« The Goal Digger Podcast

348: How to Safeguard Your Small Biz During the Coronavirus Outbreak

2020-03-25 | 🔗

This season we’ve suddenly been thrown into is heavy. It’s brought a lot of uncertainty and devastation and things are shifting rapidly. Businesses have bolted doors, schools have been canceled for the remainder of the year, and people who make a living off of hourly work are wondering when’s the next time they'll be able to meet with clients, offer their services and make a living again.

It’s absolute turmoil and completely heartbreaking, from the chaos and panic of a quickly spreading and deadly illness to the impact this disease has already had on business owners and families everywhere. And it’s equally frightening that no one saw it coming and no one knows when things will take an upswing. 

So while I hate the circumstance, I can tell you that in this season of waiting, time is the resource that can help you pivot, grow and expand the most. My hope is that you take this time and space to breathe again, dream again, and put steps into motion to keep this thing running WELL after we’ve made it through this challenging season. 

So let’s get into the tangible steps to take right now to keep your business flourishing now and next week and next year and beyond. 

Snag your free Small Business Survival Guide here: https://jennakutcher.com/smallbizsurvival

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GOAL DIGGER SHOWNOTES: https://jennakutcherblog.com/survival/

This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
You don't have to be selling to be protecting your future business, but you should be serving in any capacity that you could happen, My name is generator and I am obsessed with all things: business marketing numbers and helping you to navigate both domestic and the magical seasons of this thing called life of a small town, Mama Utica, three hundred dollar camera grew a successful photo bays, and now we work from home run the seventh figure online business. I teach you the tried and true secrets to building a career. You adore shy away from the real talk, no way money, hardship, Bro, floss and marketing are all topics we discuss here. Think of this as your one stop shop for happy hour with a gallop. How mix with business school, pull up a seat, make sure you're cozy and get ready to be challenged and encouraged. While you learn this is the gold digger podcast this season? suddenly been thrown into a straight up. Heavy its brought along of uncertainty and devastation, and things are shifting so rapidly
Businesses have both a door. Schools have been cancelled for the remainder of the year and people who make a living off of our. Really. Work are wondering when the next time they ll be able to meet with clients or for their services or even just make a living again, its absence, Turmoil and completely heartbreaking from the chaos in panic of quickly spreading and deadly illness to the impact this disease, it has already had on business owners in families everywhere and its equally frightening that no one saw it coming and no one knows when things will finally take the upswing with the arrival in consequences of corona virus, its natural to feel unease and to question what steps you can be taking the data help. You survive this season and, let me say up front I have never been forced to stare my privilege in the face so fully until all of this started unfolding I am so grateful to have an online business, a remote a nasty egg to lean on so much, and I so who hard to have it, and so now
I really do feel like it's. My personal responsibility to get resources into your hands to just very simply help in any way that I can things are hard in scary and there are more unknowns. The knowns for business owners and Americans rain now, so I'm gonna do my best to equip you with the ideas in step so that you can take action to protect what you ve built and get your business through. This We know entrepreneurship comes with a high highs and lows, but this is a massive unexpected hit. That's left many wondering what do I do? How can I save my business? My brain literally has not stopped running, since all of this began in social distancing became so widespread, because I know that while people aren't allowed to be around each other right now, they do want to help. You can survive this and you can move forward, even when things seem and feel frozen in space. I have
many awaiting seasons in my personal and business life, and I can tell you that time is a resource that can help you pivot and grow and expand the most. So while I hate circumstance. My hope is that you take this time and space to breathe again dream again and put step in emotion to keep this thing running well after we ve made it through this challenging season. I know that this just be survival mode. I know that your keys they're home near trying to learn how to work from home simultaneously warriors spouses in the other room on a conference call. I know that it's chaos and scary. I know that your double checking in a refreshing, your banking account. I know that you're wondering what's gonna happen with these contracts that are sitting in limbo. I know that this is a stressful time and so did nay, my only job is to show up and give you action in tangible steps and things that you can be doing to know that you are doing everything you
