Small Business Resources During COVID-19
admin | Mar 31, 2020
These are not normal times. How is your business holding up?
While we are in this present reality, it may be helpful to know that you are not alone. At YDOP, we work with over 100 clients – all of whom are facing challenges due to state quarantine orders, safety concerns, and customer uncertainty. As we have spoken with our clients, we have heard the same concerns and questions arise. To answer these questions, we have curated a list of resources to help small businesses like yours navigate these new waters.
In This Guide:
Town Hall Strategy Webinar | Small Business Resources | Online Marketing Ideas | Additional Resources
Town Hall Strategy Webinar
On March 24, YDOP held a Town Hall Strategy webinar for all our clients. During this hour-long event, we looked at trends we are seeing among our clients and across industries, gave encouragement to business owners and marketing managers, and answered questions from attendees.
If you missed the webinar and would like to watch a recording of it, contact your Account Manager.
Small Business Resources
Small Business Guide to the CARES Act
The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed by Congress are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now. When implemented, there will be many new resources available for small businesses, as well as certain non- profits and other employers.
In this guide, you will learn more about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address these needs, as well as some additional tax provisions that are outside the scope of SBA.
Download the Guide >
Coronavirus Emergency Loans: Small Business Guide and Checklist
As part of the CARES Act, the federal government has allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses, which may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward.
Download the Guide and Checklist >
Online Marketing Ideas
Build Community
If you have a large & engaged customer base, find ways to build community online. Have your audience post photos of them practicing social distancing, engaging with your brand, or memories of past interactions with your brand.
For Lancaster Bible College, remote education was new for many of their students and faculty. They decided to embrace it and share photos of professors preparing for their first day of online courses.
Provide Educational Resources
Everyone sitting at home is looking for new content to consume. Parents want educational content for their children, adults may want DIY content to tackle that home repair, and everyone wants to be entertained, inspired, or surprised.
While Amish Farm and House’s physical tours may be shut down right now, that does not stop their team from creating online educational content. Their Facebook page is filled with engaging content, including Amish words and videos of their animals.
Adjust Your Services
Brick and mortar retailers are among the hardest hit businesses by recent closures and stay at home orders. Yet some are quickly modifying their services to safely meet the demand of their local customers.
Many stores are switching to virtual or phone ordering, contactless pick-up, and local deliveries. Home service companies are changing how they interact with customers – from FaceTime sales consultations to contactless repair appointments. And auto repair and car dealerships are moving to home pick-up and delivery of vehicles. All of this is done to keep selling and serve their customers.
Additional Resources
Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
Our local chamber of commerce has been fantastic at providing businesses with resources, information from the government, and educational webinars to help us all navigate our current reality. They have a page dedicated to all the latest coronavirus news & information for local businesses.
Operating During COVID-19 Tips for Local Businesses
Moz has published a helpful guide on advice for local businesses during COVID-19, including tips for digital marketing and pivoting your business model to ecommerce.