Hi Guys:

Well, this is pretty much what I saw was coming and I'm sure the next 2-4 weeks will be interesting, but as the old saying goes "out of all bad comes good."

What I did not expect is that I would have to cancel my daughter’s wedding on April 4^th.  After much stress and a few (no a lot) of lost bucks we got a new date for November 7^th. My point…this show, your show and your patients/clients/ and customers show will go on. Life and business will normalize again.

After two very long days, I wanted to write this to you.

What’s going on out there is scary but I think there are a lot of opportunities.

Example, many of the schools around have cancelled and more will be coming in the upcoming days. That will be a lot of kids who will be at home 20 weekdays over the next month or so.

To me, that is a huge opportunity. I can promise you people will be going out.  They’ll be too stir crazy, if they don’t. It's a time like this that having a way to reach your customers/patients and clients faster and free is so important. I think it’s VERY important right now to communicate with your base through the database we’ve grown.

My suggestions right now (in no particular order):

1st - Start highlighting delivery and 3rd party delivery more than normal. There are going to be some people who stay home, so let's give them options. It might not be the most profitable, but in the short term, let's capture that sale. For my health care providers, we discussed telemedicine options, exercise via skype etc. For my restaurant owners and pharmacy owners, home delivery is now key.

2nd - Make some posts about what you're doing to make sure your business is as safe as possible. Show staff cleaning.  Tell a story about how you care. Demonstrate how you care.

3rd - Not only make your place much cleaner and safer, but make sure it's VERY noticeable during busy times. People believe what they see. If they see a person wiping down the facility more than normal it will reinforce the message and “prove it.”  Even if you’re place is already pretty clean, the optics will make a huge difference and help with word of mouth.

4th - Know what's happening around you. What schools or companies are closed? Share it online. What companies are having employees not reporting in as usual? Share it online. Did Publix  or Costco get toilet paper in? Share it online. The more you know, the more you can share this stuff. Maybe assign one of your staff to research this and pass it on to share to those on your list and online.

5th - Create some specials to capitalize on #4.  You should have a database of over 4,000 people mostly from 3 miles around your place of business.  Do you SEE NOW HOW IMPORTANT HAVING AN IN-HOUSE DATABASE IS? You can reach them FAST & often. Use it. Stay top of mind.

6th - Ramp up your social media posts, be more visible than EVER! Your competitors don't know what to do. Post as much as possible.  Get your brand in everyone's timeline while others sit on their hands.

 

7^th-if you have to quarantine and shut down you will need cash. This is why I have taught you to create an emergency fund equal to a minimum of 12 months business and office expenses. You will only need 6 weeks now at most, and probably won’t need anything at all. If you don’t have an emergency fund, find money NOW! PayPal has a 6-month $50,000 interest-free loan. Google other sources and if needed let me know I will reach out to money lenders and banks.

 

8^th- Keep yourself healthy by doing the common sense things I outlined in last Monday’s newsletter

 

9^th-Use this time to evaluate how good or poor your systems are and then fix accordingly. Eg. If you don’t have a data base discuss with me on upcoming calls.

 

10^th-If this crisis has affected you adversely and you need financial help, let me know. I will not let any of you go un-supported, not on my watch!

 

11^th -Look for opportunity in the stock market. It will be volatile but look at it like this. Did the market go a lot higher after the crash of ‘29? The crash of ‘87? The Cuban-Missile Crisis and 911? It will be a lot higher in the future too.

I hope that helps? Write or call with any other questions. This is a time to be proactive.  Stay top of mind. Show you care. Clean like crazy. And give them options for delivery. If anyone needs me, I am available virtually 24/7. Reach out to me and if you get VM leave a message, I will get back to you.

 

For now, stay safe. Mary and I are pretty much hunkering down; cooking at home; riding bikes, taking walks and just chilling. The stress of the wedding has been, well stressful. It is nice to just kind of hang together. I am sure the stress that you felt over the week was not fun either. Now is the time to reconnect with family, read, help other family members and friends who are less fortunate or God-forbid sick.

 

Hang in there, this too shall pass, I promise. Speak to you next week.

 

Paul

 

I am ready, willing, and able to use my 35 years of business experience to help you. Click here for a free and no-obligation strategy session. We have to help each other!

 

I am also donating free memberships to the Academy of Creative Marketing. Email me at drinselman@911profit.com so we may set up a time to discuss which free membership will serve you best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PPS: We have been so successful in helping business owners just like you that I need business coaches. If you know of someone who would make a great business coach, would you forward this link to them? I will pay for all of their training and they can earn $150,000-$250,000 part time. Thank you.  Click Here to Watch a Webinar that will explain this special and unique opportunity in full.