Which Side of History Will You Be on after the Coronavirus is over?

Have you seen the GIF of the man who was given a choice as he was being quarantined during the Coronavirus?  Of course you have.  As a recap, the narrator gave the man a choice between - A - you can be quarantine with his wife and child or - B – and before he the narrator could state the second choice, the man answered B with authority!  How many Coronavirus Memes have you seen which reference toilet paper?  It’s Okay.  This blog is a “Safe Place” for those of you who went out and bought extra rolls or overpaid for single ply.  I actually had a good friend who brought me a roll.  Maybe my wife shared some private details, and my friend wanted to make sure my family was safe during the quarantine.

Make no mistake, this Coronavirus has serious consequences.  Yesterday, I scrolled through Facebook and saw a message from one of my old college fraternity brothers who posted, “If you don't think what's going on is serious that's on you and it's your choice... if I get this virus, the next time you will be seeing me, is at my funeral! Point blank no questions asked not being dramatic or looking for empathy or sympathy... I currently take immunosuppressant in the morning then again at night. My immune system is intentionally in a weakened state. I am in the highest risk level! This time unlike cancer there will be no coming back because at least with cancer there was a protocol, not so much with Covid-19... while I'm doing my part I ask you do yours.”  Because of the business I am in; each day I am talking with clients who have to lay off or furlough employees due to their business being declared nonessential or even worse closing their doors.  This doesn’t just effect the business owner.  It actually hurts the workers who need their job to support their family.  It hurts the vendors who need clients to keep their doors open.  Depression already affects 20-25% of Americans of working age and according to CDC and WHO approximately 123 Americans die by suicide each day.  This crisis will potentially add to those numbers.

There are countless of mixed messages being stated on the internet.  County Judges across Texas have used their authority to put a “Shelter in Place” for many areas while others have allowed the citizens to police themselves highly encouraging them to stay isolated.  The mom and pop antique business was told to shut down while the Big Box electronics store is allowed to stay open.  Gas stations and liquor stores are allowed to sell their products while churches and restaurants cannot serve in their normal capacity.  Each day we see breaking news of a politician standing at a podium with several other officials next to them while 10-50 of the news media reports on them saying that everyone should stay at home.  We still have Democrats and Republicans trying to blame each other for the outbreak and even trying to “one up” the other on how to ease the angst this is causing.  In short, good friends, family members, colleagues, business partners and others, all with good intentions, have disagreed on the response to how we can solve this crisis.

Let’s be clear on one thing.  If One person (and at the time of this blog 1037 people have died from this virus) dies that is too many.

That being said, this crisis will pass.  There is discrepancy on how long it will take and what measures will need to be put in place to help the millions of Americans who are affected directly or indirectly by the virus.  My prediction is the CDC will have to tackle the obesity epidemic next since we are all staying at home and probably not rationing our food.  Some people look at a Coronavirus chart every day.  My kids have a chart that identifies how many Oreo Cookies I devour and even created a point of no return!  That’s a scary graph!

Back to my first paragraph on the GIF and Meme.  You might be one who is worried about who might get sick and upset at those who are still able to work and not holding true to “social distancing.”  You might be one who is worried about the lasting effects of the economy or one who thinks that economist are being too callous in their fear of the ramifications of how the virus will negatively affect our society.  No matter which side of the debate you are on; everyone has seen the depictions of how many are reacting at this time.  Thankfully, many of these bring humor in a time of fear and the unknown.  The reason we can all think of our favorite GIF or Meme is we have increased the amount of time we spend on Social Media.  My favorite post since I am a Texas Rangers Baseball fan was talking about players on the Houston Astros not testing positive for Covid-19 because they all saw the sings early.  Wish we were back in those days when that was the biggest debate in the country!

