plan at least once a year. Only then you are truly prepared for the worst.