The onset of the Coronavirus pandemic has really changed the way of life globally. With social distancing and self-isolating becoming mandatory, remote working has become the new norm.
Today grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals are facing the worst crowds while tech-gadget hubs, cinema halls and restaurants have become ghost-towns.
Naturally a shifting in the supply and demand side is being witnessed as a result of which there is a shift in the overall marketing paradigm. In fact, for the marketers and brands who are trying to navigate through the Covid 19 crisis, simply reaching out to the customers has turned out to be a challenge.
However, the silver lining is that there are new opportunities with the help of which small businesses can reinstate their position in the industry. Here are some marketing strategies that can come to your aid during the Covid times.
- Don’t React Out of Panic – Times are tough. Trade may have plummeted or you may not even be trading because of factors beyond control. But believe in the fact that things will get better. There are many countries that after a rigorous lockdown has slowly open up and started import and export. Although the Coronavirus vaccine still looks far-fetched there is light at the end of the tunnel. This does not mean that you should underestimate the situation or the terrible effects of this situation. But to be on the right track, you should not react out of panic and just realise that you may need some assistance. Most businesses are going to survive the chaos just like they did it earlier in times of depression, pandemic and wartimes. Your competitor is going to gain if you shut down out of panic. So even if you do not end up earning anything and you require govt. financial aids, maintain the online presence of your business so that you remain on top of customer’s minds and they know when to return to you.
- Do Things for Others Selflessly– In dire situations like these, you should (as a business owner) come out in support of others as much as possible. This may not be a good time for your business but it can be a worse period for others. So do whatever you can even if it is not much. For example, there are digital marketing businesses that are providing certain paid services for free now. There are breweries that are today producing and delivering hand sanitizers and there are also marketing experts who are providing free online courses for which they used to charge earlier. By extending a hand of support you can actually build up a good will for your business and that is bound to benefit you if not today then in future, be it in the form of investments or consumer preferences.
- Enhance Your Online Presence – The Covid 19 pandemic has seen the rise of online activities. People are now weary of face-to-face interactions and thus there is a surge of cancellations and postponements of conferences, events and exhibitions. For the same reason they are turning towards the internet. So concentrate on your web presence. Modify your website to showcase current demand of food items and medications if you have broad sales mix of stock. Also you should concentrate on your SEO efforts and PPC ads that are getting really cheap these days.
If you want some advice on honing your digital marketing skills, there are experts from reputed digital marketing company who are suggesting and even providing online courses on the same. So brush up your online skills for now, reach out to those who need as much as possible and have faith – this too shall pass!
