The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated millions of businesses across the country. As a real estate agent, there’s a lot you can do to help local businesses get back on their feet and push forward. 

When Texas opened up our nail and hair salons, I eagerly scheduled my appointments. The day I went into the nail salon, I was surprised to be the only one there.

What the salon’s small business owner has faced during the coronavirus pandemic is happening to millions of other businesses. She was soldiering on alone because her four employees refused to return until their unemployment benefits ran out in two to four weeks.

While her salon was closed, her husband was furloughed due to a COVID-19 outbreak at his plant. She was unable to pay her electric bill, and her electricity at home was turned off. (The turnoff violated both state and federal guidelines.) She was also turned down for an SBA loan for not being a citizen (even though she was) and, as a result, had no way to pay her rent.

Like other business owners, she didn’t realize there were other options for dealing with her situation. For example, she had been doing her business and personal banking at the same institution for over 15 years. Rather than going for an SBA loan, she could go to the bank and ask for a $5,000-$10,000 business loan to get through the crunch. 

Another option was asking her landlord to defer her current rent for another four to six weeks, and then pay back the total amount over the next six to 12 months. 

Local business owners need your real estate expertise and problem-solving ability now

Your problem-solving ability, coupled with your knowledge of real estate and lending practices, can help local business owners navigate through this crisis, whether or not they own their own home. 

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5 post-COVID-19 marketing campaigns to support local businesses

Greg McDaniel put together five different marketing campaigns that support local businesses and give back to your community, while also helping you grow your real estate business. McDaniel does a deep dive into each of the five campaigns on this week’s video. 

1. Pets and pizza

McDaniel is working with a local pizzeria and a no-kill shelter to provide at-cost pizza and to get pets adopted. The idea is to encourage people to “grab some pizza and maybe a pet!” A portion of the proceeds is donated to a local food bank. 

2. Use your normal marketing budget to do a 1-to-1 match with a local business

Whether it’s a bakery, a vacuum repair shop, local specialty market or some other small business you frequent regularly, you can do a 1-to-1 dollar match to a preset limit. Schedule a specific date and time, and promote the event. You can increase matching dollars by having your team or office join the effort. Proceeds go to a local food bank or other charity. 

3. Volunteer your superpower

What did you do before you became a real estate professional? For example, if you were a police officer, you could offer to conduct a free risk assessment of where people’s homes may be vulnerable to break-ins. If you were a contractor, you could offer to do small home repairs for those who are unable to do them. Chances are, you’ll be surprised by how many people take you up on your offer. 

4. Expert ‘how-to’ series 

Interview people in your database whose knowledge can help others you know. For example, you could invite a lender to talk about forbearance or perhaps have someone who makes pottery do a 30-minute Zoom interview on pottery-making basics. Feature a different interview every week. 

5. Local business booster campaign

Have four to eight local business owners do a Zoom video with you, especially if these businesses complement each other. Each business can offer a coupon with a code so you can track results. Ask each business owner to spend $5 a day ($35 total) to boost the video on their Facebook business page. The ripple effect of each business reposting the video and boosting it every day can be substantial. 

The actions you take may be the tipping point that determines whether a business survives or goes under. Do what you can and, as the law of reciprocity shows, the help you give to others always comes back to you. 

Bernice Ross, President and CEO of BrokerageUP and RealEstateCoach.com, is a national speaker, author and trainer with over 1,000 published articles. Learn about her broker/manager training programs designed for women, by women, at BrokerageUp.com and her new agent sales training at RealEstateCoach.com/newagent.

After 25 years, Inman Connect is coming to you. We’re transcending our legendary events in a live digital event, Inman Connect Now. Get ready for the top industry leaders plotting the path forward, new business ideas and opportunities, networking like you’ve never imagined it, and tons of exciting new magic, all straight to you. It’s all part of an epic new Inman experience, Connect Now, June 2-4, 2020. Click here to save your seat.

Bernice Ross
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