Today, social media has given everyone a platform to share their opinion.  Whether you make a comment, post a picture/video, LIKE, Share, retweet or put some type of emoji on a post you are sharing your opinion.  Because we feel safe behind a keyboard or our face buried in our phones; we feel empowered that others truly value what we have to say.  Google Reviews, Yelp and Facebook have all made millions on this concept as the consumer will instantly take to giving their Online Review.

Now more than ever, all eyes are on social media.  As a matter of fact, 66% of social media users believe their social media usage habit will increase in the event they are confined to their home due to the Coronavirus.  Several states across the Nation have already implemented this strategy to contain the virus spread.  Over 60% of both YouTube and Facebook users expect an increase while only 2% expect a decrease.

Some key statistics for how Coronavirus impacts E-Commerce include: 99% of social media users believe there is a chance they will purchase something online if they are confined to their home during a Coronavirus outbreak, 92% of consumers who have “a great deal of say” on purchasing decisions believe they will purchase grocery store items online (versus in-store) during confinement, 79% of consumers with children ages 3-17 at home believe they may purchase home improvement or DIY items online while confined to home and 76% of consumers who have a “great deal of say” on purchasing decisions believe they will order restaurant food delivery online.

There is no question that as more consumers are confined to their home, there will be a significant surge of social media content and consumption.  That surge will present an increased opportunity for brands to connect with an audience that is hungry for content, education, and online social experiences.  Brands will see their marketing dollars go further than they have in recent years and certain sectors stand to benefit greatly from these marketing savings.

History will judge your business on how you adapt to the surge in social media consumption as it unfolds.

DeliveryMaxx has been the leader in this arena over the last decade and continues to help businesses in all sectors reach their potential customers through the most innovative digital strategy utilizing common sense and today’s technology.  Our clients experience positive Online Reputation, stronger SEO, concise content management, increase in social media engagement and advertisement and higher customer retention.  We are able to customize and create a strategy for any entity that is trying to gain more exposure on the web.  With clients in multiple industries and across the country such as Automotive Dealerships, Real-Estate Brokers & Agents, Churches, Service Industry, Sports Teams, Non-Profit Organizations and more; we utilize our Patent-Pending Program to develop a digital strategy that will meet the needs of sales, service and messaging to the masses.  DeliveryMaxx is one of the only digital media company that provides a simple to use app which will allow to immediately collect online reviews, post engaging videos and online content with branding and advertising.  The program is embedded with digital code helping increase SEO which provides first page results on the Search Engines.  It is a tool that is implanted with a complete digital strategy giving their clients a competitive advantage over the competition.  For more information about DeliveryMaxx contact (888) 938-6299 or watch the DeliveryMaxx Introduction Video!

Starting a New Business in the Corona Climate

Twelve years ago, DeliveryMaxx was started without government funds or any other financial assistance in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, The Great Recession of 2007-2009.  Today, DeliveryMaxx is a digital media company with a Patent-Pending program that creates a comprehensive strategy allowing its clients to improve SEO, Online Reputation, Social Media Marketing/Advertising and Engagement, Content Management and Customer Retention all utilizing a mobile app.  In short, DMAXX as it is known to its clients creates a plan to turn their normal course of daily actions into marketing and advertising opportunities.  The app was created to minimize cost and allow clients to instantly gain a larger audience sharing their message on the World Wide Web thus increasing sales and/or service.  DeliveryMaxx utilizes positive reviews, daily post for engagement, blogs and video messaging to reach every facet of clients’ potential customers. Not to mention, the program is very simple and easy to use and gives the appearance that clients have a larger marketing department than what they really do.  The best part about the program is that the clients’ customers feel valued and are more incline to spread these positive messages through the digital media channels better known as social media.

However, DeliveryMaxx didn’t have an easy road.  When first developed in 2008, the program depended on Kodak digital cameras which had a special function of labeling photos of happy customers and the ability to quickly produce marketing materials.  The iPhone was in its infancy.  Quickly, DeliveryMaxx had to adapt to the emerging technology of online reviews and a relatively new concept of Search Engine Optimization.  Over the last decade, DeliveryMaxx has spent millions in research and development to create a program that accomplishes businesses, non-profits and others needs’ in all areas covered in the digital media arena.

