Business in the Coronavirus Era: Bridging the Gap with Empathy

Each day brings a more intense challenge. As we rally to protect each others' lives, we acknowledge that we must become more creative in our livelihoods. Just now, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has declared that the physical premises of only “life-sustaining” businesses may remain open past 8:00 p.m. tonight (Thursday, March 19, 2020) until further notice, to hasten the spread of the coronavirus. This Philadelphia Inquirer story provides a list and their eligibility to remain open. Telecommuting is exempt.

Thanks to online platforms, much like we've been doing with friends and co-workers in recent days, and the telecommuting exemption, you can continue to stay in touch with the customers you've come to care so much about as we wait this out.

• Remember, business is relationship. Talk with your customers. Check in with them like you would a neighbor.

• Continue to be helpful online. You have a lot to share even if your doors are temporarily closed.

• Realize that your products and services will still be needed when we come out the other side of this crisis. Bridge that gap wisely and with empathy.

As a virtual agency working from a home office base, we are always telecommuting and, as such, we are open for business. If we can be a help in this stressful time to help you continue the conversation with your customers online, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Most importantly, be well, stay well.

New from Instagram: Ability to Follow Hashtags

Are you increasing your use of Instagram for business? (Hint: you should.) And now you can follow specific hashtags. Doing so can amp up your listening campaigns and help you determine the best hashtags to reach your target audience.

Get the complete scoop from Social Media Today.

Coming to Our Senses: Using All Five to Reach Customers

Reaching customers via all five of our senses - taste, touch, sight, sound and smell - brings to mind old school gimmicks like Smell-O-Vision. However, as this blog from Laura Petrolino of  SpinSucks shows, creating a sensory experience for your customers can be very effective in influencing their buying decision-making.

Happy Independence Day, Small Business Owner!

Well, ok, I'll wish a Happy Independence Day to all of us in the United States, but a special "independence day" to those of us who have embraced the all-American spirit of can-do and started a small business.

According to a recent study by Manta, small business success is on the rise and 72% of small business owners are happier with the freedom being the boss provides, even if 21% did acknowledge that they also carry more responsibility and less independence as a result.

As the infographic below shows, two of the largest barriers to small business success are economic conditions and marketing to find new customers.  

Courtesy of MANTA.com

I started my small business providing integrated marketing services and public relations to meet the needs of the small business owner who knows marketing is essential to success, but that hiring an employee or creating an in-house department doesn't fit the budget.  Let's talk about how we can help each other banish these barriers to small business ownership freedom and make every day Independence Day.