What is one positive business story that transpired during the pandemic? 

This pandemic has been tough on many of us, so we asked business owners and entrepreneurs this question for their pandemic business stories. From thriving through innovation to leaning into virtual recruiting, there are several ways businesses found ways to stay afloat and keep working towards a positive future. 

Here are six positive business stories that transpired during the pandemic: 

• Thriving Through Innovation
• Educating Employees on Cybersecurity
• Improving Living Spaces
• Training New Career Seekers
• Helping Teachers Navigate Virtual Schooling
• Leaning Into Virtual Recruiting

Thriving Through Innovation 

I found myself starting a new job straight out of college in the middle of the pandemic. I began my career from home, doing my training entirely on Zoom, never having met the majority of the coworkers or clients that I work with on a daily basis. While there was uncertainty at every corner, I was thankful to have a job when so many others were not as fortunate and kept the mindset that I was going to do everything in my power to make the most of my situation. Through company innovations and the launching of a knowledge-based platform, I was able to take on responsibilities that wouldn’t have presented themselves without the pandemic. Almost a year later and I am flourishing in my role, and my company is growing every day. 

Kayla Centeno, Markitors

Educating Employees on Cybersecurity 

Early in the pandemic, we saw a 500% increase in cyber crimes as employees went remote. To help fight back against phishing scams, we offered free Coronavirus phishing tests to help train employees around the world to reinforce positive communications behavior in remote environments. These simulated phishing tests helped employees see how easy hackers can claim to be someone else and how to recognize those threats in the future. This is especially important as cybercrimes continue to play a role in our new normal. 

Nick Santora, Curricula

Improving Living Spaces 

The pandemic has increased the amount of time we all spend at home. With increased time at home, there’s also an increase in people unable to access their homes due to mobility challenges with stairs. One unique side effect of the pandemic has been the number of people who are improving their living space. For our customers, that’s meant installing stair lifts to regain independence throughout their home. For others working from home, the ideas people have come up with during the pandemic to improve their workspace and surroundings are a bright spot frequently seen in daily Zoom calls. 

Joe Newstrom, Arrow Lift

Training New Career Seekers 

When the pandemic first hit, it is safe to say that I was in a state of panic. As the owner of an eyelash extension business, my work relies on clients coming into the salon and extremely close contact. Of course, that was not an option in a state of lockdown. Just when it felt like the sky was falling, I started to see an increase in activity on the other side of my business—eyelash extension training. With so many individuals losing their jobs, they were looking for ways to invest in themselves, and my business courses and online certifications serve just that purpose! Being able to pivot and see so many clients enjoying my new products made 2020 a year to never forget and be so grateful for.

Vanessa Molica, The Lash Professional

Helping Teachers Navigate Virtual Schooling 

Online faxing exploded during the pandemic as more workplaces faced a paperless reality in a remote environment. Perhaps one of the industries where we were proud to support was education. Teachers were thrown into a new education environment and were asked to navigate new and sometimes complex technologies. Fortunately, our service enabled teachers across the globe to easily scan documents and send out critical information safely and securely. Taking one less worry away from teachers during a pandemic to better benefit the education of their students was definitely a positive experience, and we think that trend will only continue. 

Adam Korbl, iFax

Leaning Into Virtual Recruiting 

During the pandemic, we saw many employers pivot their hiring strategies from in-person job fairs to virtual hiring events. Embracing new recruitment technologies helped companies reduce time around tasks like screening, scheduling, and candidate Q&As. Focusing more time on top candidates and less time on manual tasks through recruitment technologies should be a lasting shift as a result of the pandemic. To talent acquisition teams around the world, that’s a huge positive. 

Josh Zywien, Paradox

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How can a business get the word out about the important work they are doing?

To help your business find new ways to get the word out about all of the important work they’re doing, we asked business leaders and marketing professionals this question for their best tips. From launching relevant campaigns to press releases, there are several ways that may help your business get the word out about its important work!

Here are eleven ways to get the word out about the important work your business is doing: 

• Email Newsletters 
• Launch Relevant Campaigns
• Send a Handwritten Note
• Always Act In The Best Interest Of The Client
• Launch A New Website
• Google My Business
• Chambers Of Commerce
• Find Micro-Influencers
• Start A Company Blog
• Press Release
• LinkedIn Content

Email Newsletters 

Email newsletters are a great way to get the word out about important work your company is doing, especially if you have a loyal customer base! Many people think that in 2021, social media is king, but with 3.9 billion email users around the world, it is clear that email is an active channel many consumers use. The key to successful email campaigns is to format them for mobile devices as your customers are most likely on the go and rarely using a desktop to check out your newsletter.

