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General Comments - Product Review Essay Week 7

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Comments for BCK27- Product Review Essay Week 7

Week 10 Reading Activities

WEEK8 for BCK23

WEEK 11 for BCK22 and BCK25

----> Please read this passage (again) and understand all the main points in it.


Marketing in the Age of Coronavirus

Author: Matt Brennan— March 23, 2020

We look outside, and things are quiet and eerie. Companies of all sizes have sent their employees to work from home. Some remote workers, myself included, have even gained a junior “coworker” due to school closings. The coronavirus has ushered in some strange times for all of us, but we can make the most of it.

What I’ve noticed in the last few days, is that many business owners and executives seem motivated to improve their marketing. And that’s an awesome way to work on your business when you’re limited in other capacities. Here are some content-specific suggestions for marketing in the age of coronavirus. Maybe you can come out the other side with something stronger.

Some Ideas for Marketing in the Age of Coronavirus

Perform a Content Audit – Think about your company website. This serves as the home base for your business and provides all the key information that a customer will see the moment that they search for you online. So, does your page content best reflect who you are, and the services you offer? In other words, are there products or services you provide that you don’t have page content for?

Now is the time to address that by creating new content. You can also double-check to make sure that your images look sharp, the links on your website are operational, and that the current content makes sense. Read through your website with a critical eye, and make sure that you make edits as you see fit.

Keep Blogging – This is still one of the best ways to create search engine friendly content. I always tell my clients that it helps you to cast a wider net. There are plenty of industry phrases that won’t come up naturally in the content of your web pages.

For instance, if your company manufactures medical devices, you may not write about the health conditions they can be applied to, or the best ways to use the product. A blog can help you educate your customers. It can help position you when people are searching for services within your industry.

Keep blogging. Keep producing quality content. Past all the regular reasons, the world needs interesting content right now.

Try Something New – Now is the perfect chance to try and reach people in a new way. If you’ve been waiting to open a new social media channel, start a podcast, or otherwise find a new way to reach your customers, this is the time to do it. Experiment and find your groove in new ways.

Become a Digital Connector – Just because many of us are working from home, and meeting in person isn’t encouraged, doesn’t mean you have to be a hermit. Now is a good time to hop on the phone, try out Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Skype, or try any other form of digital communication.

Watch What You Say – We have to watch our messaging in a time like this. Right before they canceled the NCAA tournament I found a “March Fever” ad in my local newspaper. Even though it was arguably early in the turn of events, it didn’t sound good. It’s probably time for marketers of all stripes to retire the phrase “going viral” as a way to talk about the most popular content.

This Isn’t Forever

What we’re experiencing now, it’s temporary. It may not be easy in many cases, but we’ll come out the other end stronger. Now is the time to work on marketing in the age of coronavirus. It’s the perfect time to strategically build your business and focus on the strength of your connections. If you have questions or would like to talk about what that means in your particular instance, contact me today!

Adopted from: https://www.business2community.com/marketing/marketing-in-the-age-of-coronavirus-02294690

---> Complete the following sentences, using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the Reading Passage for each answer.

1. The writer suggests to ……………………… and create interesting content to educate customers and to help positioning the business in search engines.

2. The best way to reach customers is through …………………. channel, and the time to try something new.

3. To improve communication and become a ……………., a person can try Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Skype, or try any other form of digital communication.

4. We have to be really careful with our ………………………………in a time like this.

5. Coronavirus, lockdowns and hardships will not last …………………………….

6. Now is the time to work on ………………………………. in the age of coronavirus.

Week 9 Reading Activity

WEEK8 for BCK23

WEEK 10 for BCK27, BCK22 and BCK25

Taken from: Market Leader 3rd Edition Business English Course Book 2012, Unit 10

Read the article above and say if these statements are true(T), false (F) or not stated (NS).