and do not just survive this season, but you come out thriving. So let's dive on into the steps to take right now to keep your business flourishing now and next week and next year, and beyond, are you with me? Let's drive on in a real quick, I could it is free ten page guide to help. You survive this strange, unprecedented season of entrepreneurship. The small business survival guide gives tangible actionable steps for you to take based on your business type. It includes third the ideas for Instagram Post gives templates to help you communicate and so much more get the free guide. At John, Culture, dot, com, slash, small business revival, that's Jessica, jury, dotcom slush, small be icy survival. Now more than ever, is the best time to start your email list. Are you up for a challenge I built out of free many course to take
here lies from zero to two hundred and fifty subscribers templates and tech all included I'm up at least build challenge. Dotcom! That's list, build challenge, dotcom! Let's fur, stock about what every single business owner out there can be doing to stay afloat and to ride. This eve of uncertainty until things go back to normal, so number one find some sort of community when ever seasons of unknown hit it's easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed. But that means it is all the more important to find safe spaces to connect to vent. To ask questions. As a gentle reminder of what it is that you do and who you serve so that when things pick up again, you are front of mind number, three update your material, so many entrepreneurs are normally so busy producing are offering that main service or product that your business revolves around that they never gets
update all the other things, those less? important things in their business. That can be absolutely detrimental to their success, uses quieter period of time to update your website, your portfolio your customer relationship management system, your contracts, your email templates, your copy. This is a beautiful time for a refreshed all the things there are so many valuable places your time can go to prepare you for when things get busy again and they will get busy again and so you want to make sure that if there are sticking points in your brand, if, if I were to ask you what you website, you're like Nano JANET look at my website. Just go find me on instruments more current me. Maybe now is a good time to update your website, one Things are picking back up. People are gonna, be typing in that Google search bar looking for you, and I want to make sure when they find you? It is the best version of you on the internet.
Number, forty something I'm wildly passionate about building workflows so many times entrepreneurs are surviving on steps. They figure our piecemeal together along the way. But what, if you looked out your processes and created standard operating. Procedures are so peace or simple workload, for you or your team to follow acts of you and give each and every client and customer a great experience. Don't worry! This doesn't have to be complicated. It's just simply listing the smaller subs you take to complete one larger task in your business and how to keep that task. Regimented and uniform just start with one simple process and then build up from their building up workflows now is going to save you. So much pain in the future is going to help support you and things pick up and get busy again. And so creating just simple systems is going to be a lifesaver in save you so much brain space. Now
mighty wondering how the hell do? I show up for my people when you're, not even sure? What's in server your business right now- and I know I get it- there's something super strange about posting on sending that feels so trivial is social media during a word wide crisis, but in the midst of this chaos, small businesses like yours still need fuel to run. That takes awareness intention from you as much as your people, which means is Your personal responsibility to keep them in the loop regarding what you need in order to continue to serve them well. So how do we do that by keeping your audience informed with real time updates and asks on social media. Let me give you a quick example: we ve been looking in our small town here, ways that we can support small businesses, and we ve been searching for their social media handles to get current updates as what's going on other restaurant still open is our curbside delivery? Are they totally shut down? Can we purchase a gift card
This is not a time to shy away and be silent. So if you have no clue what deposed right now, I have three ideas for you to get started. The first simply sharing honest updates on how your business is doing, how your products services are available to clients and customers. What your plan is for the time being and how you commit to showing up for your audience in this season, Dombes, Fraid to show the behind the scenes and let people in remember humans are looking for connection in this isolation, so keeping it real. Likely serve. You so well, next, ask your people more support by sharing the ways those that are able to can lend a helping hand? Do you have gift cards available? Do you have specific products or services that would be especially helpful during this time? Would it be helpful for people to leave positive
