It’s Time to PIVOT!
Tell me you read that in Ross’ voice.
If you didn’t, we simply cannot be F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
All jokes and gifs aside, this is an unprecedented time for many small business owners. Really it’s unprecedented for everyone, big companies, small businesses, individuals, and families.
But, for small business owners, this may seem a little overwhelming (talking a a small business owner here).
Our physical storefronts are closed, our services have halted, and our thumbs are raw from all the twiddling that has been going on.
But no more!
It’s time to PIVOT!
You’re still in business, you’re not going anywhere, it’s time to start reminding your customers and your community that you are all in this together and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Consider this your company’s opportunity to really dig into what it means to serve your community with your posts and social media presence. To stop selling and start solving problems that your customers would otherwise call you for. For FREE. Simply because you know that it is the right thing to do at this time.
Serving over Selling
Chances are you don’t fancy yourself a Facebook guru or an Instagram influencer. You never, in your wildest dreams, started your small business so that you could learn to master the art of social media marketing.
But here you are, in the middle of a pandemic, with your business on the verge of “non-essential” and you are wondering how to stay top of mind with your customers and your community so that, when the dust settles, you haven’t been swept away.
It’s time to start thinking outside the box to bring more to your customers than you ever thought possible.
I’m talking videos, blog posts, inspirations and encouraging memes, the whole nine yards.
I’m talking about stepping up your social media presence and establishing yourself as a company that cares for it’s community.
And that starts NOW!
So What’s the Catch? How do you start showing up without being a pain?
This is going to sound counter intuitive but you need to hear me out. The companies that pivot are the companies that are not only going to survive this COVID Crisis, but thrive during it.
I’m talking about building a stronger, more loyal following and customer base because you showed up for people and put their needs first.
And here’s how.
Let’s unpack a few ideas:
Your customers have a problem, you’re not in business right now and they are still experiencing the things that would otherwise have brought you to them. It’s time to solve the problems you can, in a different way.
It’s time to PIVOT!
The first step to making the most of your COVID Content is to consider, carefully, who it is you serve with your business. Who are you taking care of when you sweep a chimney, pick up garbage, prune a tree?
Who is Your Ideal Customer?
The more you know your ideal customer the more effectively you will serve them when your physical doors are closed.
The better you can picture that couple, the gentleman, the family (your ideal person) the more authentic your content will sound, the more impact it will have when they come across it.
So, Who Are They?
Next we need to identify what problems they have that YOU solve, and can solve in a different way right now.
This is, admittedly, the harder part because a lot of what you can do, you would normally do with your customer, FOR your customer.
Once you have an idea of what it is that your customers normally ask about or some of the things that they might want to know about, it’s time to start creating content that serves. Consider posts, visuals, videos, that can be tailored to your customer in this season.
- Can you do virtual consultations?
- Is there a simple way to troubleshoot your average service call?
- Are there tips or tricks that can help them make it through this COVID Crisis and stave off that service call until we are all back to “normal”?
Now is the time to PIVOT, to show your community that there is more to your business than sales flyers and service calls.
Now’s your time to shine because I know, as a business owner, you are in this for the long haul and you want to take care of your person, for life.
Make sure to tag me in your pivot ideas so I can share your content.