Good afternoon everyone. Please use this chat to submit questions. If we don't get to your question right away, we'll be sure to answer as many as possible at the end.

thank you!

yes!

yes

yes

Yes

yes

yes

Yes. I can hear you

Yes me too

Hi Alison.. would you take a second at some point and tell us a little more about sbdc and CEI? Thanks/ Mike H.

Yes, definitely. I'll make sure she cover this at the end!

can you dorct to website that has guidelines for B&B small inn motels State to state open/close

Will you be sharing a recording of today's presentation and/or the slide deck?

Definitely, you'll be getting an email from me with both later this afternoon.

it is so important to think about digital marketing right now. I have been telling my clients to think about the platforms in which their target audience is on. most businesses in Maine only have a Facebook account. social media platforms are free marketing, and marketing is going into connecting with personal brands.

direct not dorct

Judi, can you specify more about your question?

Judi, are you looking for a list of closures across the country?

sure I am looking to find guide lines on wether we can be open in Maine BillowHouse number of guest in a space for example we have a guest who might come in two weeks and will have six in room and it is her birthday. Worried there might be a few other invited...

thank you

How do you get over marketing anxiety? I'm so nervous I will say or post the wrong thing......especially now. We own a small deli/sub shop and needed to close but my competition is open . we needed to stay home for our safety...

We are a non essential retail store. Can we still offer curbside delivery?

I own a boutique with an e-commerce site can I still ship products with the new mandate?

I know this is not marketing-related…but I’ve tried multiple ways (SBA, my bank loan officer, my accountant, calling local SBAs including Maine and MA) and when I get to talk or hear back from someone, they don’t know the answers…or I leave messages/emails and don’t hear back. The Paycheck Protection program isn’t clear and I have to make payroll decisions by next week. Where, who, can answer a little more in-depth on that program, and on the other disaster loan details?

Amber people will TOTALLY understand! Just let them know that you look forward to getting back to serving them again soon!

I presume a farmstead cheesery is an agricultural enterprise and therefore not eligible for the $10,000 grant?

+1 Shannon

Kathy what's your email I have the application and info on PPP

applications can't go in until 4/3

Is there any advice you’d give companies who usually see a lot of business or sales in the summer months (hotels, outdoor guiding services, aquaculture/lobster shacks, etc) but aren’t sure what this summer could look like? Are there additional tips you’d give such companies are top of what you presented earlier?

hi Jannel, most my clients who have an e-commerce site are still able to ship product as mailing is still considered an essential

Follow up: How should those companies be planning now?

yes you can offer curb side pick up as a non essential

you can’t let people into the store

mainesbdc@maine.edu

You can still offer curbside pick up...

you're doing a great job- appreciated

Alison and Jennifer - Would you speak to resources at SBDC and CEI that are available to help with the development of marketing and business plans?

I am a yoga teacher and holistic art educator. Teaching virtually right now is so competitive and right now there are so many free opportunities that I feel no one will want to pay for my services when times are tough. Looking for new ways to market myself in order to feel as if I am offering something of value to my customers?

Feeling as if I have to give away services to meet my competition

Avril, you're right - it's getting crowded out there. Many people are thinking about this as an opportunity for brand awareness building, which may mean free content. You may want to look at a short free session to get people hooked then offer private coaching or small groups

We have a small retail store with web orders coming in, can we still ship these out?

MaineBiz just posted an article on the Paycheck Protection Program

https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/sba-to-have-349b-payroll-stimulus-program-up-and-running-this-week?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Daily+Report%3A+SBA+loans+available+soon%2C+while+tribes+get+housing+aid+and+Mills+issues+new+order&utm_campaign=Daily+Report+040120+v2

which program is Allison talking about now…the acromyns are killing me

I heard from a different webinar yesterday that larger apparel and accessory brands are not spending money on social media and that it is a good time for smaller businesses to invest. Do you have any thoughts on that? And if so, which platforms do you think might be most effective for accessories right now...b/c its very non essential....until Mother's day, that is....

Sharon it IS a good time to invest IF your message is one that's useful right now (not insensitive, etc).

We manage social accounts for hundreds of businesses and are seeing high engagement

I know Jennifer thanks!!

specifically what payroll records…months, etc?

Delivery Project

Last week, I filled out EIDL paperwork when the portal crashed as I was submitting online. Now I have the forms filled out but no online link to submit them

Can you give what questions/ demographics might help you sort out best ways to market?

