Coping vs Thriving: Online Marketing During a Pandemic
SHOWNOTES
There’s no roadmap for where we are today. I know we’re all wondering “what do I do now?” I am too. That’s why I recorded this episode.
First, I wanted to tell you that you are not alone. Everyone of us is affected by world events that we can’t control. Second, I don’t have it all figured out, but I have decided on a few things that are working for me. I outlined those on today’s episode, and I hope you find it helpful.
I share the 2 guiding questions that help me make business decisions; especially those related to marketing and selling.
“We’re in This Together” hashtags are everywhere and it’s encouraging. As hopeful as that is, I also know there will be days when uncertainty is going to show up. When it does ask for help, reach out to someone you trust.
I’ve made a list of free resources that you and your family can use while we’re all at home and our schedules are out the window.
I encourage you to continue to serve your audience. Keep showing up. Be sensitive, be real and let people know you care.
DOWNLOAD THE RESOURCE LIST BELOW
Resources:
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
If you are experiencing loss of job or income, please see this New York Times article for assistance
College Students in need of STORAGE SPACE, U-Haul is offering free 30 day storage
IRS is providing tax relief for some affected families
Find your state's unemployment benefits signup page here
Banks offering assistance to their customers
A pretty comprehensive list of financial relief options for people working in specific industries or states. Seems to mostly be interest-free loans and grants.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR WORKERS
Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources
Assistance for Service Workers
Assistance for those in Student Loan Crisis
Assistance for Bartenders
Assistance for Restaurant Workers
Assistance for Musicians
Assistance for Authors
Assistance for CoVid-19 Positive tested Restaurant Workers
Assistance for Domestic Workers
Assistance for Freelance Artists
Assistance for our Military and Families
Assistance to all Veterans, Active Duty, Reserves and National Guard
Assistance for Painters, Printmakers, and Sculptors
BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, MAGAZINES
Overdrive Most libraries have accounts here that allow you to check out eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital comics, manga, newspapers, magazines and stream movies and television shows for free. Most libraries also have ways for you to sign up for a digital card so you can create an account online.
Standardebooks.org has free e-books for download that are high-quality. -
https://openlibrary.org for tons of book options.
You can now download over 300,000 books from the NYPL for free
some libraries offer other services, like Hoopla, Flipster...; check your local library’s website (need a library card number usually)
Project Gutenberg is a digital library of books that have all entered the public domain, meaning many classics such as Shakespeare, Moby Dick, and A Tale of Two Cities are available for free as ebooks. -
Your favorite authors host story time online #OperationStorytime
STREAMING FOR MOVIES, DOCUMENTARIES, AND TELEVISION
If your library offers it, you can get a trove of documentaries through https://www.kanopy.com/ - u/FIREDrillTW
Shudder the horror streaming platform is offering a free 30 days
Sling, an internet alternative to television, is offering free trials
The NFL, NBA, and NHL are offering free league passes and streaming of games from other seasons
Crunchyroll offers many, many anime free without an account (mostly subtitled), while Funimation offers quite a number of its anime for free if you sign up for an account (mostly English dubbed).- u/Unique_Emerald_Sol_I
Here’s How to Get in on Extended Free Trials from Your Favorite Streaming Services
A list of free trials for streaming services
Watch Netflix with your fellow quarantined with this Chrome Extension
If you have internet access you can watch all local television channels for free with this not-for-profit service: https://www.locast.org/ This free streaming service is available for the cities of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Sioux City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.
OTHER MEDIA ENTERTAINMENT
The Met Opera is offering free performance streams
Mayhaps a symphony
The fascinating world of the Marble Olympics (Hazers forever!)
15 Broadway Plays and Shows you can watch free.
BroadwayHD has a free 7 day trial allowing you to enjoy Broadway hits from home
Seattle Symphony Announces Free Video Broadcasts and Livestreams
Metropolitan Opera to Offer Up ‘Nightly Met Opera Streams’
HOBBIES, LEARNING, TOOLS, TIME PASSERS, AND EXERCISE
Duolingo is a free app that teaches you other languages!
Affinity, an art studio alternative to Adobe, is offering a free 90 day trial
The YMCA is offering free online classes and include some of the Y’s most popular group exercise classes like Boot Camp, Barre, Yoga and low impact programs for seniors
JSTOR is allowing free access to its articles even if you aren't a university student right now
Down dog yoga is offering free classes on their app!
Planet Fitness is hosting daily workout routines on their YouTube channel. Live stream starts tonight at 7pm EST.
Peloton, an exercise app, is offering a free 90 days
Minimoog, a digital synthesizer app, is now free.
Adult coloring book pages for printout
KORG is a music-making app that normally costs $20, but is free until March 31st
450 Ivy League online courses for adults
Yale’s most popular course is free The Science of Well-being
Zencastr is a website that helps you start your own podcast. Right now it is offering free services due to the virus.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is offering free lessons
Creativebug offers free hobby classes through many libraries. Check to see if your library has an account with them!
https://www.zooniverse.org/ Participate in various historical transcription projects to help scientists & researchers. Some projects available in their app. Everything from transcribing Civil War records to looking at photos from nature cams and marking if and which animal actually set it off.
VIRTUAL TOURS AND LIVE WEBCAMS
Tons of different art and museum galleries
Get a dose of nature or wildlife from all over the world. There are numerous live webcams, many are educational and others are simply fascinating and entertaining. https://explore.org/livecams/ Cornell Lab Bird Cams -
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is doing a Home Safari live on their FB page at 3 PM every week day. They highlight an animal each day and incorporate an at-home activity to keep children learning at home.
The Houston Zoo and San Diego Zoo has various webcams
Tour a real farm!
National Park virtual tours
Virtual Reality experiences
The Georgia Aquarium Has Live Cams So You Can Go Under The Sea At Home
Other resources: