If your small business is not visible, then it must be invisible

 The COVID-19 pandemic created a business environment like we have never seen before as a direct response to the community lockdown.

Our community small businesses have been particularly hard hit with business slowdowns, 43% temporary closures and for some industries  54% of business are permanently closed due to the pandemic and lockdown. According to the latest report women entrepreneurs were the hardest hit with 73% of women were negatively impacted by the pandemic, with 35% experiencing a significant decline in revenue.

This leaves everyone wondering who is still or back in business and can you trust they will stay in business? This is where we look to business visibility.

What does small business visibility mean?

Visibility means to be seen. If your company is not visible, then it must be invisible. Is your business being seen in the community where you do business? Business invisibility today in this post pandemic economic winter can be a death sentence for your business.

Why is small business visibility important?

1. Visibility informs the community you are ready to do business. It is more important now than ever to get your business name out in the community. If you are like me, you probably been wondering now that the COVID-19 pandemic is winding down who is still in business and who is not?

2. Visibility keeps your business top-of-mind. Your business is not the only business offering your product or service. There are many other businesses in our community that do or provide the same product or service you do. How do people decide who to go with? Those business owners they know, like, respect and trust. If the community does know you, how are you going to get their business?

3. Visibility increases your business revenue in a cost-effective way. The more visibility the confident your current customers are in your ability to deliver on your promises, the more potential customers you will gain and the more people who can refer you to others.

How does your small business become visible in the community?

Utilize Sponsorships: Be a sponsor at local events, such as expos, workshops, seminars that gather large amounts of people in your service area and speak to your target audience. Sponsorships expand your business reach by widening your business target market.

Develop Partnerships: Partnering with like-minded organizations or business to sponsor and/or promote events and community happenings. When people see your company partner with others it increases your business status.

Be an Exhibitor: By presenting your business products and services at community expos you provide the opportunity for your customers and future customers to interact and experience your brand employing all the senses, touch, feel, smell plus begin that customer relationship process.

Employ Word-of-Mouth: People do business with those they like and trust. It is all about the relationships you develop. You cannot do that by not talking. Get yourself out in the community talking about your business by joining meetups, chamber of commerce, professional organizations.

Have a Social Media presence: Join some groups and / make your own group on social media. Stay active, current, and relevant. Stay connected to your customers, create new relationships.

Volunteering: When you volunteer for an organization you resonate with you not only feel great about doing good you are changing the lives of those you help.  Volunteering is a chance to pay it forward. Through volunteering you meet more people, develop new relationships, social network, gain connection and confidence.

The worst mistake an entrepreneur can make is to presume somehow people with know they are open for business and ready to serve them. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the scheme of things one thing we are certain of is uncertainty.  The law of averages tells us the more someone hears about your business the more likely they are to do business with you. So you must put yourself out there. In other words build your business community visibility.

Remember “attention is currency”. We look forward to seeing you out in the community. 

Stay Healthy. Stay Connected. Stay You. 

Looking for an opportunity to increase your business visability?  Join us August 19th, 2021 www.womenentrepreneurshowcase.com