We’re B2B software consultants, what are good channels to reach out to owners of businesses that have had to move to working from home?

Cristos - try LinkedIn and specifically LinkedIn ProFinder

and consider offering quick blog posts or videos with tips for people

and webinars are working really well right now

thanks!

you got it! my biz is dreamlocal.com if you need anything

Thanks!

RE: this current question right now on competition, could also try to leverage you base here in Maine, a la “shop local!”

hi Cristos! I am a digital marketer and am offering free digital discovery sessions right now to go over target markets , branding and platforms. right out of Bangor. my website is www.storysilo.com and IG is @storysilomedia

I’d be happy to answer some basics for you

Re: Yoga customers —I have an awesome yoga instructor who immediately set up online Zoom live classes. She offered lower prices and then a monthly lower price to attend 3 classes/ week. She did it immediately and had never done it before and used her existing email list. There were over 20 people in her first class.

for resource on spreading out payments see apps that offer layway in the retail space such as partial.ily

I wonder if the Yoga teacher might be able to get through the noise online is by making direct calls to customers to invite them to online yoga and offering a reduced rate?

can you say that website once more

This is a big question for all small shops... can an owner / one person... go to their shop and clean etc. ship. etc. It's being asked by many in Belfast.

Rudman Winchell is a great resource and are hosting a lot of webinars and meetings with Bangor and Ellsworth Camber

I am a small business…can I go to shop and paint and organize if I am not open and have a shop kitty still at shop I am visiting every day.

Thank you everyone who gave yoga teaching feedback! Definitely has triggered some new ideas. Appreciate all the support! <3

Great Info, got to get to next meeting. Thanks!

what about the program so get partial unemployment while still working part time. we live and work at our business

Etsy

I do chair caning. It never occurred to me that with the governor's order I may be in violation if I arrange with customers to have them drop off chairs at my door and pay via mail... what do you think?

ABSOLUTELY you should have accessories on Instagram!!

engagement yes, but what about conversion to sales?

heading off! I wish the best for all my fellow business owners. I have a meeting I need to go to. if anyone has any marketing questions feel free to reach out sarah@storysilo.com . These ladies are very knowledgeable! social media platforms depend on your product and service.

Sharon right now assume that brand awareness and engagement will be higher than sales, but you should be working those leads

We are doing a lot of nurturing campaign, getting engagement and then building lists of people we will target ads to later

you’re allowed to do outdoor activites

but they don’t mention anything about going in alone to your shop

everyone should be actively engaged with their Chambers... Main Street and community groups that have Facebook and web outreach. Many businesses are not engaged.

I've been having people leave chairs at my door and I leave done chairs outside... we never have actual contact

A bunch of answers re the Governor’s executive order:

https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/covid-19

If you're a retailer, no matter the size or scope, the Retail Association of Maine has some great resources during this time including webinars.

I'm a functional movement chiropractor so I'm increasing digital presence with exercise tips; is there a way to more specifically target audiences as I shift to telehealth?

Thank you! I need to go to another meeting. I'll be tuned in tomorrow! Best of luck everyone and stay well!

I think I got my question answered re: chair caning as we have talked...

Thank you all!!!! Stay healthy!

RE permitted activities for “Non-Essential Businesses”

Its more of a set of guidelines than a code. :)

Our movie theatre says... mid June is the earliest...

I'm a functional movement chiropractor so I'm increasing digital presence with exercise tips; is there a way to more specifically target audiences as I shift to telehealth?

Thank you for your time today and information y0u shared. Be sfae

Robin if you have email addresses of patients there is!

can we show exercises, stretches, etc?

Maine Retailers and Grocers has webinar April 3— just got email

Thank you -

Thanks everyone. Be careful out there and stay well, and thanks for all the great suggestions

Thanks all!

Thank you!

Thanks everyone!

Great call, thanks all!

From the Gov’s order: "Such permitted activities may include taking orders by phone, email or other remote means and preparing such orders by delivery; maintaining the value of the business’s inventory; preserving the condition of the business’s physical plan and equipment; ensuring security; and processing payroll, employee benefits and services.”

thank you all. Can you imagine going through this without internet?!!!

yes

mainesbdc@maine.edu

Jim has the info right there

Thanks Alison and Jennifer. Special thanks to Allison Watson for keeping her clients with daily emails. Thanks to everyone for input.

Thank you Jennifer and Alison

Stay safe and sane, all!