Like any startup, DeliveryMaxx was faced with operational challenges including labor and other expenses.  The first turn towards positive success was to utilize the same program that was pitched to clients.  Proper execution allowing the internet to do all of the heavy lifting led to increased client acquisition and management.

The United States has been ordered to come to a complete stop if a business is not deemed essential.  Many consumers are afraid to leave the house and the ones that do have started to come up with creative ways to cover their mouths utilizing plastic bottles, fruit peelings, diapers and other interesting contraptions.  There is still no answer as to why everyone made an instant run towards the toilet paper.  Nonetheless, many people will be out of a job and have to find something new to do.  Either their company will have to lay off employees to minimize labor cost or many businesses will just shut the door forever.  A small stimulus check will not be enough to help a family of four and the government will be at a loss of additional tax revenue that it won’t be able to sustain the economy.  The only thing that will get the US out of this mess is that businesses are rebuilt or started from scratch.  These businesses will need to find the most cost effective way to get their message out to the masses in order to create and ultimately increase sales.

History shows us that the Great Recession of 2007-2009 was created by overextended credit and risky mortgages which resulted in a housing market crash and the failure of several investment banks.  The 1981 recession was due to rising inflation from the 1970’s which resulted in tightened monetary policy from the Federal Reserve, while regime change in Iran led to rising oil prices. Amid these crosscurrents, the U.S. found itself with falling inflation but rising unemployment by the early 1980s.  Many of our senior population can vividly remember the 1973 recession which lasted about 2 years because of quadrupling oil prices by Arab exporters resulted in stagflation (high inflation amid stagnant economic growth) and a stock market crash.  Although, you would have to be 91 years old to have lived through The Great Depression, we have all learned about this in school.  After a six-year bull market on Wall Street, over-speculation led to an October 1929 stock market crash. Economic production fell by 50 percent, and unemployment surged to 25 percent.

Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”  Make no mistake, we will be in a recession that will take a minimum of 2 years to recover.  If our government leaders on both sides of the aisle pander to the special interest groups without caring for “We the People” we will potentially create the 2^nd Great Depression.

Nobody would have ever thought a virus that has over an 85% recovery rate would crash our economy and end up putting so many people out of work.  Unfortunately, that presents many people with two options.  Quit or as our grandfathers used to say, “Pull up your bootstraps and get to work.”  There are many who would like to do this and as soon as the quarantine is lifted will do just that.

Adversity, it can break you or make you if you let it, the choice is yours.

In 1929, amid the Great Depression the notorious year that the stock market crashed, spurring a 10-year global downturn, also marked the birth of an aerospace giant. United Aircraft and Transport Corporation began life as a holding company for airlines, airplane parts manufacturers and aviation companies such as Boeing.

Most industries floundered under the financial crisis, but the Golden Age of Aviation was in full swing and kept United Aircraft aloft. In fact, the company pulled so many other businesses under its umbrella during its initial years that it quickly smacked up against antitrust laws. In 1934, Boeing and United Airlines became separate companies and United Aircraft turned into what is now UTC, a diversified industrial manufacturer.  By 2008, UTC reported $58.7 billion in revenue.

FedEx was born when Frederick W. Smith identified a pressing business need of important documents had to reach their destinations within one or two days. He incorporated a company called Federal Express in June 1971 and began operations in 1973 from Memphis International Airport. On its first night, in April, FedEx shipped 186 packages to 25 U.S. cities.  However, all was not well on the international front, and within months, several Arab states had embargoed oil exports to the United States. While this news could have been disastrous for a company that relied on petroleum-fueled transportation, Federal Express stayed alive and became profitable in July 1975, when oil prices finally leveled off.