views and help things are up and running normally again, don't be afraid to ask for what you need, because that's what will keep the people who care about your business? Inform in aware of what to do for you give exact tangible action items for those waiting in the wings and that are willing to help and finally share encouragement and free value by simply showing, as you. How are you handling the shake up truly, what take ways or perspective ships? Are you personally experiencing are you realizing things that would be valuable to share or do up tips for others experiencing anxiety or fear giving away? the show people that you care and will help you to continue building a strong foundation of real nice and trust with your audience. This is a time to add value to pay yours
hey yourselves as an expert to position yourself for when things heat up again, you don't have to be selling to be protecting your future business, but you should be serving in any capacity that you can, if you're still stuck in unsure of what in the world a postscript now remember that most people are just creating some sort of normalcy. I created a full on small business survival guide for this weird, scary time, where a shared social media and client email templates to personalize and used to talk to your people right now. And I also shared a month of social media post inspiration to revive your creative juices in time where it just doesn't feel supernatural to be created. You can download this free survival guide with my templates and post inspiration at Genoa cut your dot com, such small biz survival. That's generator dot com, slash small Bisbee.
Z survival. Now I bet you're wondering what do I do right now, based on might have a business and maybe ears Meanwhile, it's great, but how can I take action beyond just posting on social media? I'm so glad you because there are so many ways for you be taking small steps to protect and to prepare your business for these next few months and I'm gonna break it down for you, based on whether you run a service based a product base or an online business. Is even though things are uncertain for the time being, the likely pick up again and when they do, you want to be ready in prime to leap into action. Let's run through a quick checklist and don't worry, you can definitely jot these action items but you don't have to you. You can find them inside that same small business survival guide that I mentioned just a minute ago, I'm going to list for you, the top five things you can do right now, based on the type of business that you run. But there are even more ideas in that free survival guide also make sure
linked in a show notes. But as a reminder, itches Jenin cut your dot. Comes our small business revival viable! That's where you grab it. So, let's keep things off with service based businesses start working on these things to prepare for the busy season. That's on his way once this is all over number one update your website and offers in so many service based businesses get caught up in providing their service that there cereals are not up to date or reflective of your current brand or the work that you want to be doing number to reach out to your clients to provide info education, an insight about what's currently going on. They likely have its honey question, so try to answer them before they can even ask them and position, yourself as an expert in your field and a carrying vendor or friend, number three create this structure. Sorry and systems necessary for you to be able to manage it workload for when it gets busy again and guess what it's so,
get busy again. So what Can you do now to prepare for then so that you don't burn out when things pick backup number four, on pricing guides, email templates, delivery methods to create streamlined and epic experiences for every single client? One thing that serve space businesses. Forget often is that these selling point is you and the experience only you can offer How are you taking that experience off in what is every single touch point that a client will go through from start to finish? What can you refine? What can you beautify? What can you simplify? What can you turn into a template work on that the number five publish content that will be Although for your ideal clients in this season, what questions do they have? What are they googling? What are they searching for? Create cod that serves them meet somewhere. There are and publish it and bonus points if you can
work ahead and batch create so that you have content be sharing when things get busy again. There is no better feeling than working ahead, and knowing that you have the resources that you need to be sharing when things are too busy for you to be creating them. As for product based business, as I know, this time can be so hard when you are unable to rely on regular foot traffic to drive your sales, it's totally scary and overwhelming. So I hope these ideas help keep cashflow coming in, while interactions are limited number one. If your products aren't available online, let this be your first priority, create a pop up shop or either A look at your best sellers available online. There are
so many ways you can do this so simply jump on shop, wifi or square space, even share your products on Facebook and Paypal, invoices, whatever it takes to get your products visible and in front of people on the internet and a way for you to collect money number to create away for people to purchase. Give words to be used in the future. Make sure gift cards are easily available online and simple for people to purchase and then share about this option on social media to the public knows that they can support you in this way and express how important it is for you to keep hash. What wind to keep the lights on so that, when all this ends, you are still open, you are still part of the community number three take time to run your data in numbers. So often we are not digging into our numbers are analytics. I want for you to be able to see which products are the biggest needle movers, and a push those information
