Can we just take a second to exhale and give each other a socially-distant, self-isolated, high-five for making it this far into 2020?
Anyone else shaking your head these days in a what-the-heck-is-actually-happening-right-now kind of daze? Also, what day is it? Am I supposed to be on a Zoom? Do I have to put on pants?
Twelve weeks ago I was putting the finishing touches on a digital course and mastermind opportunity for digital entrepreneurs. I was so proud of it. I felt ready to step into my purpose and serve.
THEN THE WORLD CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT.
Who saw that coming?
Oh right, no one.
COVID-19 has small businesses on the brink of failure and essential businesses are operating with the least freedom I’ve ever seen. They’re the lucky ones though, right? At least they got to stay open.
I believe that small business is the backbone of the American economy. It was immediately clear that taking a hit like this will be unrecoverable for some. My heart breaks for family businesses who have poured generations of love and labor into their ventures only to have it end like this.
My passion for marketing and communications has always been fueled by work with small businesses so, like many of you, I pivoted my plans,
Instead, I’m coming in hot for small and micro-businesses who have to reboot their entire existence and potentially start marketing and selling online for the first time.
For your small business to be one of the lucky ones that make it through this, I believe wholeheartedly that first and foremost, you must have a crystal clear grasp on your brand platform BEFORE the “how are we going to pivot” brainstorming starts.
Please understand that by brand platform I am not talking about a website, Facebook page, or Instagram following. Those are all good and important but first and foremost, get a crystal clear, 100% locked in, mission, vision, and value statement. Define and document your brand values, personality, and promise that keeps pivot planning from becoming pivot panic. This is what you can lean on every single time you reach a crossroads in your business.
Make no mistake, we’re at a crossroads right now.
Clarity = Confidence + Creativity
As I thought about how to serve well, I was struck by the similarities between Make Words Do Things and literally every other small business out there. Nothing looks like we thought it would. Getting cash registers ringing again immediately is NOT OPTIONAL. To do that we have to change the way we do business.
We have to
In that spirit, I’ve put together a FREE BrandWords Journal to guide you through the mindful exercise of detailing the different building blocks of your brand. You can grab yours here.
P resent
I mprovised
V aluable
O fferings
T oday
^ if you know, you know ^
This is the first of three free tools I am making available for business owners to take stock of their business and personal brands, assess how well they are aligned, and ultimately use that clarity to plan, create, and publish content marketing that grows your audience and generates revenue for your small business.
There’s no time to waste friends!
Make sure you are following Make Words Do Things on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn too. I’ll be sharing videos and articles there showing you exactly how to use these tools.
Also, I’ve opened up a few spots for one-on-one sessions. For business owners who need to get a new brand defined or may want to take an objective look at an existing brand, and get plans down on paper for marketing and selling online, this will be a great way to do it with me as your consulting partner and a great community of like-minded business owners. You don’t have to go at this alone, despite all the noise on the internet telling you how easy it is!
Here in Texas, it’s getting hot and we’re mostly still working from home, doing our damnedest to maintain mental health while not torpedoing relationships with the spouse or permanently damaging the littles. We’re praying for the people we love working on the front lines and trying to remember to put on pants. We are actively looking for ways to make sure we all make it.
We’re stronger together.