So many small businesses suddenly find themselves struggling as the global pandemic means not shopping at stores, eating out in restaurants, or traveling.

If your business is among them, know that our prayers are with you and as difficult as this is, we will rebound! In the meantime, we are here for you.

If you are lucky enough to be one of the businesses not immediately and severely hurt by the coronavirus, that does not mean this is business as usual. We will all be affected in one way or another.

Regardless of how your business has been affected so far, there are steps you can take now that will help you weather this storm and come out thriving on the other side.

That’s what we are going to talk about today – the lessons we can learn so far and actions we can take right now to safeguard our businesses.

3 Lessons From This Crisis

1. People are forming new habits. 

Life is changing rapidly and people are adjusting to a temporary new normal. But just as Depression-era children have lived the lessons of frugality they learned in their formative years their entire lives, some new habits will stick long after the virus no longer poses a threat. More people may continue to work from home going forward, for example. We don’t know yet what the world will look like on the other side of this crisis, but what we do know is that there is rapid change happening now that will have lasting effects.

2. People are taking in a lot of information.

We are all in information-gathering mode. Both following the news and seeking out new ways to learn and interact have been hallmarks of the last few weeks. As a business owner, this mean you have an opportunity to share relevant information right now. More on that in a moment, so keep reading.

3. People need support. 

Not only are so many people suddenly struggling financially, but also people are isolated. Whether it’s FaceTime calls to friends or family, grocery shopping for people who cannot leave their houses, or sewing masks for medical professionals, there are so many ways to help others right now, and it’s good to see Americans rising to the challenge.

3 Actions You Can Take Right Now

1. Keep marketing – Now is not the time to freeze up. Keep putting information and marketing out on social media, in emails, and on your website. Because people are in information-gathering mode, it’s important you let people know how this crisis is affecting your business, whether you are continuing to offer services, and information relevant to your industry that you might have insider information on. For example, if you work in the travel industry, share what’s happening to hotels and resorts and what people can do.

2. Ease up on the hard sell – You know I’m a salesperson at heart. I’m not afraid of a sales pitch. But because everything is rapidly changing, it can appear callous or tone-deaf to give cold calls and hard sell right now. Give people as much free information as you can and let them decide what’s right for them at the moment. The approach you take now determines whether you’ll have clients to sell to a couple of months from now.

3. Support if you can – Maybe you can lend your services free of charge to a business that’s severely struggling right now. Or perhaps you can donate a portion of your sales or profits to a local food bank. Do what you can, and share what you’re doing so your followers know you’re doing your part. People want to buy from businesses that work for the greater good.

We don’t know how long this will last or how painful it will be yet. All we can do is remain faithful and conduct ourselves as the professionals with integrity that we are.

If you are struggling right now as a business owner, contact me today to work together to navigate this crisis with peace of mind.

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus^TM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through barriers preventing them from the success they know they are capable of. Contact me today to find your future clients who just don’t know what they’re missing.