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NZ Small Business Covid Support

NZ Small Business Covid Support
This latest lockdown has seen NZ small business covid support come to the fore once again. If anything this lockdown has been even harder with affected businesses having used any savings to navigate 2020. Each week spent in levels 3 and 4 led to more stress and anxiety as difficult decisions can’t be put off any longer.
 
With there being so much we can’t control, our energy has to go to what we can. Both as business owners, and as NZ small business supporters. We’ve put together the following tips based on our experience with our own clients and network in the hope it helps those who need it.

NZ Small Business Covid Support

Advice for business owners

As a small business owner you’re used to being tenacious, to showing up when things get rough. Here’s some steps you can take to navigate through this latest hurdle; whether you’re having trouble with cashflow, resources, sales, marketing … or like so many, moving your business online.

NZ Small Business Covid Support advice for owners
  • Tighten up on credit control (or outsource it if it’s something you struggle with)
  • Pay your tax in instalments rather than lump sums
  • Talk to your bank about lending options to see you through
  • Talk to your creditors, keep communication open and often
  • Reach out to past clients and check in to make sure they don’t need anything
  • Go over and above for present clients, come up with new ways to delight them
  • If you don’t have one already, nominate a support person you can unload to
  • Compile a list of actions you can take to ‘move the needle’ and commit to doing one action each day
  • Join online business support groups
  • Perform a random act of kindness, it will make you feel good and make someone else’s day!
  • Engage your staff/team to come up with new ways to do business
  • Be there for your staff/team, make sure they’re ok and feel supported
  • If they’re not able to do their normal jobs, ask your staff/team to help you with some of those tasks you never get round to in normal times
  • Spend time updating/creating systems and procedures
  • Audit your expenses, what can you reduce or eliminate right now
  • Involve your staff/team in revisiting your vision, mission and purpose
  • Spend time looking at your core values, how is this integrated into how you do business
  • Write a plan for the worse case scenario, sometimes confronting ‘worse case’ helps you plan for all possible outcomes
  • Invest in marketing, look at how to capture possible low hanging fruit or some quick wins
  • If you’re feeling overwhelmed, focus on what’s important. Qualify every to-do by asking yourself ‘will it make the boat go faster’.
  • Be kind to yourself, it’s ok to let things get on top of you some days
  • Ask clients for their ideas on how can you help them during this period
  • Be consistent online, by being front of mind, when they’re ready for your product or service they’ll come straight to you
  • Review your website (now more than ever!)
  • Get busy on LinkedIn to make more connections
  • Add a bit of fun to your Zoom meetings with your team by asking insightful questions, no business talk! In recent meetings we’ve asked:
    • If you won lotto this weekend and Covid didn’t exist, what’s the first thing you’d spend money on?
    • What’s the best gift you’ve ever given … and received?

If attracting new business is right up on your list of frustrations, here’s some actions to choose from:

  • Run targeted Facebook ads
  • Join and be active in Facebook groups
  • Google ads (but think outside the square)
  • Collaborate with complimentary businesses in your industry
  • Reach out to your clients for referrals
  • Be present and consistent on social media (adding value)
  • Offer a freebie
  • Optimise your Google My Business listing and post regularly
  • Comment on posts (this can give you more traction than posting your own content)
  • Invest in SEO to increase search rankings
  • List your business on online directories
  • Talk to active and inactive clients, what can you do to help them right now
  • Participate in community events
  • Create a discount or promotional offer that meets a need right now
  • Organise a contest or competition
  • Update your website (and run it through a tool like UberSuggest)
  • Send a value-packed newsletter out to your list (and keep sending them)
  • Look to see what your competitors are doing right now
  • Create an affiliate marketing program
  • Run a free online workshop
  • Ask for reviews and testimonials (and share them)
  • Create case studies (and share them)
  • Offer a gift card or loyalty program.

NZ Small Business Covid Support

Advice for business supporters

We can also do our bit to support other small businesses. Here are some ways to do that:

  • Buy a gift card for a friend and ask them to do the same
  • Give a small business a shout-out online
  • Leave a review or email a testimonial singing their praises
  • Check in with businesses you frequently shop with, ask how you can help
  • Keep paying your memberships or subscriptions
  • Don’t ask for a refund right now, take a credit or gift card in lieu of
  • If you can afford to, buy something online
  • Ask your local businesses if they deliver
  • Where possible, purchase locally from family owned businesses
  • Send your favourite friend, client or supplier a gift purchased locally
  • Go to the source (for accommodation, food delivery etc) so the business gets all the proceeds
  • Start your Christmas shopping now if you can afford to
  • Thank businesses who’ve remained open. It will mean the world to them.

NZ Small Business Covid Support

Resources

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