Business Guide: Surviving the Virus Outbreak

I bet we are all thinking about this coming year and how this virus will impact our businesses. During these sorts of events, I think it is important to keep calm and focus on driving our businesses forward. My guess is that the businesses that focus on not just tactical but strategic-collaborative marketing efforts will weather this storm, the businesses that don’t evolve will be left behind. I feel we need to start preparing for lower than usual traffic to our businesses.

What we can mention to our customers

Our shops are disinfected (and tell them how) every night. Show the products use and staff cleaning in posts.
We ask people who appear to be sick to immediately leave, offering some sort of remote service (bringing goods/services to the car, etc)
Mention that we (the shop owner) would appreciate their support through this tough time. Make it personal “My FAMILY appreciates your support…” etc
We publicly suggest that older folks stay home and ask others to shop for them

Here are some things we can suggest customers/clients to do to support us

Purchase gift cards for use later in the year
Have one of Vashon’s couple of food/delivery services bring product to their home (we have 2 of them on the island)
When customers come in, mention you have hand sanitizer (if you have it), encourage them to wash their hands before and after they shop/eat.
Offer some sort of discount
Suggest they call in and order take out

Benefits for shopping at local businesses now

Smaller crowds
Take advantage of new discounts offered due to the virus
Shops are never cleaner than they are now (mentioning that the shops are disinfected nightly, which is a good idea)
First and foremost, they will be supporting our local businesses.

Upside of free time. Things we can do while business is slow

Update, create or add content to website
Stay away from creating events, focus on your product or service
Build an email list (you got this email from me because I built a list… It takes time, but its worth it) and send out updates to your current fanbase.
Create, Update or add to your social media platforms
Perform OUTREACH on social media. If you don’t know how to do this, just ask.
Find collaboration opportunities. For instance, come to my brewery to fill up a growler to go, and pick up a pizza to go on the way home. Cross promote with other Vashon businesses and leverage their audience in marketing.
Connect with island bloggers and tourism sites (like mine, Explore Vashon) to help encourage off island visitor to visit YOUR location. Again, building that consumer confidence that we are doing our best in disinfecting our establishments and making a SAFE shopping environment is very important.

Support. IMHO, we need to leverage each others strengths to ensure we all weather this storm. I have set up a Facebook group where you can ask any sort of Vashon Island business/marketing question. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1735402070079231/. Also, feel free to reach out to me directly if you wish, I am here to help.

Keep safe, keep strong and collaborate folks.

Vashon Island Marketing. Let’s Get Started

Vashon Island marketing is tough. In fact, doing business on Vashon Island is not easy overall. Marketing, or getting your message, product, service in front of people is difficult… but it CAN be done.

As a kid raised here on Vashon, I was extra kind to people. I was taught by my mother to try to help others whenever you can. Look for opportunities to build other up. Sometimes, nothing will come of it, but more times than not, you will receive much more in return. I have lived my life like this.

One thing I have noticed on the island, is that there are quite a few people who say they “know” internet marketing, social media marketing or whatever you want to call it, but here’s a little secret:

There are very few that truly understand Vashon Island marketing as a whole.

Vashon Island marketing is not just social media, not just having a website.. not just sending emails… it’s about DOING SOMETHING! Marketing is work. Anyhow, enough of that. Let’s get down to it:

I am going to tell you, AND my competition exactly how to market their business or service to people. Yes, all you “marketers” who are trying to “help” local Vashon Island businesses, I am going to teach you how to do your job. Why? It’s because I want to help. My goal isn’t to help YOU, but to help the customers you support. If you are better at your job, their businesses will grow, the island grows, everyone is happy.

So, first things first. Let’s talk about they types of people you want to market too. I think of it like the Army. My nephew is in the Army overseas right now, fighting some very bad people. Before they ever engage, the do recoinsence on their enemies. They know who they are, where they eat, where they go for fun, who are their friends. You need to do the same for your business. I call it RECON. I will talk more about this in future Vashon Island marketing blog posts.

So, do you know WHO your ideal customers are? Are they Islanders? Are they tourists? Do they even come to Vashon? Once you know who they are, then you can try to find out WHERE they are so that you can figure out how to get your marketing in front of them. For instance, if you want Vashonites to see you message, are you posting on the Vashon Island Blog or the Vashon All Facebook group? If you want your message to get in front of tourists, are you posting/advertising on Vashon’s Tourist site, Explore Vashon?

So the first thing you need to do is recon. Find your ideal clients. Find out where they are online. Is it Facebook? Is it Instagram? Is it email? Is it text messages? Is it word of mouth? Answer these questions and I will start on my next blog post.