Listen to “#591 Are You Ready For The Surge?” on Spreaker.
On this episode of The Small Business Radio Show…
SEGMENT 1, starting at 0:00: The SBA just released their first guidance on how to fill out the Payment Protection Plan (PPP) loan forgiveness application, and unfortunately… it’s complicated. It is eleven pages and small business owners are worried and overwhelmed. Here to help is Ami Kassar, the founder and chief executive officer of Multifunding LLC.
SEGMENT 2, starting at 18:00: A gut reaction for many small businesses during difficult times is to cut back all their marketing to save money. But this means you stop actively communicating with customers and prospects, and that could be a big mistake. Here to help us figure out the right balance is Elma Beganovich, mega influencer and founder of the digital agency A&E.
SEGMENT 3, starting at 36:30: This is an economic downturn like we have never seen in the US. That means it can also be the quickest recovery we have ever seen. Grant Freeman, Vice President of Client Success at Thryv, is here to share how your small business should prepare for an economic surge.
More on each segment below.
Segment 1: Ami Kassar is the founder and chief executive officer of Multifunding LLC, a Philadelphia-based consulting firm that specializes in helping business owners across the United States develop creative, cost-saving alternatives for their business debt needs and structure.
1:30 – Why does the PPP loan forgiveness application have to be so complicated? What’s the best way to fill it out?
4:00 – The PPP loan forgiveness process is still changing and being iterated on.
5:45 – The original intent of the PPP was to save jobs, not save companies.
8:30 – What does PPP loan forgiveness look like for self-employed individuals?
11:30 – How does an EIDL grant affect your PPP loan forgiveness?
14:00 – Do you think the PPP has been good for small business owners?
Segment 2: Elma Beganovich is a mega influencer with over 2.2 million social followers and founders of A&E, a digital agency with a large client portfolio of Fortune 500 companies like J&J, P&G, Netflix, VF Corp, and Wells Fargo.
18:00 – Why cutting back on marketing right now is the wrong strategy.
20:45 – How to use social media to comfort consumers, understand how they feel, and how to best serve them during crisis.
23:00 – Tips for small businesses on communicating with influencers.
26:45 – Do influencers work for B2B as well as B2C?
28:15 – What ROI should companies expect on influencer marketing? How much do influencers cost?
30:15 – What can small businesses learn from the marketing strategies of large companies during this time?
Segment 3: Grant Freeman is the Vice President of Client Success, responsible for overseeing the recruiting, learning, and client experience at Thryv. His primary focus is working with all departments to ensure that our company is delivering exceptional value to all clients, both internal and external.
36:45 – Why is this economic downturn unique?
40:00 – Once states reopen, there will be a surge – of customers. What will that look like?
41:45 – How can a small business get ready for the surge?
44:15 – How to make sure your brand is found and is the obvious choice during this time!
46:30 – Now is the time to recommit to your community.
48:00 – You must deliver a seamless, frictionless client experience during this time. What kind of technology makes this possible?
