Lamar Tyler’s public relations machine is on full alert. As the force behind Traffic Sales & Profit (TSP), he’s known as a reliable source for helping small African-American businesses grow. But like millions of people around the world, the question of getting back to business as usual after the covid-19 pandemic — which is impacting African-Americans at a startling and disturbing rate — is part of a much larger issue.
It’s not a simple question (getting back to business, as usual) so to that end, there is no simple answer, acknowledged but what does it mean for African-Americans small business owners — exactly?
I turn to Tyler, whose motto is “The Gatekeepers Are Gone”, to help me find an answer on at the very least to start a dialogue around getting one. According to his press materials he has successfully leveraged social media to build a movement of game-changing online brands that support, uplift and encourage the Black community.
Speaking with Tyler seems like a good start. He’s amassed over 600 thousand social media fans and 43 thousand customers in all 50 states and 43 countries.
Tyler currently runs a digital marketing brand, Traffic Sales & Profit, which provides small businesses with solutions to drive more website traffic, convert more online sales and increase their business profit.
What is Traffic Sales & Profit? Before I begin the interview with Larmar Tyler, I’ll share what I was given.
Traffic Sales & Profit (TSP) is a success formula, pure and simple. Focusing on online technology, the organization provides fundamental learning, surefire systems and growth strategies that help small businesses and entrepreneurs take their online profits to the next level. TSP teaches in different niches and markets on how to generate profit with ease and in little time, regardless of their email list sizes or start-up budgets. What TSP provides is just as applicable for a brick-and-mortar business, like a local restaurant, physicians’ office, or tutoring service, as it is for the entrepreneur creating digital products, or starting an online boutique. TSP also offers coaching and consulting services for people all over the world.
Here is the question that I had for Lamar Tyler who runs Traffic Sales & Profit and is the author of the book Traffic, Sales and Profit: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide To Creating Consistent Business Revenue On-Line (printed in 2019). Available on Amazon but for a limited time is available is free (freetspbook.com).
LOS ANGELES SENTINEL: Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I’m stunned like many Americans at the economic impact that the coronavirus is having on the African-American business community. The headlines keep screaming we will get back to normal soon. Oh my gosh. What is normal and should that be our goal?
LAMAR TYLER: I think that for these [small African-American] businesses to survive they should try and make it business as usual as much as they can. I also believe no matter when we go back, May 1st or June, 1st there will have been something that has changed in the market place. Now there are a lot of people working at home that normally don’t work at home. Now that companies see that working at home is possible they may continue this new practice. Whenever you see businesses kind of contracting normally these companies may realize that they have laid off people and they are still able to get the work done. They may not be bringing everybody back.
LAS: That’s a sobering thought. So am I to understand that you have always suggested and continue to suggest that all businesses should have an online presence? Please, continue.
LT: One of the things that we see specifically in our organization [TSP] is how to leverage business and get online. A lot of people that should have been looking at ways to infuse technology to build e-commerce to have more of an online platform to build a more online community around their business, I think those are the businesses that will be hurting the most. We can’t go into offices or their workspaces.
LAS: True.
LT: [if] They can’t sell anywhere but like that [physical location] —they will be hurt. If they were just depending on selling at a physical location. They are at a disadvantage and they are going to have to make changes soon. We were already moving to people buying and selling online anyway. This whole thing [coronavirus] has just moved this [trend] faster.
LAS: So that I am clear. You are saying that most small African-American business owners are not using online traffic to build their business? Is this what I am understanding?
LT: I don’t think that Black businesses use online as well or as frequently as they should. A lot of my clients have reported more business than usual for the month of March and it’s continuing in April.
LAS: Why do you think that is?
LT: People can’t go to brick and mortar and shop. They can’t find brands that they want or need often times but online. People are still home and people are still buying. There is a lot of opportunities that we don’t talk about, and we should.
LAS: What is that, exactly?
LT: What I am telling the African-American business owners in my community is that to look at their biggest competitors, people can’t buy those big name brands with the same ease, right now.
So this is the opportunity for online retailers to use Facebook Live and Instagram to promote their products and services.
LAS: What is TSP mastermind?
LT: The TSP Mastermind is a 12-month mentorship program to elevate a business to the next level. Owners are trained, coached with attention to grow this business to the next stage. We focus on driving more traffic, converting more sales, and making more profit in their business. In the program, they are part of a
community of like-minded and serious business owners who are committed to taking actions to grow their business. There is peer support to help solve challenges and hold each other accountable.
LAS: What’s your advice to small African-American businesses going forward, if any?
LT: I would suggest not to be caught flat-footed.
LAS: To not be caught flat-footed?
LT: Yes, meaning do not be just standing there waiting for a reaction. Step up. Lead. Communicate with your community of customers and vendors so when they do get back to normal or the new normal you can hit the ground running.
To learn more: https://trafficsalesandprofit.com
