Six Strategies to Strengthen Your Business
COVID-19 has changed our daily lives. During this time, business leaders need to continue moving their businesses forward with planning and execution of plans to manage employees, cash flow, online sales, and more. The biggest mistake to avoid right now is standing still. Businesses need resources to adapt and create a new plan.
In an effort to help businesses survive and thrive during COVID-19, here are six strategies that can strengthen your business. Mississippi State University Extension faculty members provided an overview of these strategies using a Zoom conference call recently. You can find a link to the presentations below. Also, each faculty member provided valuable resource links that can help your business through COVID-19. Feel free to reach out to any or all of these specialists for more assistance.
The Zoom Webinar
If you want to watch each presentation listed below, please visit http://extension.msstate.edu/six-strategies-strengthen-your-business-during-covid-19. What follows is a listing of each faculty member, the topic they presented, and resource links that can help your business during COVID-19.
- Strategy 1: Create or Improve Your Business Website
- Strategy 2: Boosting Your Social Media Engagement
- Strategy 3: Turning Your Website into a Sales Machine
- Strategy 4: Adapting Business Strategies during COVID-19
- Strategy 5: How to Avoid Three Financial Mistakes during COVID-19
- Strategy 6: Small Business Administration Resources
The COVID-19 Toolkit for Businesses
Strategy 1: Create or Improve Your Business Website
Extension Instructor (former)
Center for Technology Outreach
Mississippi State University Extension Service
andy.collins@msstate.edu
(228) 388-4710
Resource Links
Build a Website with Wix
Mobile Friendliness Test
https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly
Page Speed Test
https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/
Keyword Planner
https://ads.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner/
Search Engine Optimization Guide
https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7451184?hl=en
Strategy 2: Boosting Your Social Media Engagement
Extension Instructor
Center for Technology Outreach
Mississippi State University Extension Service
laurencolby.nickels@msstate.edu
Resource Links
5 Ways to Grow Your Local Foods Business with Facebook
http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/5-ways-grow-your-local-foods-business-facebook
Helpful Social Media Toolkit from the North Carolina Dept of Health and Human Services
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/covid19/materials-and-resources
50 Must-Have Remote Working Tools and Apps
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/50-must-have-remote-working-tools-and-apps/575069/
Assistance with Ads
https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide
Crafting Creative Content
https://www.facebook.com/business/inspiration
MSU Extension COVID-19 Information
http://extension.msstate.edu/food-and-health/health/coronavirus
Strategy 3: Turning Your Website into a Sales Machine
Associate Professor and Extension Economist
Department of Agricultural Economics
Mississippi State University Extension Service
james.barnes@msstate.edu
Resource Links
Schedule a Free Website Review
https://brickstoclicks.extension.msstate.edu/
How to Build a Website That Sells
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-build-a-website-that-sells/id1499143578?i=1000468537847
3 Website Mistakes Your Business Should Avoid (Complete video)
https://brickstoclicks.extension.msstate.edu/videos
Free Tool to Pivot Your Marketing Message During Covid-19
Strategy 4: Adapting Business Strategies during COVID-19
Extension Economist
Center for Government and Community Development
Mississippi State University Extension Service
rdm1@msstate.edu
Resource Links
NAICS Code Look Up
Disaster Loan Applications
https://www.sba.gov/page/disaster-loan-applications
Paycheck Protection Program
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program
Guide for Home-Based Business
http://srdc.msstate.edu/cashing/
http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/growing-your-brand-developing-marketing-plan-workbook
Rural Tourism Toolbox
Strategy 5: How to Avoid Three Financial Mistakes during COVID-19
Director, MSU Extension Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy
State Family Financial Management Specialist
Assistant Extension Professor and Extension Economist
Department of Agricultural Economics
Mississippi State University Extension Service
becky.smith@msstate.edu
Resource Links
Managing Personal Finances during COVID-19
http://extension.msstate.edu/content/managing-personal-finances-during-covid-19
Managing Stress and Anxiety
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html
Protect Yourself Financially from Coronavirus
Learn about Investing
https://www.finra.org/investors#/
https://www.saveandinvest.org/
https://www.smartaboutmoney.org/Courses/My-Retirement-Plan
Fee-Only Financial Advisors
https://www.napfa.org/find-an-advisor
National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)
https://www.nfcc.org/about-us/
Strategy 6: Small Business Administration Resources for COVID-19
Extension Associate III (retired)
Extension Center for Government and Community Development
Mississippi State University Extension Service
h.beatty@msstate.edu
Resource Links
COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Application
https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/
Small Business Administration e-Newsletter Sign-up
U.S. Department of the Treasury Assistance for Small Businesses
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/top-priorities/cares-act/assistance-for-small-businesses
Conclusion
COVID-19 will end at some point. The economy will recover at some point, too. In the meantime, businesses that continue moving forward will be the ones that prosper during and after COVID-19. Remember this: After the 2008 recession, many successful companies emerged. Here is a short list of some successful companies that launched after the 2008 recession (Conklin, 2020):
- Venmo
- Groupon
- Uber
- Slack
Keep your business moving forward by adapting to the changing circumstances of COVID-19. Please contact the Extension faculty members listed here to help your business continue to move forward during this crisis.
References
Conklin, A. (2020, March 29). 10 Successful Startups Founded During 2008 Great Recession. Available at: https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/startups-great-recession.
Publication 3444 (POD-04-23)
By James Barnes, PhD, Associate Extension Professor, Agricultural Economics; Hamp Beatty, Extension Associate III (retired), Extension Center for Government and Community Development; Rachael Carter, PhD, Extension Instructor, Extension Center for Government and Community Development; Andy Collins, former Extension Instructor, Extension Center for Technology Outreach; Lauren-Colby Nickels, Extension Instructor, Extension Center for Technology Outreach; and Becky Smith, PhD, Assistant Extension Professor, Agricultural Economics.
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