The Applebee's chain was founded by Bill and T. J. Palmer in 1980. The vision that they wanted was "to create a restaurant that had a neighborhood pub feel to it and could offer friendly service along with quality fare at a lower price than most of their competition."  Also, Fuddruckers created a couple of years prior in 1979 by Philip J. Romano developed a concept to offer large hamburgers in which the meat is ground on-site and buns are baked on the premises.

Through adversity entrepreneurs find the strength they never knew they had.  Today’s economic climate is rather depressing if we continue to let the media dictate how we are supposed to feel.  For those looking for a silver lining is that a business (hopefully thousands) will be born and when we face another inevitable crisis, we can update this report with Businesses Created during the Corona Depression.

DeliveryMaxx is in the same boat as many of our clients and other businesses around the country.  We are facing difficult decisions that include temporary layoffs, reduction of expenses, increased workload from employees and reduced pay due to lack of revenue.  However, with our suite of digital services, DeliveryMaxx is able to help clients make an impact on the internet including Online Reputation, Social Media Marketing and Advertising, Content Management, SEO, Website Development, Customer Retention Satisfaction and other Digital Media Strategies giving them a stronger reach which means more sales and services provided.

DeliveryMaxx is able to customize and create a strategy for businesses, churches and any entity that is trying to gain more exposure on the web.  With clients in multiple industries and across the country; we utilize our Patent-Pending Program to develop a digital strategy that will meet the needs of sales, service and messaging to the masses.  We are one of the only digital media company that provides a simple to use app which will allow to immediately collect online reviews, post engaging videos and online content with branding and advertising.  The program is embedded with digital code helping increase SEO which provides first page results on the Search Engines.  It is a tool that is implanted with a complete digital strategy giving their clients a competitive advantage over the competition.  For more information about DeliveryMaxx contact (888) 938-6299 or watch the DeliveryMaxx Introduction Video!

Your Business is Nonessential… Now What?

As we received mixed messages from municipal government officials dictating what business is essential and what business is not during the coronavirus scare; many lives are being upended.  Unfortunately, many businesses do not feel like they have a voice nor the means to continue to pay expenses.

This is NOT a political blog nor is this intended to minimize the severity of the virus and its potential effects on our population.  This is intended to provide assistance to businesses who continue to have lease payments, payroll and other expenditures that will not go away.  It is also intended to provide a common voice for those who are faced with the facts that they will shut down their doors over the next 30 days and never be able to open again.

DeliveryMaxx, a small business that specializes in Online Reputation, Social Media Marketing and Advertising, Content Management, SEO, Website Development, Customer Retention Satisfaction and other Digital Media Strategies was created in 2008 without government loans and other financial assistance.  Over the last 12 years we developed a Patent-Pending program that helps our clients increasing Positive Reviews, Strong SEO, and a digital strategy that will take client’s current business model giving them a stronger reach on the internet which means more sales and services provided.  Being a small business, DeliveryMaxx has provided jobs for those who have worked for the company and other vendors who have provided services for the company.  A stimulus package will not help 

DeliveryMaxx and many of the clients that we serve.  This story is quite common across the country.

I don’t know anyone who has tested positive much less tested positive and is critical condition or dying from the Coronavirus.  I hope this is the norm and not an exception.  My heart goes out to them and their family and I would not wish this heartache on anyone.  This is not me being insensitive to others health as I do care.  Personally, I have parents and in-laws who are elderly and one who cannot receive treatments for brain cancer because of the shutdown.  I have relatives and friends who have underlying health conditions and are vulnerable to getting sick.  In addition, I do know three clients stories (and a 187 employees that work for those clients) that the virus has negatively affected and these stories will continue if either our government doesn’t act appropriately or businesses don’t take necessary steps to adapt in this climate.  

The first is a very popular restaurant that had to lay off all of its employees and shut their doors.  If the mandatory lockdown happens longer than a month or two; they will not be able to open again.  This will leave a vacancy in the location they reside.  The owners still have mortgages and car payments they have to pay.  The vendors that serve them will not be able to collect due to a lack of revenue.  The single mothers who work for the business have no income coming in and will now have to depend on the government for assistance.  The young couple that worked who were planning on getting married next month now are rethinking how they can even afford to start a life together.

