(StatePoint)
Small businesses were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, with nearly 10 million American small businesses closing their doors at least temporarily over the past 15 months. Despite an uncertain economy, small business owners were resilient, creative and agile, shifting their business models to take advantage of e-commerce, many for the first time.
Before COVID-19, more than one in three small businesses had never reported a digital sale. Today, nearly seven out of eight small businesses are selling goods and services online. For the millions of resilient small businesses still operating, the mass move to online and mobile shopping ushers in a new era of opportunity. At the same time, additional resources will be needed to support them.
For over a year, small businesses have faced one unimaginable challenge after another. At a time when mobile connectivity and internet access are required to advertise services, sell products and interact with customers, no small business should be without these necessary resources.
Staying viable in a mobile-first world requires affordable connectivity.
• High-speed internet. As bad as broadband access can be for consumers who must deal with high-prices and sparse competition, it’s often actually worse for small businesses. Many business plans from traditional ISPs deliver the same service levels as residential plans, but for often twice the price.
• Digital outreach. Today, two-thirds of Facebook users visit a local business page at least once weekly. In a world that packed a decade of digital transformation into the last year, it often takes digital savvy and the ability to reach customers online to succeed. Through a new program, Facebook Advertising on Us, small businesses can receive up to three one-on-one consultations with a Facebook Marketing Expert, along with educational resources.
“By pairing fast, reliable internet with digital tools, training and marketing support, we can help small businesses connect with their communities,” says Mark D’Arcy, Facebook vice president of Global Business Marketing.
Small businesses are critical to the prosperity of local communities and the economy at-large. Thanks to new resources, they’ll be equipped to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in today’s digital world.
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