No.	Statement	True(T), False(F), Not Stated(NS)
1	Ruby and Geraldine were both invited to a meeting.
2	Ruby felt part of the decision-making process.
3	Ruby and Geraldine both left their meetings in shock.
4	The companies that Ruby and Geraldine work for are both having problems.
5	Geraldine enjoyed her meeting with Ruby.
6	Communication was better in Geraldine's company than Ruby's.
7	After the meeting, Ruby was invited to a staff party.
8	Geraldine's company focused on reduction.
9	Geraldine is looking for another job.

Week 8 Reading Activities

WEEK8 for BCK23

WEEK 9 for BCK27, BCK22 and BCK25

----> Please read this passage and understand all the main points in it.


Unit 9 : Marketing in the Age of Coronavirus

Author: Matt Brennan— March 23, 2020

We look outside, and things are quiet and eerie. Companies of all sizes have sent their employees to work from home. Some remote workers, myself included, have even gained a junior “coworker” due to school closings. The coronavirus has ushered in some strange times for all of us, but we can make the most of it.

What I’ve noticed in the last few days, is that many business owners and executives seem motivated to improve their marketing. And that’s an awesome way to work on your business when you’re limited in other capacities. Here are some content-specific suggestions for marketing in the age of coronavirus. Maybe you can come out the other side with something stronger.

Some Ideas for Marketing in the Age of Coronavirus

Perform a Content Audit – Think about your company website. This serves as the home base for your business and provides all the key information that a customer will see the moment that they search for you online. So, does your page content best reflect who you are, and the services you offer? In other words, are there products or services you provide that you don’t have page content for?

Now is the time to address that by creating new content. You can also double-check to make sure that your images look sharp, the links on your website are operational, and that the current content makes sense. Read through your website with a critical eye, and make sure that you make edits as you see fit.

Keep Blogging – This is still one of the best ways to create search engine friendly content. I always tell my clients that it helps you to cast a wider net. There are plenty of industry phrases that won’t come up naturally in the content of your web pages.

For instance, if your company manufactures medical devices, you may not write about the health conditions they can be applied to, or the best ways to use the product. A blog can help you educate your customers. It can help position you when people are searching for services within your industry.

Keep blogging. Keep producing quality content. Past all the regular reasons, the world needs interesting content right now.

Try Something New – Now is the perfect chance to try and reach people in a new way. If you’ve been waiting to open a new social media channel, start a podcast, or otherwise find a new way to reach your customers, this is the time to do it. Experiment and find your groove in new ways.

Become a Digital Connector – Just because many of us are working from home, and meeting in person isn’t encouraged, doesn’t mean you have to be a hermit. Now is a good time to hop on the phone, try out Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Skype, or try any other form of digital communication.

Watch What You Say – We have to watch our messaging in a time like this. Right before they canceled the NCAA tournament I found a “March Fever” ad in my local newspaper. Even though it was arguably early in the turn of events, it didn’t sound good. It’s probably time for marketers of all stripes to retire the phrase “going viral” as a way to talk about the most popular content.

This Isn’t Forever

What we’re experiencing now, it’s temporary. It may not be easy in many cases, but we’ll come out the other end stronger. Now is the time to work on marketing in the age of coronavirus. It’s the perfect time to strategically build your business and focus on the strength of your connections. If you have questions or would like to talk about what that means in your particular instance, contact me today!

Adopted from: https://www.business2community.com/marketing/marketing-in-the-age-of-coronavirus-02294690

---> Please choose the correct answer

1     What is the meaning of the word “eerie”?

A.   An echo that is heard from a far

B.   Earrings

C.   Strange and frightening

D.   A quiet place

2     The phrase junior “co-worker” can be referred as

A.   The writer’s child

B.   A younger worker in the writer’s organisation

C.   A lower rank worker in the writer’s working place

D.   The writer’s pet

3     The word “ushered” has the same meaning as

A.   An impact

B.   led

C.   A person in a wedding event

D.   A leader

4     What is the best way to perform a content audit in one’s website?

A.   make sure that your images look sharp.

B.   the links on your website are operational, and that the current content makes sense.

C.   Double check and read through your website with a critical eye

D All of the above

Week 7 Reading Activities

(This is for classes within 3-7 May 2020)

----> Please read this passage and understand all the main points in it.

Unit 8 : Small-Business Survival Plan for Dealing with the Coronavirus

These tips can help guide you and your business during difficult times.

Mark J. Kohler

Author, Attorney and CPA

It’s safe to say that this current crisis is like none other faced by small business owners in the recent past, and it’s certainly daunting trying to tackle all of the unique issues it presents. Regrettably, the predominant voice we hear hasn't offered a lot of specific steps to take or advice on how to save our business, let alone come out on top.

Below are several issues to address with detailed considerations and action items that might make the difference to keep your doors open and calm your employees and customers.

Immediate financial triage.

The greatest concern for most business owners, at least initially, is how am I going to pay my bills this week, next week, and how long will this last. Of course, this is a very difficult question to answer and moreover, most business owners are facing a reduction of supplies, capitals or even workers. Here are some important steps to take on the financial front as soon as possible:

●        Create a cash-flow budget listing with fixed versus variable costs. Fixed costs will generally keep the doors open and must be paid. Create a list of priorities about which ones are the most important and try to set money aside based on the timing of when they are due. 

●        Analyse cuts to unnecessary costs that aren’t producing revenue or securing key business functions.

●        Layoffs, terminations or furloughs of employees. Remember, your employees can be one of your greatest assets, and if you cut too deep, you may not get them back. 

●        Layoffs are considered to be a temporary request for an employee to take unpaid time off. These employees will most likely seek unemployment benefits, but our hope is to have them back as soon as possible.

●        Furloughs can be a variety of things and tailored to your situation. It may be that employees work at a reduced rate, maybe they don’t work at all and stay home, they may be paid a minimal amount, or might be paid fully at some point in the future. However, don’t ask employees to work for free — you will probably face problems for doing so under state law. 

●        Terminations are just what they sound like. You’re letting someone go and they probably won’t be coming back. They’ll be more than likely seek unemployment benefits as well. 

●        Find additional financial sources of revenue. Be creative in your sales and marketing (more on this below).

●        Consider any savings or resources, including possible loans (more on this below).

Tax payments.

Taxpayers have an unprecedented tax payment extension from the Fed for 90 days, until July 15th. This is up to individuals and small business owners of up to $1 million in taxes owed, and up to $10 million for C-Corporations. However, taxpayers still need to file their taxes or extensions. There are penalties if you don’t file, but again, no penalties or interest if you don’t pay (for up to 90 days). Taxpayers might also be able to find some extra money by filing their taxes, because there’s a good chance they could have a refund. 

Important note: Don’t fall victim to thinking you can wait to pay payroll taxes. If you are an employer, those payroll taxes are considered sacred funds by the government. You’re playing with fire! Payment of these taxes is not extended and penalties and interest are significant for not paying payroll taxes.

Disaster Assistance Loan.

The Federal government through the Small Business Administration has authorized loans to small business owners of up to $2 million. These are mean to be used for business debt, covering payroll, costs to operate the business.

On the face of it, this may seem like a safe or logical choice. However, remember this is still a loan that has to be paid back. If your business is already barely getting by, it may not be the time to do into more debt. Maybe it’s wise to close the doors entirely and re-open in the future. Taking such drastic action doesn't make you a failure. 

Employees and your talent.

It’s not all about cutting costs with payroll. It’s important for business owners to show leadership. Set the tone and be the calm in the storm. You’re riding a wave, you’re on a surfboard. Don’t complain about the wave or gripe. It’s not going to change. Pay attention to it though and adapt.  Make a plan for the next few weeks, then the next month. These plans will change, but here are a few specific ideas or steps to consider with your team:

●        If you have employees, make sure they are assured about being protected. You want to retain the key people who drive your business. In the end, it's people who make every business successful so focus on your key people. 

●        Don’t get stuck in decisions you made last week. Be willing to adapt and have new plans. You are going to have to live with these changes once the crisis is over.

●        Stop hiring unless there is a candidate you’ve been trying to recruit and don’t want to lose. Communicate with them.

Unfortunately, hard decisions will need to be made. Make a talent assessment in your company on who is valuable and how your business will be different if this person isn’t working for you next week. 