The second business that my heart goes out to is one of the most ethical foundation companies in North Texas.  The owner has been a pillar in the community his entire life donating tens of thousands to the Child Advocacy Group.  For the last 35 years he has given employees jobs who walked in without a car and a dollar to their name just because he had empathy for their situation.  He has employees who are the sole provider for their family, retired workers who are supplementing their income to provide food on the table and part-time workers who are earning a little extra income to pay bills and support their family.  He has purchased equipment to do upcoming jobs, but because of certain city’s regulations he cannot complete those jobs thus enabling him to make payroll.  Not to mention, his personal expenses to live.

Finally, a third business deals in selling and servicing printing and copiers.  Their clients include large businesses, churches, small businesses and any company that needs to print or copy documents.  Because of the shutdown, there is no need to service this equipment and therefore they have had to lay off all of the employees who no longer can provide a service.  Because businesses are shutdown, sales people cannot sell and now have a loss of income.  Attorneys, accountants and other vendors now experience that loss of revenue.

Currently there are many opinions, statistics and numbers being thrown around in today’s media.  The media has to sell advertisement based on viewership so the most sensational stories get publicized.  The medical profession who is on the frontlines are seeing the sick on a daily basis, so all they know is what they are seeing inside their world (and I can only imagine how scary it is).  Politicians are seeing which way the wind is blowing and forming their opinions based on what they think will get them the most votes.  We, the people, are getting so much information that we don’t know what is factual and what is not.

What is happening is the small business is being destroyed and real families are becoming victims of the coronavirus without ever getting sick.

What’s the right answer?  I don’t know.  I am an expert at providing a program that allows businesses to get their message out via the World Wide Web through innovative digital strategies.  My opinion is no different than the nurse who shares their opinion because of the victims they continues to see.  We have the Democrats and Republicans trying to blame each other and put pork inside a stimulus package that will not help most of us.  We have some judges trying to shut down their city while other mayors are saying everyone is important.  The businesses that have put their life savings into their company have also taken huge losses in the stock market.  People like me wouldn’t be able to sell our house to save our business because few will be buying in this market.  Therefore the equity we have has been diminished.

This will pass.  America as we know it might not be the same again.  However, the United States was founded on common sense principles and still provides everyone the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.  As long as our Constitution does not change, people will be able create new small businesses even in these difficult times.

So what can businesses do to survive if they have been deemed nonessential?  First and foremost, they must streamline their expenses and unfortunately that means eliminating employees.  My 18 year old son was a casualty in his part-time job that he was using to save money to attend college.  Second, with the increase in viewership on social media; they must have a complete digital strategy to consistently get their message out to the masses.  They may have to do a paradigm shift and increase their e-commerce business.  The positive by going digital is the cost can be drastically reduced by partnering with a company such as DeliveryMaxx.

DeliveryMaxx is able to customize and create a strategy for businesses, churches and any entity that is trying to gain more exposure on the web.  With clients in multiple industries and across the country; we utilize our Patent-Pending Program to develop a digital strategy that will meet the needs of sales, service and messaging to the masses.

Times are tough and DeliveryMaxx is here to provide vital services for the victims who have businesses which are necessary to provide food, shelter and transportation to their employees.  Our prayers continue for all of those affected by the virus and hope that those who actually get sick are quickly cured.

In today’s world, businesses now more than ever must have a digital strategy.  Today it is the Coronavirus, tomorrow it will be something else.  Our customers are spending more hours of the day online shopping, researching or mindless browsing.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the coronavirus, but also out to all of the businesses that will be adversely affected by potential customers isolating themselves indoors.  We will develop a custom plan for each business that allows them to compete in today’s marketplace.

