The coronavirus outbreak has created all kinds of new challenges for small businesses. There are smart ways to adapt to the emerging corona economy, but you may still need some relief and assistance to help carry your business through these dark times to a brighter tomorrow.

That’s why the SEOwarlocks.com team has put together helpful resources and information for small business owners who may be struggling because of the coronavirus. We want you to continue pursuing your dreams of success during these economic difficulties. Here’s where to start.

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is one of the best resources for small business owners, and the coronavirus outbreak is no exception. Currently, the SBA is working with governors in designated states to provide assistance through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.

The program is designed to provide small businesses with loans of up to $2 million to help them bridge their losses during coronavirus. Click here to view eligibility and detailed application details. The program is evolving (as an example, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is asking the federal government to make the loan process easier and faster for loans of $350,000 and less), so be sure to check back regularly on the SBA loans page for updated information.

Facebook’s Business Grants Program and Resource Hub
Facebook recently announced a $100 million grant to assist small business owners. They are planning to provide cash grants to more than 30,000 qualified businesses in the coming weeks, and they will be accepting applications soon.

In the meantime, be sure to check out their newly-launched Business Resource Hub. It features helpful resources for small business owners, including details on how you can use Facebook to stay informed and up to date on the latest news about the crisis.

Coronavirus Response Toolkit
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has compiled a set of CDC resources that could be helpful for your small business. It includes graphics that can be used in emails or in social media. You could also print the graphics and post them in a physical location. For custom materials, use their interactive Coronavirus Prevention Flyer Builder.

Covid-19 Policy Tracker
Policy changes at the local and state level can be dizzying to keep track of. The MultiState Covid-19 Policy Tracker provides up-to-date details on policy changes and response activity from state and local governments. It also offers contact details for health departments, copies of emergency declarations and maps illustrating coronavirus-related legislative activity.

Google’s Remote Work Hub
Google has assembled an extensive number of videos explaining how to work remotely along with resources to help you do so effectively. Topics covered include videoconferencing, remote collaboration, scheduling and managing remote meetings and more.

Federal Legislation
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law on 3/19/2020. It establishes a program to provide paid sick leave to workers taking unpaid leave because of the outbreak, expands unemployment benefits and provides grants to states for processing and paying claims, among many other changes.

The largest phase of the federal coronavirus relief effort thus far is a $2 trillion-plus stimulus package that includes direct cash payments to Americans within elegible income brackets (based on your 2019 return or your 2018 return if you have not filed: $75,000 for single adults and $112,500 for adults filing as heads of households) and $370 billion in loans for small businesses. Portions of loans used to pay payroll costs for up to eight weeks will be forgiven as long as the employees were retained during the loan period. The loan money must be used within that eight-week period to avoid repayment.

Here for You Throughout the Crisis
At SEOwarlocks.com, our goal is to help small business owners and entrepreneurs find success. We’ll continue to provide up-to-date information on the coronavirus outbreak, so be sure to check back often on the SEOwarlocks.com blog. Take advantage of the resources available to you and stay alert for legislative updates and new opportunities. Stay resilient, stay positive and keep your customers engaged and informed. You can do this.

If you ever needed proof of the popular saying, “Life comes at you fast," the last few weeks would provide ample evidence. The economy is changing rapidly in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Markets are panicking. Grocery stores are packed. Toilet paper is mysteriously disappearing, and no one can say why except that everyone is buying because everyone else is buying. It almost feels like the world changed overnight and we just missed the memo.

Small business owners everywhere need to adjust quickly to staggering financial and societal changes. But where do you even start? And how can you possibly plan for success with the ground shifting under your feet?

Time for a Little Introspection
Introspection? At a time like this? It may seem counterintuitive to look in the mirror during an ongoing crisis, but in fact, there has never been a better moment for it.

You need to ask yourself who you are as a small business owner and think about the reasons you decided to go into business to begin with. What is your core offering? If you took away your storefront, your advertising or your website, what would your business be at a base level?

Understanding the foundational essentials of your business is important, because, in this stripped-down economy, the essentials may be all that remain. As a thought exercise, write down exactly why you are in business, and then write down what you offer to customers. Knowing the why and what will make it a lot easier to answer the next big question: how?

The Times They Are A-Changin’
You may have heard examples of businesses already changing their approach to evolve with the times Distilleries making hand sanitizer. Yoga studios offering online classes. Restaurants offering free delivery services. These are only a few examples.

The important lesson here is not in the specifics of each but the rationale behind them: in cases where businesses can alter their product or service offerings to allay customer fears and maintain engagement, they should do so, and they are, in ever-increasing numbers.

Taking the time to carefully examine your company’s core mission and purpose will help you better understand how you can keep offering the essential thing you provide during the outbreak. But maybe you’re getting hung up on one central problem that you can’t seem to get around. Let’s consider a few examples.

I sell handmade products at art markets; there are no more art markets. Cardboard boxes are your friend. Take advantage of modern eCommerce capabilities, sell online, load your products in boxes and ship them to your customers.

I’m a fitness coach, and the gym is closed. Get your clients on Zoom; they can sweat it out remotely while you critique their form via webcam. Just don’t try to spot them.

