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Communication....

4/20/2020

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What should you be communicating?  What needs to be be communicated?  In this unusual time - our communications to our customers is essential. 

Your customers are your best resource for what you should be communicating.  If you are receiving the same question repeatedly, then you are not communicating what people need to hear.

Where do you start?
  1. Consistency. It is important to have regular communication but don't overwhelm.  Whether it is emails or social media post, not enough you will loose interested - too many will lose your audience.
  2. Make a plan.  At the beginning of each week make a plan of what you want to communicate during the week and then plan your posts accordingly.  
  3. Create aesthetically pleasing posts.  Use Canva to create posts, brochures, posters, business cards.  Be consistent with your brand and represent your business professionally.
  4. Automate.  After you have planned your week, get it done.  If you use Planoly then you can schedule all your Instagram and Facebook posts at the same time.  It is a good idea to share some of the same content, but not all.  Change it up a bit for those that follow you on both platforms.
  5. Promote.  Start with promoting your most important information, such as how your customers can contact you, how the public can shop at your business at this time (you should be doing this communication weekly).  After this information then you can share sales, specials, new products or events.
  6. Educate.  Why does your business exist?  How does your business/organization serve the community?
  7. Be responsive.  If someone makes a comment or asks a question on social media - respond.  Even if it is only a thumbs up or a heart.
  8. Evaluate.  Check your stats.  What platform works best for you.  What time of the day do your posts have better reception?  After your research you will know better what posts/emails receive more interaction and response.  Build on that. 
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Why you need an email list:

4/14/2020

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Email lists are a great way to connect directly with your customers.  Your customers are 5 times more likely to see an email than a social media post from your business.  With Canadian CASL requirements, you are required by law to ask permission to send out emails to your customers.  Which means that the email addresses you have are those that are interested in what you are doing.  Therefore you have a captive audience of those that want to be reached by you.

By relying on social media you are essentially renting space.  You are either paying to be seen or battling algorithms.   Emails land right in your customers inbox.

What should your emails include?
  1. You need to write emails that will be read - so you need content that solves problems and/or serves your audience.
  2. Send content that includes promotions, announcements or launches.
  3. Educate your audience on your business, products or services.
  4. Consistency- be consistent in your emails, are they monthly, bi-weekly?  
  5. Communication- keep the email conversational.  Use the space to answer customer questions, you are the expert of your business.
  6. Create action - Give the reader something to do: do they need to visit your store for a promotion?  Do they need to visit your blog for more information?  Should they tell a friends about an event?  Do they need to register for something?
  7. Structure: using an email program like MailChimp can be an easy way to collect and send emails.  You can also personalize it as well and the automation feature is helpful as well.
As you are writing your emails, keep in mind why you sign up for email lists.  What content are you hoping to receive, what information are you hoping to receive, what are you trying to learn.  

This is the best form of communication for your business.  Use this time to set up the list and creating content and then when you are open for business you already have a list of people that are waiting to hear all about it.
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April 06th, 2020

4/6/2020

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Watch this news segment from CTV Saskatoon.
The way business is structured is going to change.  This CTV segment centres around restaurants.  From what I have been learning is that it will be same for all industries.  The shift began before the pandemic and now it has accelerated the curve of a new way of doing business.

As one restaurant owners states in the segment that "no one is going to want to be in a crowded space for a very long time."  What would this mean for your business?

As we look at our business structure we need to take a realistic view of how things may look in 3, 6, or 9 months or even a year from now.  How are you going to adapt for the changes in the future?

Start to experiment with new ideas for your business: new products, new services or maybe put a new spin on something that you are currently doing.  Brainstorm with others for ideas - take some time to do some research on how you can make these ideas possible.

Clean up what you can control: What areas of your business have been neglected?  Now is the time to re-do, renovate and repair areas of your business that have been demanding your attention.

It's is encouraging to see the social media posts about supporting local business - I hope this translates to dollars spent locally.
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A bit of inspiration

4/3/2020

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I use the Libby app a lot.

It connects to your library and you can download eBooks or audio-books with your library card.  You borrow the book for three weeks and then it returns for the next person in line.  You can request titles and they download to your app when it becomes available.

I prefer audio-books - I can listen to them when I am driving or doing the dishes.  You would be amazed at how many opportunities you have in a day to add a learning to your life.
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There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.  ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti
I just finished listening to Laura Vanderakm's book What the Most Successful people do before breakfast.  This book only took an hour to listen to and was an interesting study
from interviews of successful people in the corporate setting do to start their days.
​Mornings hold the key to taking control of our schedules. If we use them wisely, we can build habits that will allow us to lead happier, more productive lives.  Drawing on real-life anecdotes and scientific research that shows why the early hours of the day are so important, Laura Vanderkam reveals how successful people use mornings to help them accomplish things that are often impossible to take care of later in the day. While many of us are still in bed, these folks are scoring daily victories to improve their health, careers, and personal lives without sacrificing their sanity. What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast is a fun, practical guide that will inspire you to rethink your morning routine and jump-start your life before the day has even begun.
I have made a few changed in my morning routine since I listened to this book and it seems to be going pretty well so far.  Check it out and I hope it inspires you!
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A chance to evolve & adapt

4/3/2020

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 We have a new normal and we have to face that things have changed and evolved and that business won't be the same again.

This is a positive. This is our chance to evolve and adapt. What worked before, may not work with our new reality.

Here are a few things that I have been learning through webinars this week:
  • Focus- stop the distractions that are keeping you in negative head space or is blocking your creativity.  Turn off the news, unfollow people or pages that are promoting negativity.  Surround yourself with people that build into you and support you.  
  • Connect- with your customers or clients in real ways.  If you are at home, show them what you are doing, playing a board game with your family? Using your products around the house?  Providing services online?  Researching new products?  Ask what people would like to see in your store when you reopen.  Keep in contact - communication is key!
  • Share- how can you share with your community?  How can you give back?
  • Build- this is the time to build into yourself, your business, and your community.
  • Prepare- get ready for when you are able to relaunch your business.  What do you want it to look like?  What do you need to do now to make that happen?
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Business during a pandemic

4/3/2020

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How can you build into your business when the doors are closed?  Here are a few things that you can do right now: 
  • Promote your online business.  If you don't have one, you have the time to work on this (Weebly or Square).  Up date your shipping options to include curbside pickup, local delivery and regular shipping.  Shipping from your shop is easy.  Set up an account with Canada Post, you will need a scale, measuring tape, a printer, packaging and you are good to go.  
  • You know all those ideas that you have thought about and always told yourself that when you have the time you will do X, Y & Z?  Now is that time.
  • Use this time to do a deep clean, organize your shop, spruce up your displays, paint and do small renos.  Then you can host a grand re-opening!
  • Get your books in order.  Reconcile the accounts - get everything organized.  Many banks, the government and Community Futures are looking to support small businesses, make sure you have everything in order so that it is easy to apply for whatever you may need.
  • Continue to connect with your customers/clients, continue to build your email list.
  • Educate yourself- listen to podcasts, download audiobooks with the Libby app.  Libby connects you to your local library and you can download ebooks or audiobooks and borrow them for three weeks.
  • Set up your Canva account to create social media posts for throughout the year, then you can start scheduling them through Facebook and Instagram.  You can make flyers, brochures, business cards, invitations for your grand re-opening, fancy menus, coupons that you can offer through social media or the newspaper, there are templates for whatever you may need.
  • Start a blog or YouTube channel, you can write several posts and then schedule throughout the year.  Your posts can teach useful ideas, different ways to style or use your products, answer the questions that you receive repeatedly.
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  • Home
  • About
    • Discover Downtown
    • Staff
    • Board Meetings & Minutes
    • History
  • Blog
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    • Events >
      • Crokicurl
      • Event Calendar
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      • Street Fair
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    • Services
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