Small Business Resiliency Guide
Keeping the Lights On
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Speakers
Keith Davis
Associate Business Advisor, Washington SBDC Network
Keith Davis joined the Washington SBDC in October of 2014. In his current role as an
Associate Business Advisor, he provides training on disaster preparedness and
cybersecurity for small businesses in the state of Washington.
Prior to joining the Washington SBDC, Keith worked as an intelligence analyst in the US
Army. He has operated in the cyber and physical security industries for over a decade.
Keith has a Bachelor's in Business Management from Whitworth University and owns his
own independent small business.
Dave Meyer
Google-Supported Trainer
Dave is a speaker for the Grow with Google partner program. He has more than 20 years of
experience in marketing and communications and has presented digital marketing topics to
thousands of people across the U.S. and Canada.
Dave owns BizzyWeb, a marketing agency in Minneapolis, was named 2016 Entrepreneur of
the Year by the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce in Minneapolis, and has been recognized
by organizations including the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC),
the Association of Builders and Contractors (ABC) and many others as a thought leader in
marketing and communications.
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
What is Grow with Google?
The Grow with Google initiative offers free tools,
training, and events that help people across the
United States grow their skills, careers, and
businesses.
Visit google.com/grow to learn more.
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Who is America’s SBDC?
America’s SBDC represents America’s nationwide network of Small Business Development Centers
(SBDCs)—the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States and its
territories.
SBDCs are hosted by leading universities, colleges, state economic development agencies and private
partners, and funded in part by the United States Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small
Business Administration.
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
What is covered?
America’s SBDC will share ways to:
• Keep your business running and limit the financial impact on your business
• Develop a response plan
• Manage cash flow
• Receive further assistance from your local SBDC
Grow with Google will help you:
• Discover Google tools that can help you work and manage your business
during this time of uncertainty
• Get insights on more online and timely resources for small businesses
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Fillable Resiliency
Plan Template
Webinar Slide deck
Resiliency Workbook
Follow-up Resources
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
What is Resiliency
The creation and execution of a proactive plan to help
mitigate loss of cash flow during a business interruption, such
as the Coronavirus, enabling the business to continue.
Examples
• A retail store adjusts its marketing to increase online sales due to
social distancing
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Examples of Interruption
• Key Employees are unable to work
• Decreased foot traffic
• Supply Chain Interruption
• Event Closures
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Identify Critical Functions
What keeps business going?
• Selling products
• Manufacturing products
• Accepting payments
• Managing Cashflow
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Supporting Resources
Key Employees
• Receptionists, accountants, special licenses (CDL)
Critical Equipment
• Laths, stoves, computers
Utilities
• Electricity, gas, water, sewer,
Example:
A company’s Point of Sales (PoS) system needs reset, however the
trained employee is sick and unable to work.
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Alternative Resources
Sick Employees
• Cross train employees
• Have anyone available telecommute
• Partner with other businesses
• Hire online support
Continuation of example:
Several workers are cross trained to reset the PoS system before the
primary employee was sick. Enabling the business to continue sales
and keep the lights on.
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Identify Supplier Risk
What affects your business affects your
suppliers
Get Creative!
Find alternative sourcing
• Purchase supplies from competitors
• Look elsewhere in your community
• Places outside of your region
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Managing Cashflow
Where the SBDC can help you most!
• Items to consider
• Time is Critical!
• Ask for a deferment from your bank and landlords
• Communicate with your supplier for terms
• Lower your inventory cycle
• Decrease your accounts receivables
• Find alternative markets
• Communicate with everyone!
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15
Google My Business
Your Website
Google Ads
Three updates
you can make
now:
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Grow with Google
Update Critical Business
Information Online
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Google My Business
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● Edit business description
● Update hours and special hours
● Mark business temporarily closed
● Publish posts
● Turn on messaging
● Add managers to help
IMPORTANT UPDATES YOU CAN MAKE
Quick Tip:
Create a new business prole if you don’t already have one.
google.com/business
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EDIT BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Update business
description to reect
impoant changes.
