​​​(Tap/Click YouTube Icon To Subscribe)

This episode focuses on "secret" resources that can make your VIP's feel extra-special, expand your exposure, showcase your differentiation, give you super-topical tools for the current climate + properly prepare you if you're planning your exit. From Instagram options to on-demand webinars, we have you covered with recently-created resources for the immense unpredictability you're navigating.

Huge thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, the Santa Cruz County Small Business Development Center. If doing business in Monterey County, follow the link, but there are 17 spread across Norcal so tap AskSBDC.com to find yours.
​
TIME STAMPS
1:10 THREE SECRETS TO BATTLE BIG BOX
- HOW TO USE INSTAGRAM "CLOSE FRIENDS"
- WHAT 90% OF BIZ OWNERS DON'T DO ONLINE, THAT YOU SHOULD
- CREATE YOUR OWN INSTAGRAM STORY STICKER
- VIDEO TIP BARELY ANYONE USES

4:47 ON-DEMAND SMALL BUSINESS WEBINARS
5:45 HOW TO PLAN YOUR SMALL BUSINESS EXIT STRATEGY

This segment of the episode focuses on three tactics that can assist you in driving more business your way. In the video, we show you how to access "Close Friends" on Instagram's settings area, which has all sorts of ways to treat your VIP's like royalty. Whether it's private Stories, videos, DM's, the possibilities are endless.

When it comes to the tactic 90% of business owners don't do, it's as simple as including a super-succinct, wordsmith'd phrase that reminds viewers of your differentiating factors as a "footer" in all your posts. From FREE, same-day delivery to face-timer personal shopping, consistency is king and queen. Related, is the one resource we mentioned, but didn't have time to walk you through, but fortunately, it's super user-friendly, it is Canva.com to take those "differentiators" you have and create your own fun, memorable sticker that you can then easily insert into your Instagram stories, and via the "Facebook share" can appear there too. Be sure to watch the video closely as we walk you through the steps.

And lastly is the video tactic that not too many businesses do, and that's simply describing why your products and services are perfect for their customers. From the ingredients and colors available to how the fabrics feel, make it easy for your viewers to learn how you can make their world that much better. Here's a sample video from Barceloneta, a Santa Cruz restaurant that's so engaging on video...in this post, it's about sherry, and even though I'm not a sherry drinker, I now want to try it, watch this clip for some inspiration...

We love the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) as they produce and offer so many legitimate resources for small businesses, including these NEW, super-relevant webinars available at Learn.NorcalSBDC.org. Stay tuned, it sounds like there will be many more courses added soon!

Believe it or not, there are a plethora of small business owners who have made the decision to pass down their business to family, sell, or purely close up show in this crazy business climate. Unfortunately, many of them are going about the process without anyone guiding them. If you're in this position, please be sure to tap into the professional advisors at your local Small Business Development Center, here are the links to find yours here in Northern CA:

Santa Cruz County Small Business Development Center
Monterey County SBDC
Any of the Other 17 spread across Norcal 
AskSBDC.com

​​WANT MORE VIDEOS, HERE ARE SOME FROM OUR VLOGS PAGE

​​(Tap/Click YouTube Icon To Subscribe)

The unpredictable nature of doing business in 2020 is obvious, but I want to ensure you're taking a STRATEGIC APPROACH to your business and its ever-important marketing that basically determines your online + offline customer flow. I know marketing can be a headache, we even list out our TOP 10 frustrations, but we also provide the 1-way along with resources to minimize all of them + an easy 1-PAGE strategic business plan process to ready your business for anything that comes your way.

Huge thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, the Santa Cruz County Small Business Development Center. If doing business in Monterey County, follow the link, but there are 17 spread across Norcal so tap AskSBDC.com to find yours.

TIME STAMPS
0:57 TOP 10 MARKETING FRUSTRATIONS
2:28 HOW TO FIX ALL YOUR MARKETING FRUSTRATIONS
3:12 HOW TO EASILY CREATE YOUR COVID BUSINESS PLAN
4:31 YOUR COMPLETE MARKETING PLAN WALK THROUGH

HOW TO CREATE A 1-PAGE COVID BUSINESS PLAN

Meet Keith Holtaway, our region's premier small business consultant who is best known for being the Founder of Pizza My Heart, but has since helped hundreds + hundreds of small businesses thrive + survive. Everything that he mentions about the 1-Page Lean Canvas process in this video can be found HERE in the "Lean Planning" section.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR MARKETING PLAN

If You're Serious About The Process, Watch This One First On Developing Your Target Customers...

If You're Already Dialed in the Target Customer Department, Then Watch This Video Below + Read the Caption Below Too...

Ok, so you have your business plans, A, B and possibly C all set. It's time to craft your marketing plan to help achieve those business goals you've developed. While this video was recorded in late 2017, obviously way before COVID, all of the principles still apply as to how to create your plan for whatever time period you need to map out. Remember, the principles don't change, but it's the creativity + strategy to catch your target customers' attention that changes by the week right now.

