Small Business Grants Now Available To Victorians

Small Business Grants Now Available To Victorians

  • On : August 25, 2020

The City of Melbourne Council has announced that small business grants of up to $5,000 for Victorians doing it tough.

The pandemic has left many businesses all around the world struggling to survive. In particular, as a result of the second wave and its corresponding lockdown, small businesses in Victoria are continuing to feel the financial pressure that weighs so heavily on their shoulders.

Before the crisis, small businesses accounted for nearly half of all private-sector jobs which directly contributed to the economic health of a locality – rich in businesses that spanned a variety of sectors, namely retail, architecture, professional services, cafes, building and construction. In order to jump-start the economy, the Victorian government is offering various grants, vouchers and assistance programs, as a step to ensuring businesses are able to get through the current climate.

Business transformation grants packages of up to $5,000 are now available for small businesses located in CBD, Docklands, World Trade Centre and Southbank. These grants are focused on “brick and mortar” businesses that have been impacted by decreased foot traffic. Grants are open to all sectors, excluding hospitality.

Grant applications are now open with a deadline of Thursday (3rd September 2020) at 11:59 PM.

As a marketing and technology-based company in Victoria, we are partnering with businesses to navigate the next year. The path ahead is unchartered and a roadmap to achieving sales and revenue goals is crucial. Leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning, Robotic Marketer is able to help businesses adapt to the changing environment for sustainable growth.

Here’s how we can help your business:

  • Marketing Workshop – A 3-hour information gathering session with a designated marketing consultant designed to be a free-flow and intelligent discussion on the current position of your company and where it should be in 12 months. You also benefit from experiencing a world-first technology in action. Pretty cool stuff!
  • Marketing Strategy – Robotic Marketer then produces a (comprehensive) 40+ page marketing strategy complete with everything needed for a small business to navigate the market and get on the right path to successful outcomes. This blueprint is designed to keep small businesses on track and focused on the end goal – business acceleration.
  • Marketing Consultation – You then attend a 1-hour consulting session with a marketing manager to discuss the strategy, implementable next steps and time frame for each step. The session will be an opportunity for you to receive a review of your business’ current marketing performance and how that coupled with externalities have affected the bottom line.
  • Implementation Services– Implementing a marketing strategy can be a daunting task to many, which is why businesses are provided access to Robotic Marketer’s team of marketers, website developers, graphic designers, digital, social media, lead generation and public relations professionals that combine the use of martech with industry knowledge to accelerate the implementation of marketing tactics aligned to the marketing strategy  – acting as your outsourced marketing department.

At the end of the day, no one can go about this alone and everyone is in this together. So, why not let Robotic Marketer be your perfect marketing colleague.

Let’s get started.

The Importance of Marketing for the Healthcare industry in the time of COVID-19

The Importance of Marketing for the Healthcare industry in the time of COVID-19

  • On : April 7, 2020

In a crisis situation such as the COVID-19 outbreak, effective communication strategies are crucial.

Given the rapid spread of the virus, timely and consistent information must be distributed internally for staff and externally for patients and the general public.

For staff, regular communication is necessary as it will help foster a positive working relationship, which will consequently improve efficiency and morale. Conversely, external stakeholders are relying on your communication for guidance on how to protect their health and wellbeing.

 

Communicating with employees:

The COVID-19 outbreak is placing extreme strain on most industries, especially the healthcare sector. Employees are your most important asset and act as ambassadors to the general public, so if your message isn’t clearly conveyed to your own employees, communication to the community will be even more challenging. Further, it is the company’s responsibility to put employee’s minds at ease during this stressful period, by providing frequent, clear and hopeful messages.

For effective communication with employees, business in the health sector should:

  • Communicate information in a location that is accessible and visible by all employees. In a healthcare environment, this may include noticeboards, reception desks, or even virtual locations such as online social-media groups.
  • Explain why certain decisions were made, to demystify the situation and provide clarity for employees.
  • Ensure regular and consistent communication to put your employees’ minds at ease and reduce anxiety.
  • Since information and guidelines are constantly being released by government agencies, communicate them to your staff in a timely manner rather than waiting for the next release.

 

Communicating with patients and the general public:

External stakeholders such as patients and the general public rely on communication from the healthcare sector for guidelines and advice on how to cope during the outbreak. In contrast to employees, companies do not have the same access of communication with this group. It is crucial that the community are aware of what healthcare services and facilities are available to them and therefore effective communication must be ensured. The following tips can help ensure your messages are conveyed to the public successfully:

  • Develop a plan: Having a response plan in place will allow for prompt messaging to the general public. For example, developing messages based on new government guidelines should be a part of your plan. Automating these messages may be appropriate, as you will be able to get your messages out as early as possible to keep your customers up-to-date.
  • Reveal as much information as possible: It is important to observe the crisis from the perspective of the customer. With the great uncertainty brought about by the current COVID-19 outbreak, it is easy for individuals to experience great anxiety and frustration. As a result, it is important for your company to communicate as much information as possible, rather than leaving the community in limbo.
  • Cease non-essential communication: Press releases, irrelevant e-mails or community news should be paused until things calm down. Your important messages would otherwise be lost within all the other announcements. Save this content for when the outbreak is controlled, so consumers have more time to engage with it.

 

The implementation of an effective communication strategy during the current COVID-19 outbreak is necessary for your business; not only for your employees, but the public as a whole. It is the company’s responsibility to put employee’s minds at ease during this stressful period, by providing frequent, clear and hopeful messages. Similarly, it is crucial that the community are aware of what healthcare services and facilities are available to them and therefore constructive communication must be ensured.