While We Wait

PR Expert Amy Flurry is offering a series of posts focused on things we can do during this downtime that will help to position our businesses for the next stages of growth. Her first post gives advice for assessing, organizing and improving your photography.

Zoom Tutorials

Brief (1-min) videos help you learn how to use various features of the free video software Zoom. This is a great tool for hosting virtual classes, workshops and webinars. The free plan allows you to host an unlimited number of meetings for up to 100 people. These group calls are limited (on the free plan) to 40 minutes, but 1-on-1 meetings are unlimited.

Supply Chain Strategies

Thoughts from Quickbooks about how to handle issues that arise in your supply chain resulting from COVID-19. We love the idea of collaborating and thinking creatively about working with other businesses – even ones you would normally consider competition.

Free Webinar: Survival tips for small businesses during COVID-19

Presented by Quickbooks. Hosts will talk about finding new ways to engage with customers when you can’t rely on face-to-face interactions. How to generate revenue and build support, even if you’ve closed your doors temporarily.

Taking place March 31, 2020 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT

Google Ad Credits

Google is now promising $800 million in aid to small and medium-size businesses, including $340 million in free ad space, as well as matching employee charitable donations.

Ad credits are available to all small- and medium-sized businesses with active accounts over the past year. Credit notifications will appear in your Google Ads account and can be used at any point until the end of 2020 across their advertising platforms.

Weathering a Downturn

Inc. Magazine shares the top 4 pieces of advice from Mark Cuban about how to weather a downturn in business. While this isn’t necessarily new information, it’s a good point of reference if you’re not sure where to begin.

Launch an online store with Squarespace

This weekly one-hour free webinar walks you through the basics of creating an online store. Registration ahead of time is required, but you do not need a Squarespace account to access it.

What Small Business Owners Need to Know about the Cares Bill

Super helpful writeup about what the stimulus bill means for Small Businesses. Two new pieces of information we learned:

Many types of small businesses can be eligible, including sole proprietorships, independent contractors, partnerships, and non-profits.

For SBA loans, this will be a completely new type of loan that doesn’t have collateral requirements, personal guarantees, or even credit score requirements.

Keep reading for more great info.

For Disabled Creators

Volunteers are collecting information to organize a relief fund for supporting disabled activists and creators. This fund will focus on creators that have lost honorariums and sales due to conference and event cancelations.

Tips for Getting your Business Through Quarantine

Practical post from Flothemes about what to do next. Includes advice about client relations and community, legal and contract info, as well as suggestions for ways to improve your website during quarantine.

Free Shareable Graphics

Courtesy of @nataliefranke

Free creative assets to use online. Click ‘view more’ at the bottom of the page to see additional galleries. Creators ask that you tag @nataliefranke, @honeybook, @risingtidesociety and @oliviareedphoto where appropriate.

WeFunder - Fundraising Model

A different type of fundraising model through WeFunder. People want to support the businesses they care about. WeFunder allows you to raise funding from your fans.

They’ve designed a revenue share agreement that is very small business friendly. Payments are based on revenue and deferred until 2021. Reward investors with perks when business is back.

Google Hangouts Meet

Google announced that it will be providing several of it's Hangouts Meet Enterprise features to all G Suite users at no additional charge until July 1, 2020. These added features can help facilitate remote working and include:

· Larger meetings for up to 250 participants per call
· Live streaming for up to 100K viewers within domain
· Record meetings to Google Drive

If you’re unfamiliar with this software, Business Insider offers a nice summary of the service.

LIVE – Planning a Virtual Event

Thursday, March 26 at 2pm

Vimeo’s live production team offers to help navigate the shift from in-person events to virtual experiences. They’ll address how companies are evolving their event strategies to optimize live streaming experiences and how to do this under tight deadlines.

Lost Earnings Log for Freelancers

Arts freelancers who may have lost work due to COVID-19-related cancellation can download Laura McSweeney’s free Lost Earnings Log template to track canceled contracts and financial losses. The form can be used for freelancers to apply for government or private funds as they are made available. 

Arts & Culture Leaders of Color Fund

This small emergency fund can provide up to $200 for people of color that are either working artists or art administration and are affected by COVID-19. Fill out the linked google form to apply.

Twenty Summers Emergency Fund

Twenty Summers is launching an Emergency Arts Fund (EAF) for artists and arts organizations facing unmanageable financial loss as a result of the Coronavirus. EAF is the first nationwide initiative that supports both artists and arts organizations, gives artists a chance to promote their work from home, and stimulates and connects art-lovers during a time of social isolation. 

Funding for artists (up to $500) and arts organizations (up to $1k).

For Painters, Printmakers and Sculptors

The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant program is intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation. Each grant is given as one-time assistance for a specific emergency.

No deadlines for this grant, and typical recipients are awarded $5,000.

Artist's Fellowship Grants

The Artists’ Fellowship provides emergency aid to professional visual artists and their families in times of sickness, natural disaster, bereavement or unexpected extreme hardship. The “need” must be current and documented, not anticipated. 

On-Call Advisors

Plywood Presents is connecting social entrepreneurs with advisors for 15-minute coaching sessions to help founders navigate specific tensions during this critical time. (Scroll to middle of the email for details)