From the July issue of Trends…
Greensboro’s own John Isner is a top-notch professional tennis player, but he still has a coach, right?
The same goes for golfers on the PGA Tour, says Jay Vics. 
Even the best players have coaches to help them stay on top of their game, mentally and physically.
Many small business owners operate in similar fashion, says Vics, owner of JVI Mobile, a digital marketing agency. They have to be good
at many things, but sometimes can use assistance on certain things, such as marketing in this digital age.
That’s where Vics comes in.
Small business owners, he says, “need help. They need a coach to work with them and give them the tips and tricks.”
Vics originally set up his business as a traditional agency.
But as he designed websites and devised social media strategies for his clients, he realized another unmet need:
Many clients really wanted to know how to do those things by themselves.
Vics, who has operated his home-based agency since 2015, saw an opportunity.
He could become a digital media coach in addition to providing agency services.
But as a one-person business, he could only serve so many clients in a given week.
That led to his next revelation.
Vics decided to create a website offering a range of tutorials and webinars where people hungry for information can get tips.
Topics might include using Facebook Messenger to promote a business or targeting customers through geolocation marketing.
The information, often in the form of video conversations with clients, is free to access.
An online scheduler allows a person to schedule a personal consultation with Vics.
Vics set up his website with a unique internet suffix: howto.agency.
Vics was on track to present a program in March as part of GMA’s Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) series.
Then the pandemic arrived, curtailing business and gatherings.
DMI programs, which are free to employees of GMA member companies, usually are held in GMA’s Community Room at the downtown Greensboro headquarters.
Vics suggested to GMA staff that his DMI seminar transition from a classroom setting to a webinar.
“I said, ‘Let me try this.’ And it worked. Really, really well.”
The pandemic pushed Vics’ plans for online training into overdrive. He quickly developed videos with tips on successfully balancing home life and
work life while working from home.
“I knew other people were going to struggle with that,” he says.
The pandemic has created innumerable challenges for businesses.
Vics’ creative approach demonstrates that, even in a pandemic, challenges can also present opportunities.
Link to original article
JVI Mobile
howto.agency
910-233-4484