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Update special hours,
if applicable.
UPDATE SPECIAL BUSINESS HOURS
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MARK YOUR BUSINESS TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Quick Tip!
Mark a location temporarily closed
g.co/markbusinessclosed
Click “Mark as
temporarily closed”
Click “Info”
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PUBLISH POSTS
Use posts to highlight
business updates.
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POST EXAMPLES
24
Set up messaging in the
Google My Business app to
message with customers.
USE MESSAGING TO COMMUNICATE
Download Google My
Business App for Android
or iOS
Messages
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First, click “Manage Users.”
Next, click the “+” icon in
the top right of the app.
Enter their email address
and select their role.
ADD MANAGERS TO HELP
Manage users
+
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Website
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UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE WITH CRITICAL INFORMATION
● Share announcements
● Add news & resources
● List any changes in
operations
● Provide contact
information
● Assure customers
Due to the current situation,
we have changed our hours
and our operations.
Click here to read more about
the new ways we can help you.
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Grow with Google
CREATE A FREE WEBSITE
Click website
to get staed.
Select Themes to
change the site design.
Publish website.
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Google Ads
30
UPDATE YOUR GOOGLE ADS
Modify or pause
adveising, if necessary.
Quick Tip!
Google Ads Credits Info
g.co/covid19/adcredits
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AS YOU EVALUATE AD CAMPAIGNS
● Review assets thoroughly
● Proactively communicate
business changes
● Create a helpful message
● Consider context and
tone
Quick Tip:
Updating your ad campaign
g.co/covid19/smb-ads
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HOW TO PAUSE GOOGLE ADS
● Pausing a campaign stops
ads from showing
● Choose which campaigns
to pause
● Click pause
● Re-enable or edit paused
ads at anytime
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YOUR NEXT STEPS
❏ Update Google My Business
information
❏ Mark your business temporarily
closed if applicable
❏ Update your Website
❏ Modify or pause ads
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Initial Response
Have a plan!
• Assign out tasks
• Focus your efforts
Communicate
• Talk to employees
• Reach out to the community
• Talk to your bank
Be Flexible! Plans will change!
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Recover
As the situation normalizes, so should your business
• Leverage new partnerships and lessons learned
• Capitalize on the expansion of your employee's skills
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Additional Help is Available
Looking for additional COVID-19 Resources?
-CARES Act Information (Including SBA: EIDL, PPP
Loans, etc.)
-SBDC Free Webinars
-SBDC Free Resources (Fact-sheets, worksheets,
calculators, etc.)
-COVID-19/Small Biz Study Results
-National Events & Resources
AmericasSBDC.org/coronavirus-information
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Contact your SBDC today!
There are nearly 1,000 local centers
available to provide no-cost, one-on-one
business consulting and low-cost training to
new and existing businesses.
Small business owners and aspiring
entrepreneurs can contact their local SBDCs
for business consulting and training on a
variety of topics.
Learn more about how SBDCs are helping
local businesses start, grow and thrive.
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GROW WITH GOOGLE LIVESTREAM:
Manage Your Business Remotely in Times of Unceainty
Wednesday, May 6
12PM ET / 9AM PT
Discover tools, tips and resources to help you manage your business remotely
during the COVID-19 crisis. Learn how to update critical business information
online to keep customers informed, host virtual meetings and events, and access
documents from anywhere. We’ll also share the latest resources from Google and
other partners to help support small businesses.
RSVP:
g.co/grow/smallbizlivestream
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Grow with Google Remote Work grow.google/remotework
Small Business Resources smallbusiness.withgoogle.com/news
Ads Credits g.co/covid19/adcredits
Guide to hosting viual events g.co/viualeventsguide
www.AmericasSBDC.org/protect-your-business
Curated by the Washington Small Business Development
Center, hosted statewide by Washington State University.
The contents of this workbook were compiled from multiple sources including, but
not limited to, Department of Homeland Security, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute of Standards
and Technology, U.S. Small Business Administration, and DisasterAssistance.gov.