Marketing and sales.

Make sure to communicate clearly and consistently with your customers. If you are open for business, make sure they know that and how to interact with your organization. Make it easy for them to purchase your product and services.

Use your social media presence to keep your customers up to date. If you typically don’t use social media, it may now be time to build one. 

Be creative and find new opportunities to market and sell. Given the current conditions, what resonates with customers right now that you can provide? This is a good time to focus on your existing customers, provide excellent service, make sure you retain your important relationships and customers. Let any key relationships know you are still there and how you can be of service. 

Finally, consider new ways to deliver your service or product. It may be through home delivery, mail or  virtual web-based services. Offer discounts if necessary and think outside the box.

Operations, research and development, product or service improvements.

If things are slow, this is an ideal time to tackle those projects you have been putting off. Invest in this time, don’t waste it on Netflix or getting sucked into the never-ending news coverage. Instead, consider this time for you or your team to be invested in improving products, services and finding efficiencies.

If you or your team have more time available (because you have less work or fewer customers), use this time to improve your processes and efficiencies, improve products and services or make the changes you’ve been meaning to do over the past few years or months. We know we all have them in our business, and we’ve been too busy to get to them. Well, use this time now. Come out of the storm stronger and have a better product or service.

Conduct training in your company or get training yourself as a leader in areas you know will improve your company. If you know you are weak on social media marketing, or accounting and budgeting, IT, or a niche thing in your business category that could drive your business, invest your time into this. Get your team doing the same.

Assess your business's 2020 strategic plan. 

If you didn’t make a Strategic Plan for this year, it’s certainly time to make one now. This is a great time to make modifications. Start on projects that have been on your wish list and revaluate your objectives for the year. Adjust the plan and outlook for 2020 as you know more about your business. 

You’re going to have weeks or months dealing with this mess. Are you going to use the time wisely or waste it? 

Be charitable, show humanity and note what you are learning from this.

We are all learning a lot about how we could have better prepared for this disaster. Use this time as a wakeup call and learn from this experience. Start taking notes and don’t return to the status quo when this is all over. 

●        Have a financial reserve or savings account for your business that could help in times of need or disaster.

●        Have a personal financial reserve of a few months of living costs. 

●        Build a small food storage at the least. Maybe a few months' worth of household goods, such as toilet paper, soap, feminine products, laundry soap, etc. Do your best with the resources and space you may have.

●        Consider new revenue sources and small diversifying your business.

Finally, try to serve and help those in your community. The more you help others worse off than you, the better you’ll feel. As even a short history of the United States has shown, this too will pass and we should do all we can to help one another through it while we all learn and grow from this trial.

Adapted from: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/347913

---> Read the article and identify if these statements are true (T) or false (F).

1.     During MCO, the greatest concern for most business owners is to settle all bills, payments and how long this situation will last.

2.     It is trivial to set money aside after creating a list of priorities regarding payment due.

3.     Business owners can ask their workers to work for free for a short period of time.

4.     There will be no penalties or interest if business owners do not pay their taxes for up to 90 days.

5.     Payroll taxes will not be extended and employers are not allowed to delay the payroll taxes.

6.     It is a wise decision to take loans during this pandemic spread to save one’s own business.

7.     Key people are the success in every business. It is important for employers to secure their jobs.

8.     Business owners must be willing to change their plans according to the current situation in order to keep their business running.

9.     Business owners are encouraged to have social media presence to keep your customers up to date.

10.    This is an ideal time to tackle delayed projects or business plans.

11.      It is suggested that the company should be getting sufficient training for employers and employees to improve the inefficiency in the organisation during this time.

12.  Now is the best time for business owners to make strategic plans

13.  Having a financial reserve or savings account for your business is insignificant as government will help in providing financial aid that could help in times of need or disaster.

14.    There is nothing much to learn on how we could have better prepared for this disaster as a lot of people are affected by the Movement Control Order.

15.   Helping others is not an option because employers can barely keep up with a lot of payments

Answers (Please type your answers on your eCampus Week 7)

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