With its Patent-Pending Digital Marketing Solutions; DeliveryMaxx is the only digital media company that provides a simple to use app which will allow to immediately collect online reviews, post engaging videos and online content with branding and advertising.  The program is embedded with digital code helping increase SEO which provides first page results on the Search Engines.  It is a tool that is implanted with a complete digital strategy giving their clients a competitive advantage over the competition.  For more information about DeliveryMaxx contact (888) 938-6299 or watch the DeliveryMaxx Introduction Video!

How Businesses can Survive the Coronavirus Shutdown

Every day we continue to get mixed messages sent to us by our government and the medical profession.  The short answer is nobody really has the exact answer and much less a solution to help.  Everything is pure speculation and the fear of the unknown is controlling our actions.  The one thing that you know is you must develop, implement and perfectly execute the right processes to assure your business’ success.

However, businesses still have rent, cost of goods, unsold inventory and other expenses that will continue despite the national shutdown.  Businesses will try to cut cost ultimately eliminating their labor cost.  The sad part is that everyone knows about the billion dollar companies, but the faces of our community business do not have strong advocates to speak for them on their behalf.

DeliveryMaxx understands this all too well.  Founder James Schaefer, developed the Patent-Pending program just over 10 years ago creating an innovative way for companies to easily spread their message to the masses utilizing a mobile app.  He created this company without government loans or private investments.  Utilizing his personal savings, he has poured in millions over the last decade to create a program that will help anyone needing exposure on the web.

Now more than ever, all eyes are on social media.  As a matter of fact, 66% of social media users believe their social media usage habit will increase in the event they are confined to their home due to the Coronavirus.  Several states across the Nation have already implemented this strategy to contain the virus spread.  Over 60% of both YouTube and Facebook users expect an increase while only 2% expect a decrease.

Some key statistics for how Coronavirus impacts E-Commerce include: 99% of social media users believe there is a chance they will purchase something online if they are confined to their home during a Coronavirus outbreak, 92% of consumers who have “a great deal of say” on purchasing decisions believe they will purchase grocery store items online (versus in-store) during confinement, 79% of consumers with children ages 3-17 at home believe they may purchase home improvement or DIY items online while confined to home and 76% of consumers who have a “great deal of say” on purchasing decisions believe they will order restaurant food delivery online.

There is no question that as more consumers are confined to their home, there will be a significant surge of social media content and consumption.  That surge will present an increased opportunity for brands to connect with an audience that is hungry for content, education, and online social experiences.  Brands will see their marketing dollars go further than they have in recent years and certain sectors stand to benefit greatly from these marketing savings. Don’t get left behind in reaching your market as your competition will react relatively quickly to the changing environment and adjust their overall campaign spending to reflect the surge in social media consumption as it unfolds.

There is a “New Normal” that is developing.  DeliveryMaxx has been the leader in this arena over the last decade and continues to help businesses in all sectors reach their potential customers through the most innovative digital strategy utilizing common sense and today’s technology.  Our clients experience positive Online Reputation, stronger SEO, concise content management, increase in social media engagement and advertisement and higher customer retention.

For more information on how DeliveryMaxx can help your business or organization create a custom advertisement and marketing program visit www.deliverymaxx.com or contact 888.936.6299.  DeliveryMaxx clients include Automotive Dealerships, Real-Estate Brokers & Agents, Churches, Service Industry, Sports Teams, Non-Profit Organizations and more.  In fact, anyone wanting to create a dominate presence on the web needs the DeliveryMaxx Program.  Everything published to the World Wide Web will affect how your business is perceived.  DeliveryMaxx allows you to take full control of your presence on the web; ensuring that daily branded content (Blogs/Videos/Images), reputation management (Online Reviews) and customer retention strategies are working together in unison allowing you to set your dealership apart from the competition.  It is not enough to just have a program, but you must have a strategy and DeliveryMaxx provides you the tool to allow you and your customers to share with the world how great you are!