I’m a cook, and my restaurant is shut down or limited. More people are home now than ever, and a lot of them don’t know how to cook like you do. I bet they would love some online cooking lessons though.

I’m a consultant, and I usually meet my clients face to face. This one’s easy. Get remote, get online and get on the phone.

I’m a tutor and I can’t meet with my students. Meet remotely and start advertising your services more widely. There will be many parents who decide to begin homeschooling because of coronavirus concerns. If you have any special expertise in that area, that’s a huge plus.

I’m a stylist and personal shopper, but no one’s looking to shop right now. Provide closet evaluations and hair and makeup tips via FaceTime or WhatsApp. Your clients might not be buying new clothes, but now is the perfect time for a little Marie Kondo action with overflowing wardrobes. And just because we’re shut indoors doesn’t mean people won’t be trying to look their best from the waist up for video calls.

I’m a landscaper, and I don’t want to put myself at risk. Your customers likely don’t want to either, but growing grass and wild weeds wait for no one. Take on jobs that you can handle solo; show up alone, mow, edge, mulch and then have your customers pay you via PayPal. Be sure to follow all local restrictions regarding sheltering in place.

Start All Over Again

When you find success as a small business owner, it’s easy to become comfortable with certain ways of doing things. As we plunge into the corona economy, the rug will continue to fly out from under us. You will have to fight, adapt and improvise to find success in a market that, in many ways, may start to feel completely unrecognizable.

Fortunately, you have a few things going for you.

1. Your core business idea. That moment of reflection earlier? It should have helped you boil down your product or service offerings to their essential components. You know your fundamental idea is a good one and that it has legs; it’s why you got started in business to begin with. You don’t have to give up on that idea. All you need to do is find a new means of leveraging it during the outbreak.

2. Online capabilities. In a digitally connected world, the show goes on through websites and eCommerce. It’s more important now than ever to ensure your online presence is robust and that your digital marketing is reaching the right people. Can you think of a better time to start building your own website than being stuck inside all day? Dive in with our website builder. You’ll be amazed at what you can make.

3. Creative thinking. Music lessons on the phone? Step-by-step plumbing instructions over Skype? Pizza delivery via drone? OK, that last one might be a bit outlandish— or is it? Small business owners are among the smartest, most creative people on the planet, and they aren’t going to let a virus prevent them from working hard to make their dreams a reality. Now isn’t the time to hedge your bets. Go big, get creative and outwork the competition. You were born to do this.

If you need any assistance with the online side of things, the SEOwarlocks.com team would love to help. We’re your partners in what is becoming an increasingly digital world, and we know what small business owners need to succeed. Give us a try. We’ll do everything we can to help you thrive in the time of coronavirus.

Key Takeaways

• Online marketing helps small businesses affordably compete with larger competitors.
• It also offers an easy and economical way to reach your target audience.
• Our new eBook tells you how to affordably and effectively enhance your online presence.

The balance of power is shifting. Gone are the days when big companies could maintain dominance by outspending their smaller rivals. Your small business can affordably compete in their arena thanks to the great equalizer – online marketing.

With retail eCommerce sales expected to cross $4 trillion in 2020 and over 97 percent of customers finding local businesses through online searches, digital tools offer an easy and economical way to reach your target audience.

You may be asking: “How can I reach more online consumers? How can I keep up with my competition? Should I add eCommerce to my website? Do I have the marketing budget for this? How can I measure results to make sure my online strategies are working?”

As online consumer trends evolve, understanding the best ways to connect with your audience helps you create and maintain a competitive edge. After helping over 3 million small businesses successfully get up and running online, we’ll show you how to make a positive impact in the digital marketplace for less than you think.

Easy does it: Affordable solutions for growing your business.

Starting and operating a new business often feels overwhelming, but, thanks to technology, it doesn’t have to be. “Online Advantage: An eBook Guide To Being Your Own Boss” explains why there’s never been a better time to start and grow your business.

From exploring how consumers interact with businesses online to learning why a well-designed website is the heart of your online strategy, you’ll discover how to affordably and effectively enhance your online presence.

You’ll also see how social media, email campaigns and blog content require minimal time and expense, yet offer invaluable methods for attracting more customers and inspiring them to take action. To ensure you see a return on investment, we take a look at web analytics and how easy-to-use tools show you the best ways to reach your customers.

To help you keep pace with technology, we highlight new innovations that enterprising companies are using for success and review trends. Topics for this comprehensive eBook include:

• Cyber Savvy: Meet Your Online Customer
• Your Website: An Affordable Brand Magnet
• Online Marketing: The Great Equalizer
• Technology Makes the Business World a Smaller Place

Add more value to your business with our free eBook.

The rules have changed. In today’s online business world, being your own boss requires fewer resources, expenses and time commitments than ever. Download our free eBook to learn how an online marketing strategy adds more value to your business.

As the website company small businesses trust, SEOwarlocks.com is focused on your success with resources to build a website, put your business in front of more people, raise your search engine ranking and gain credibility with every email.

We’re here to help you make the most of your online investment and reach your full potential.

Products mentioned in this blog post include:

Local Business Listing Service
Small Business SEO Services
Business Email Services
Website Builder for Small Business
Small Business Social Media Services