Randall Smalley, Cruise America

Launch Relevant Campaigns

Since 2007, Tic Watches has been selling watches online. We wanted to grow and thought of ways to get the word out. With cleanliness being a top priority for people around the world with the rise of COVID-19, we decided to launch a campaign called “how clean is your watch?” This excited social media users with fun comparisons showing a watch, especially a smartwatch, could be dirtier than your toilet! We then hosted simple watch cleaning tips on our website. When looking to get the word out don’t dismiss a fun timely campaign that connects with customers and ties back to your products and how your business can help. 

Daniel Richmond, Tic Watches

Write a Couple Blog Posts  

The best way to spread the word about your business or brand is to create blog posts. Conduct some keyword research for the topics and niches you would like to create content for and start writing away. Blogs provide an opportunity to utilize a whole range of long-tail keywords for SEO while also allowing you to show off your expertise about the subject at hand while building trust with potential customers and clients. Keep your blog updated with quality content, and both Google and your site visitors will applaud you for it! 

Kayla Centeno, Markitors

Send a Handwritten Note

Send a handwritten note. With all the noise that exists on social media platforms and digital media, sending a handwritten note to your customer list is a great way to draw attention to the word you are looking to get out. Whether that’s a nonprofit organization looking to share the work they’re doing, or a marketing agency sharing the latest algorithm update from Google, a handwritten note attracts attention at a time when attention is hard to get. 

David Wachs, Handwrytten

Always Act In The Best Interest Of The Client

I’ve found that the best way to get the word about a business is to always act in the best interest of the client. Word of mouth and client referrals are long-term strategies that can really help grow a business. Both the business owner and the employees need to make sure that the strategies recommended provide value and tangible benefits that best support client needs. It’s always in the best interest of the business to act in the best interest of the client. 

Chris Abrams, Marcan Insurance

Launch A New Website

Launch a new website and spend time promoting it! The most important item is a press release.  Not only does it tell journalists about your company, but it will help you see the newsworthy parts of your story.  Next, you will want to reach out to journalists directly.  A new website is a great excuse to reach out to media contacts and introduce them to your service.  Even a small local business can get exposure, as journalists can use a variety of story angles.

Axel DeAngelis, NameBounce

Google My Business

Google My Business (or GMB) is a critical element in getting the word out about your business. Google dominates the search engine industry, so small businesses should invest time and effort to create and optimize their GMB Profile. How businesses present themselves in their GMB profile can make or break customer perception. If the profile is incomplete or inaccurate, people would think it’s no longer operating or skeptical of its legitimacy. Upload clear photos on your GMB profile and always answer customer questions regularly. When businesses do this religiously, it immediately creates a good impression of your business.

Yaniv Masjedi, Nextiva

Chambers Of Commerce 

Consider joining a local chamber of commerce. Becoming a member of a chamber can help raise the visibility of your business on the local level through networking with other chamber members as well as getting a profile listing in a chamber of commerce directory. Our business recently joined the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, and it has helped add some local citations to boost our local search engine optimization efforts. 

Greg Drambour, Sedona Retreats

Find Micro-Influencers

Although some people say that good products or ideas do not need additional promotion, I don’t agree. Nobody will know about your great idea if you do not promote it. I believe influencers, bloggers, and industry leaders are the most powerful people nowadays who can promote new ideas and spread the word about valuable products. Micro-influencers who share similar views with you usually have the audience that you need. These people will become your early adopters, provide feedback, and most importantly, will help you to deliver your ideas to the broad public.

Yulia Garanok, datarockets

Start A Company Blog

Outlining your company’s purpose and mission statement is an awesome first blog post. Once you get started, you can keep updating your audience with blog posts explaining new initiatives or new product releases. Plus, because it’s a post on your website, you’re not limited by character restrictions like you are for social posts or press releases.

Ceillie Clark-Keane, Unstack

Press Release

A press release is the most effective method to get the word out. Hire a decent and well-connected Public Relations for your Communications department, and maintain a list of close media contacts in your industry. Keep in touch with them regularly, and update them often on the latest news in your company. Moreover, do not underestimate the small blogs in your industry. It’s easier to get coverage on them, and the big press does look at the small blogs for ideas.

Jill Sandy, Constant Delights

LinkedIn Content

In order for a business to get the word out about what they’re doing, there are a number of things they can do, but mainly they should focus on content creation (for example, blog writing on their website) and consistently generating content on LinkedIn. Although setting up a website or purchasing LinkedIn Premium may come at an initial cost, creating a content funnel that informs your audience and drives traffic to your website is worth the initial investment.

Eric Mochnacz, Red Clover

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