Hey Dawn! Here is your copy of the May 2020 edition of AIM HIGH!

May 2020 Edition

Positioning Your Business For Success In The Current Economy

by Dawn Varga

May 15, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has disabled businesses worldwide. It is tempting to put digital strategies on the back burner in order cut costs, but experts say that making a digital investment now will put your company in a much better position once the pandemic ceases.

Companies that continue to invest in their digital strategy will emerge more competitive. According to Steve Bates, Principal at KPMG (one of the leading accounting and professional services firms in the U.S.),“there is going to be a tidal wave of spending and you want to be in position to take advantage of it.”

Now is the time to move to an all-encompassing digital strategy that will engage consumers in the “new normal” way of doing business. In-store visits and transactions will not fully comeback to what they were prior to this crisis. Consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable with researching and purchasing products and services online.

Be proactive and market your brand and your products where consumers are shopping. Showing up in online searches (organic and paid) and engaging via social media channels are absolute necessities. But you also need to make sure your company stands out from the competition by having a great online reputation, fantastic customer reviews as well as by offering digital communication conveniences like text and video to make your sales and service processes personal and customer-focused.

It is time to get out of your comfort zone and make the shift to a more digital-centric way of doing business. One thing the coronavirus has succeeded in doing is “forcing” companies to change the way they do business. Even before the crisis, the shift to digital was already happening. Anything that can be done online (or with minimal contact) has been boosted to the forefront. Quoting an article from the Washington Post, “the shift from real to virtual suddenly has gone into overdrive.”

With several digital marketing services starting at just $99/month, OnTarget Digital Services can help your company position itself ahead of the competition without breaking the bank. We would love to set up a quick product presentation and show you how we can assist with your company's online presence.

Let us work together to position your business for success!

Contact us at (951) 394-1952 or info@ontargetdigitalservices.com

OnTarget Digital Services is here to help as we all face the economic challenges caused by the pandemic.

We hope that your businesses are not too impacted during this difficult time.

Please keep yourself, your employees and your families safe and healthy.

Tina Inkrote and Dawn Varga

Managing Partners

OnTarget Digital Services

4 Strategies to Help Your Business Recover From Coronavirus

Article from entrepreneur.com

March 20, 2020

COVID-19 is upending companies large and small, but here's how you can limit the damage.

The coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on the global economy. Air travel is being hit hard, sports leagues and big events are being canceled, countries are putting up travel restrictions to try to keep the virus outside their borders, and public health officials and hospitals are bracing for the worst. In times of crisis, it can be hard to stay calm and be optimistic. Fortunately, for entrepreneurs and business leaders, staying calm under pressure is part of the job description.

By taking proactive steps now, you can put your business in a more secure position to stay strong and recover faster once the crisis subsides. In fact, China, the country where the virus first emerged, is already showing signs of economic recovery. Here are a few key strategies and insights to help your business recover from coronavirus.

Think about how coronavirus affects customers

Depending on what industry you’re in, your customers might be having some specific new pain points related to coronavirus. Think strategically about how the pandemic is affecting your customers, what is keeping them up at night and how you can help. Then you can adjust your sales pitch and design your marketing around how to address these specific challenges and worries. For example, are your customers….

Worried about supply-chain disruptions?
Worried about how to manage employees in an environment where everyone might need to work from home?
Worried about travel restrictions?
Struggling with general market uncertainty and slowdown in demand?
Wondering how to manage their cash flow?
Facing a shortage of key inventory or supplies driven by consumers panic-buying and stocking up?

All of these business challenges can be exacerbated by a crisis like coronavirus. Your job as a business owner is to figure out how to re-position your products and services to be helpful and address the specific pain points that your customers are confronting now. READ MORE...

Spaghetti al Limone With Asparagus

Recipe by Evan Funke at Felix Trattoria

CLICK TO VIEW ON BONAPPETIT.COM

Ingredients:

1 lb. spaghetti

⅔ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 large bunch asparagus, trimmed, thinly sliced on a deep diagonal

4 garlic cloves, smashed

4 3"-long strips lemon zest

½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

8 large basil leaves

2 lemons, halved

2 oz. Parmesan, finely grated (about 1 cup), plus more for serving

Instructions:

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1½ cups pasta cooking liquid.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high until shimmering. Add asparagus, season with salt, and cook, stirring often, until just beginning to take on color, about 1 minute. Add garlic, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and let sit until pasta is done.

Add pasta and basil to pot with asparagus mixture and return to medium-high heat. Squeeze juice from both lemons into pot and add 2 oz. Parmesan and 1 cup reserved pasta cooking liquid. Cook, tossing vigorously and adding more pasta cooking liquid if needed, until sauce is creamy and emulsified and pasta is coated, about 1 minute. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Remove and discard garlic.

Divide pasta among bowls, placing a lemon strip in each, and top with more Parmesan.