I'm putting stats aside to share articles that gave me hope and inspiration as a small business owner. We can all use more hope these days... enjoy!
#1 "Just because you can do a digital event doesn't always mean you should."
I know quite a few people on my list are event planners, or hold workshops and seminars as part of their business offering. I fall into the later category.
Anyone else have a knee-jerk reaction to look up the cost of the Webinar add-on in Zoom? Hold your horses. This GoogleThink event marketing piece made me think deeper on content vs audience need. It explores when a prerecorded option might make more sense than live. It also links to tips on using YouTube for events, which is always handy!
My question to you: are there parts of your current 'live' content offerings that you could chunk into smaller pre-recorded videos? To offer for free or at low cost?
#2 "Because remarkable women are #NotASupplyProblem."
Amplify East is an ever expanding repository profiling Atlantic Canadian business women. The variety of industry, grit, wins, fails, voices, experience and insight is simply inspiring.
Bookmark this site for sure, and click a random profile whenever you need a little pep talk.
My question to you: have you taken a moment to write a recommendation for someone on LinkedIn you've been meaning to? You don't need to wait for a project to be done or other reason - let's continue to showcase each other's skills and talents because they deserve to be. Any time is a great time to do so.
#3 Bow wow wow: pet industry growth. Because why not?
What I liked best was the case studies that showed where companies
got it wrong, evaluated, and then hit it out of the park. But let's face it: the fact that some companies turn your pet's adorable face into socks or regal portraits is what readers stick around for.
My question to you: if you're in evaluation mode with your business, have you looked into market reports? I recommend hunting around for local, national and international content for a well-rounded sense of where you are and where you could be headed.
#4 "Marketing Right Now Is #$%*ingHard."
That's the title of a Rand Fishkin post that is a balance of stark honest but also hope. Don't let the swearing turn you off - it's actually an incredibly thoughtful read.
If you're just skimming it, be sure to click the many links and examples peppered throughout. He explains the Three Waves marketing will move through, which is something to hold onto and plan around.
There's also a great section where he has ideas for brands that seem to have froze during the pandemic.
My question to you: what brands have you noticed are
really stepping it up during times of need? Which ones have remained silent that surprised you?
#5 "How do we tastefully let the world know we’re still available for business? By offering value and help."
I loaded it up with content ideas and tips to insure your website remains part of your communication strategy. There's also real-world client examples if you're
looking for inspiration on how to create messaging in these times. My clients' ingenuity and compassion inspires me daily. At the end of the day, we can do a lot of good while still running our businesses.
My question to you: is business hurting and you need Covid-19 messaging on your site? Please don't hesitate to reach out to me and I'll do what I can, free of charge.
Free training with yours truly!
There are still spaces left for my May Web Strategy Program, which is now being held online. Members of Digital Nova Scotia qualify to have it covered by WIPSI (note that anyone can apply for WIPSI as well). This is not a 'techie' program, but rather a very organic system to cover:
Google Analytics and SEO training that's accessible and useful
Make the right digital decisions with a custom web strategy
Track the results of your hard work
Multiple one-on-one sessions with me to dig even deeper