​Below, you'll find the "Marketing Tracker" to download, which allows you to plug in all the fantastically-creative strategies you've dreamed up. If you need some assistance in this department, whether you need that ultra-creative thought or completely want to revamp your marketing program from scratch, just let me know...that's what I do, day in and day out for local businesses.
​

​WANT MORE VIDEOS, HERE ARE SOME FROM OUR VLOGS PAGE

(Our Most Recent Ones Are Holiday Focused)

​GET VIDEO RELEASES + RESOURCES IN YOUR INBOX

​(Tap/Click YouTube Icon To Subscribe)

Greater Bay Area small business owners, for those of you in retail, the next 120 days are ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL, watch the video to learn why. And we know it's extremely tough trying to find a legitimate, local resource where a real person and/or localized assistance can help you navigate your precise business situation. 

​This episode spotlights THREE options listed below PLUS we meet Rory Cox, Co-Owner of  San Francisco's YUBALANCE Neighborhood Fitness Studios + Founder of the San Francisco Small Business Alliance. Follow Rory on a quick tour of the state of San Francisco small business + how he has given local business owners a voice that hasn't been heard since COVID-19 started, by the powers that be.

Huge thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, the Santa Cruz County Small Business Development Center. If doing business in Monterey County, follow the link, but there are 17 spread across Norcal so tap AskSBDC.com to find yours.

TIME STAMPS
0:51 120 DAYS UNTIL YOU CLOSE PERMANENTLY?
2:10 TOP 3 LEGIT, LOCAL "REAL PERSON" RESOURCES
4:35 STATE OF SAN FRANCISCO SMALL BUSINESS
6:33 HOW TO GET YOUR SMALL BUSINESS VOICE HEARD

THE NEXT 120 DAYS ARE CRITICAL

For those of you in retail, the next 120 days are ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL for your survival as I explain in this episode, but I also want to supply you with some resources to make sure you make it through. Below are some recent episodes that will help you navigate one of your most important holiday seasons.

​OUR TOP 3 LEGITIMATE RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP, NOW

We get it, there aren't too many local resources that can provide the personalized + localized help your business needs to navigate COVID and all that's involved in not becoming a statistic. 

RESOURCE ONE: SBDC's
Ours is the Santa Cruz County Small Business Development Center, but if you're doing business in Monterey County, follow the link, but there are 17 spread across Norcal so visit AskSBDC.com to find yours for FREE assistance in just about every business discipline from HR to E-Commerce, plus they have a plethora of webinars on every subject imaginable.

RESOURCE TWO: LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICES
Unfortunately, we couldn't find a super resource or directory, but THIS ONE is a good start, but searching for your city or county's EDO will likely get you what you need. Many of the Greater Bay Area's EDO's are on top of providing amazing programs so check out your local EDO!

RESOURCE THREE: BRYCEROOT.COM
Just use the search box below to search any marketing or business topic you'd like to get localized advice on as Bryce has created quite a library of interviews and resources from right here in the Bay Area.

WANT MORE VIDEOS, HERE ARE SOME FROM OUR VLOGS PAGE

​GET VIDEO RELEASES + RESOURCES IN YOUR INBOX

Ok Greater Bay Area Small Biz Owners, it's time to get those creative juices flowing! For many of you, Q4 makes up 30-50% of annual sales, so a lot is on the line. Here are the TOP 12 local biz owners who rock Instagram + Bryce has brainstormed how FOUR different types of businesses can get some of that Big Box market share back with just a little creativity.

We mention quite a few other episodes throughout this edition, so be sure to check out our VLOGS page to find the segment via our SEARCH BAR.

Here are the rock stars in completely random order, you'll want to watch the episode to see them in action and learn why they're a top pick of Bryce's, click their links below.
@tipsy_santacruz
@sanmateo_sportsnutrition
@shophomework
@11thhourcoffee
@thelumpiacompany
@ventanasurfboards
@nachobiz831
@ccsigndesign
@jjthecpa
@botanicandluxe
@yosowellness
@juicecolg

​BTW, Bryce has interviewed most of these success stories, so be sure to check out our VLOGS page to watch their story, tips and resources they share for going BIG.

Huge thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, the Santa Cruz County Small Business Development Center. If doing business in Monterey County, follow the link, but there are 17 spread across Norcal so tap AskSBDC.com to find yours.

TIME STAMPS
1:39 TOP 12 ONLINE ROCKSTAR BIZ OWNERS
5:47 HOW TO PUMP UP YOUR HOLIDAY MARKETING:
6:09 RETAIL W/ NO E-COMMERCE
7:30 TOY + ALL RETAIL PRODUCT STORES
8:42 FOOD BUSINESSES
9:50 CLOTHING BUSINESSES