Things Photographers (& Other Small Business Owners) Can Do During COVID-19

I was talking to a friend who is starting her own reflexology business out of her home and she was asking about really starting to focus on social media. It seemed like a bad time to be marketing a business during a time of so much uncertainty. I don't think that is the case AT ALL!!! There are so many people who run businesses out of their homes or are a company with two people as the "face of the franchise" as it were. If your work is put on hold, now is the PERFECT time to get going on your social media and blog. Yes, I said blog. We'll get there.

As a small business owner, we wear multiple hats and some things can fall to the wayside when life is normal. All too often, social media and our websites get ignored or neglected but those should be some of the most important things we focus on! It's how we interact with clients and it's the face we present.

If your social media/website/blog has been long neglected or non-existent, this is the perfect time to start (again) and also figure out a plan for when life does return to normal. Let's start with social media.

The business you have will depend on what kind of social media platform is best for you. If your business is very visual, Instagram might be where you spend most of your time. If you are more of a service or organization, maybe it's Facebook. Consider also where your target audience spends their time. I recently got Pinterest for my business, in part because I know that a lot of moms go there for ideas.

Once you have decided on your platform, then plan a strategy for interaction. What kinds of things will you post? How often will you post? How much time will you spend on the platform each day? One thing that is super important to keep in mind is to let your audience get to know you. Post things about yourself. If you use Instagram, show your face in your stories. You are your company and so people need to get to know and trust you!

Now, about blogging. This is easier for some than others, but let me give you some reasons why blogging is a good idea for your business.
1. It allows you to showcase and go in depth. You can explain behind-the-scenes and share more about yourself.
2. You can develop categories that have information specific and helpful to your clients that are easily found.
3. It's a permanent record of your business. Instagram and Facebook posts get hidden but blog posts can be easily pulled up again.

These are just a few reasons; there are many more. Blogging can be as big or as little of a deal as you need it be. Maybe you start out blogging every other week and then eventually move up to weekly and then maybe twice a week. Whatever you pick, make sure it is something you can commit to consistently so your audience knows when to show up.

TIP: When you are making these plans for how to interact more with social media and blogging, make sure you keep in mind your normal life. Things will get back to normal and if you committed to posting on social media and blogging daily because you have so much time now, you won't be able to sustain that when life returns to normal. Think about what your normal schedule is like and plan your posting around that life.

One more great thing you can do during quarantine is education. If you bought courses and haven't started (or finished) them, jump in! Maybe sign up for an online course in something that you know would help you in your business.

When this is over, I don't want to look back and feel like I wasted two months of my life. I'm sure those feelings will crop up, because I'm not doing what I could or should have been doing, but I want to be able to say, "no, I didn't waste it. I did what I could." I don't want you to feel like this time was wasted either. You can still do things that will positively affect your business so that you are stronger and better able to serve your clients after this season.