Over the past month, small business owners have been faced with a host of difficult decisions due to the economic downturn caused by the new coronavirus. Finally, here’s an easy one: Attend a series of free webinars on helping...
Over the past month, small business owners have been faced with a host of difficult decisions due to the economic downturn caused by the new coronavirus. Finally, here’s an easy one: Attend a series of free webinars on helping small businesses weather the pandemic.
Score, which is a nonprofit partner of the federal Small Business Administration, is hosting three online events in April that will cover topics such as national aid for small businesses, new relief policies, marketing advice and more.
Here’s all of our coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, which we will be updating every day.
“These webinars will provide small business owners with the information and resources they need to get through the next 12 weeks and to successfully prepare all aspects of their business, so that they’re ready to go when this economy reopens,” said Frank LaMonaca, a Score business mentor and presenter of one of the upcoming webinars.
Score also offers business-mentoring services, workshops, business guides and templates – all for free, and now all online during the outbreak.
Here’s a rundown of Score’s three upcoming webinars. To reserve a spot, register using your name, email address and ZIP code on the corresponding event page.
If you miss a live webinar, check Score’s archive for a recording of the event.
April 9: Coronavirus and Your Small Business Live Q&A
With a flurry of new legislation, safety guidelines and budget-busting scenarios, you might have a question or two. Even if you don’t, another business owner probably will. Overhearing it might prove useful.
Thursday, April 9, at 1 p.m. Eastern, top Score mentors will be dishing out answers during a 90-minute Q&A session. Attendees can ask questions at the live event, and they’re encouraged to submit them during the registration process as well.
Here are the panelists:
Suzanne McGrath: McGrath has more than 15 years of experience in the retail and restaurant industries and can field questions related to running or starting businesses in those sectors or related ones. Frank LaMonaca: LaMonaca has 38 years of international business experience spread across Asia, Europe, South America and the U.S. — 21 years in commercial banking and 17 in financial services. John Tile: Tile has 42 years of experience in engineering, logistics, safety and program management businesses.Visit the Q&A’s event page to register and submit your initial question(s).
April 16: National Resources and Policy Updates for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
The $2 trillion economic stimulus package dubbed the CARES Act includes several initiatives to help small businesses.
During a 90-minute webinar Thursday, April 16, at 1 p.m. Eastern, Small Business Majority’s Brian Pifer, vice president of entrepreneurship, will help you decide which program is the best fit for your business.
Pifer’s presentation will cover expanded loan programs through the Small Business Administration and other financial options, including:
The remainder of the webinar will be dedicated to a Q&A with Pifer. To reserve a spot, visit the webinar’s event page.
April 28: Marketing Advice to Combat an Economic Downturn
The coronavirus outbreak has thrown a wrench in how so many businesses operate, forcing them to pivot — or shutter. If your business is lucky enough to be keeping the lights on, you’ll need to keep your customers up-to-date with exactly what is changing and why. Or sooner than later, all that pivoting will have been for nothing.
Marketing powerhouse Amanda Brinkman will share actionable advice on staying in contact with your customers throughout the pandemic during an hour-long presentation Tuesday, April 28, at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Brinkman hosts the TV show Small Business Revolution along with Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec. Brinkman also heads Deluxe Corporation’s marketing team as the chief brand officer.
Brinkman will lay out several ways to utilize traditional marketing tools to keep your customers informed, such as:
Putting critical contact and sales information on your website Engaging with your social media followers, even if they aren’t buying now Updating Google My Business with new business hours and practices Using email marketing to lay out your business changes. Utilizing print marketing and signage on your brick-and-mortar locationVisit the webinar’s event page to register.
“A lot of data is being thrown at people… but our goal is to turn that data into actionable information,” LaMonaca said.
Adam Hardy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. He covers the gig economy, entrepreneurship and unique ways to make money. Read his ?latest articles here, or say hi on Twitter @hardyjournalism.
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