his power, my friend, so make sure that, as you are in this lol, your digging into the number. So you know what is actually moving the needle the most. Putting all of your energy and time. Behind that woe what a season wherein right now before I say anything else. That's a whole released attention in our shoulders and exhale. The breath that we ve been holding in ok. Are you with me? I've been every night and early every morning, jotted down ideas and configuring new ways to help you, because you have new problems to solve and because they simply love supporting you So this is my little moment with you to help you do exactly that. Just solve some of your problems move into a place where you can see hope and clarity again,
I created an entirely free, ten page guide to help you survive this season and it gives tangible actionable steps for you to take by business type. It includes thirty ideas for Instagram boasted, gives templates to help you communicate and so much more get this far Guide, agenda, jury, dotcom, slash, small business or we all in this together. Just They sang in high school musical, so get the ten page, Small business survival guide at Genoa, butcher dotcom, such small, be icy survival. I know I note things are crazy and unpredictable, which is actually why now is the best time to start your email list you ve been wishing. You had a way to reach your clients, are paying customers and fans with important information at the click of a button and without having to worry about algorithms than this is for you are you for a challenge I built out of free many course, with templates ready intact, taking care of that will lead you through a five.
A workshop to take your list from zero to two hundred and fifty subscribers in time where there is a lot of uncertainty, you can be directly speaking to your people, the other in boxes and offering up yours services, resources and the support that they need right now. Can you commit just four percent of this week to getting your results in following through that literally one hour, a day Monday to Friday, for one week to get big results. Are you ready sign it for free, at least to build a challenge? Dot com? That's list build chow, Lynch dot com for my free email is building challenge. I'll see you on the inside number for real you out to your customer database to keep them in the no until let them know how they can best support. You give them tangible too, the way so that they know exactly what is helpful for you, a number five start or grow your email
lest viewed. I have a list of your customers it you can quickly communicate with. This. Is your time to build that and shine focused on during this lies. I have a free five day. Email is building workshop that you can take right now. Its literally a mini course was step by step. Shows you the Tec. It gets you up and running, so you can find that at least build a challenge. Dot com The incredible resource over twenty thousand people have already taken it into a help you get. Your email is up and running, which is a huge win for product based companies. And, finally, let me talk to my online business babes as yours Mr, in this online endeavour, I bet you're feeling immense gratitude right now, but that doesn't mean that we should be stagnant right now. Here's how you can show for your people number one. Serve, it serves serve and serves the more this is your moment to become a resource and a shine for those who are looking to you for leadership encouragement in education. How can you show up
for a community that likely needs. You right now number to let people behind this. Scenes because, for many of us online busy folks working from home is in everyday occurrence, and most America is getting a peak into our daily lives right now, share reality tips things you ve uncovered tricks. However, it is to help others feel less alone number three educate on what you do, why you do it and what your passion about people may not be buying is much right now, but they are seeking information and distraction online, and you can certainly uses to leverage and grow your community, so that, when things pick up, people are ready to make purchasing decisions with you number four refine and home your skills If you have time brush up on your own knowledge or expertise with an online learning, whatever that looks like free or paid, because now, when things are,
a slower and quieter is the perfect time I want for you to be obsessed with your personal growth. This is how we continued to grow and evolve and thrive is an online company. A number five refresh your online presence by updating your brand. Your information, copy image, The materials are their areas to improve its everything current there. No better time for a facelift that right now we are literally digging into the nitty gritty analytics or refining systems, were pausing promotions and we're just figuring out our next step forward, but were really taking this time too, just refreshed things and dive into the projects. Have kind of been on the back burner for a while. Now is seasons of unknown. There's inevitable worry about what's to combat. One thing I know about small business owners is alive of and respect that we have for others on this quest,
