The Upside of Being Down: How to Market Your Small Business During Coronavirus

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we’re in this together. While the country is sheltering in place, many of us are craving human connection. For this reason, now is the time for small business owners and operators to reach out and provide assurance — to those in need, to other small business owners, to your customers. Strengthening relationships and supporting each other has never been more important, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Fortunately, there may be a real financial benefit for SMBs that do. Studies show that eliminating advertising during tough times can lead to a decrease in sales. Business owners may view marketing as a discretionary cost and forgo it because they are bringing in less. But consumer and advertising spend are significant drivers of revenue, even in the midst of a downturn.

Coming out of the Great Recession…