The COVID-19 situation is unprecedented, something that businesses may have never even imagined coming across. But resilience and adaptability are the only ways to survive and bounce back after such a major downturn. Organizations will have to realign every aspect of their operations with a new mindset and digital marketing is not an exception.
Right now, you need to understand the current scenario and perceive how things will pan out in the future. With these things in mind, you will have to come up with a fresh perspective and innovative approach to digital marketing is the new normal. Here are some insights you can rely on.
Listen to the audience
Although knowing your audience has always been the mainstay of successful marketing initiatives, it has become all the more important now. Empathy is the key, so you have to show that you care about your audience and would go the extra mile to help them through the crisis.
This mindset should reflect on your brand’s content, tone, and marketing messages. The best way to reach the audience and listen to them is on social media because that’s where they are most likely to voice their concerns. So be there and follow them closely as they share their expectations, experiences, and reviews.
Focus on consolidating on trust
The markets are tighter than ever and sales may be dropping significantly. But the focus right now shouldn’t be on propelling sales; rather consolidating on the trust factor should be your top priority. If you invest in SEO packages, ask your provider to give an extra push to building relationships with authoritative sources in your niche.
Recommendations from renowned sources translate into greater trust for your brand, which matters the most for sustaining through the tough times. Also, go the extra mile with the safety and well-being of your customers to build on trust and loyalty.
Offer help in the crisis
This isn’t the time to make profits- rather brands that are ready to lend a hand will have the opportunity to come back strong eventually. Giving offers and discounts to the customers is a good idea, provided you are not facing survival issues. An e-commerce switch can also empower your existence when people prefer ordering from home instead of visiting the stores in person. You can win their loyalty by offering them free home deliveries. While these strategies may cost a bit now, they will help you build long term relationships.
Don’t panic
Although it is easy to panic during a crisis of this scale, the best advice is to stay calm and continue with your marketing investment. Look for cost-effective alternatives. If you cannot afford an in-house team to manage your SEO, you may opt for an SEO Reseller model instead. For paid strategies, you may cut down the budgets but don’t stop completely. Running an organic social media marketing campaign is a good idea as it keeps you in close touch with the audience and enables human brand interactions.
Small efforts can go a long way in such tough times, so the focus right now should only be on serving your customers and building relationships. Survival and comeback will happen organically!