So many of us are wondering: how can we rally around others? Unparalleled has two hours, and how can we all come out of this together owner share just a few quick way is that drew, and I have been really focusing on small business survival and were so blest, because we have the means to do this, but you're a few exam, was just ways I've been trying to support the community, and maybe this will inspire you to take some sort of action. So I texted are. Hairstyle is Girl that works is my eyebrows. I just said: hey king in on you from a cash flow perspective. I know so many people are likely cancelling their appointments would be helpful if I just aid for my services for the rest of the year right now to just help keep cash coming in, so that they can pay things like rent in electricity. Yes, I was soup,
helpful, we ended up shopping at a local shop and just doing an online order. I literally had her face time. Neither shop and I picked out items for her to ship out to a loved one. She even filled up the card and then signed it. This is me because of quarantine. Janet told me what you write. You gotta have fun with this guy's, but we gotta get creative. We ve so may donations to different organizations. We ve been dining and getting take over our local restaurants. As long as there are open and buying gift cards for future meals there. There are so how many different ways that you can support one another in and just ask entrepreneurs. How can I show up for you, I texted so me- and my friends like is this helpful- is hurtful? Can I share about your product job, bandwidth to ship it out right now, and so there are just so many ways we can rally okay. So if you are looking for ways to give back and have means,
eimer energy to show up for your fellow business owners, even in small ways, Aiken totally be mound. Moving like we aren't meant to fix everything, can move instrumental in the littlest of ways to help others make it through trying times simply check in on each other. Checking on other entrepreneurs at you know, who are probably nervous, are straight up frantic rate about now ask how're you doing and see if there's any way that you can be there for them in this isolating time. Consider feature and other small businesses on your platforms to support them virtually or celebrate others on this walk by gift cards. Leave online reviews see if you can support the independent contractors who make your life better. I've just been thinking about all of these people who make our lives easier and were so blest have the means to be able to support monetarily we're so appreciative of everyone's efforts in existence in so how are you are able to show up in this season? Any type of action is huge for these
entrepreneurs and small business owners in your area there are also So many non profit said survive on fundraising, events that have been cancelled for the foreseeable future, so you're able to pick one to five companies or nonprofits that are close to your heart and give whatever you can just think about the difference that we can make. If we all, the end together and gave even just a little bit. This sort of action can be absolutely life, giving fine the one thing it is that on Japan, yours are the most resilient human beings. I know, and while this crisis affects every single one of us, I believe in the great and the tenacity that comes it humans, who are wildly passionate about what they do, and who they serve. Now I dont have a crystal ball, but I do cling tightly to believe that things will turn around and when they do, entrepreneurs will likely it's hard to know how and where we should be spending our time right now, but I want to encourage you to spend what you can
how and where we should be spending our time right now, but I want to encourage you to spend what you can building out systems that will support you when things pick back up again. Self, in the business of being in business, the best advice have gone in this season is: don't be so busy falling, oh busy falling in love with your product or service it. You forget to fall in love with your customer, so get obsessed with adding value that people cannot ignore and can't help of all right back in love with you and become a fan and customer for life. The best way to increase your value in this downtime is by improving improving your systems moving your skill, improving your strategies, improve near mindset, focus on ways are even tangibly improve and better self. I know I know this is painful. I know that we had no warning. I know some days it feels downright impossible. But you are not alone. You are not alone and I
here. Cheering you on every single step of the way. Continue the fight continue, the work that you ve started and sustain thus far and continue to hold fast, the faith that you won't just survive this season, but that you will soon thrive. You are in my heart and I am rooting for you with every cell of my being you ve got this. Keep ongoing you can do. Who hard things until next time. Gold diggers keep on digging your biggest goals. We ve got this I'm over here, giving you up tool high five, because you just finished another episode of the gold digger part guest tobacco by way too fast for anyone else, fuel more head over to gold, digger, pod, guess, dot, com for show, notes and all the discount codes from today's sponsors and, if you're looking for a new crew, movers and shakers like you'd, have bounce ideas and ask questions, be sure to join my exclusive community for gold diggers on Facebook. The links with for you, ACT,
Transcript generated on 2020-04-22.