The global Coronavirus pandemic has affected almost every industry in the world. It has prompted a mass work-from-home exodus, with governments around the globe imposing lockdowns to stop the spread of the virus. Depending on the nature of your business, you might have experienced a sudden surge or drop in sales. However, all companies have had to innovate to drive growth and sustain themselves during this lockdown. As a result, marketing is more important than ever before, and since everyone is working remotely, online marketing is crucial for businesses now. In this article, we will take you through a few tips and tricks to help aid your online marketing efforts through this lockdown.
Social Media is Key.
Since everyone is now sitting at home, social media usage has visibly increased. This is an excellent time for some social media campaigns so that you reach these people effectively. Hence, social media marketing has to be a vital part of your online marketing strategy during this lockdown. Publish engaging content through your social media handles to ensure you stay relevant in the minds of your customers.
Do Good as a Part of Your Marketing.
These are challenging times for everyone, and hence, try to help out as much as possible. Not only will this do them some good, but it will also bring you good PR. Take advantage of all opportunities that enable you to help people who are struggling. Creating goodwill is the best form of marketing available, and this is an excellent opportunity to give back to your community. Several small manufacturing industries have expanded to making sanitizers and other products to help out, gaining them a lot of goodwill and credibility.
Grow Your Online Presence.
Almost everyone is online now, and hence that is where businesses need to be if they want to gain more exposure. Work on your SEO, publish informative blogs, and grow your online presence through strategic ads during this lockdown. Use the budget you have set aside for attending trade shows or organizing events to invest more heavily in online marketing methods.
Improve Your Website.
Use some resources from your marketing budget to upgrade your website and give it a more polished look. Try to incorporate changes that reflect the current demand and atmosphere. For instance, in case you are an online grocery delivery business, stock more varieties of sanitizers and masks. Ensure that you have enough inventory of home essentials, rather than buying luxury goods. Make sure you put out informational blogs that highlight government sanctions and keep the customers updated regarding your changes. Better your digital presence by working on your SEO to gain more followers. Learn more about digital marketing methods and Google algorithms so that you can rank higher on search engine results. In case your website has slow page loading speeds, work on such factors and also make sure you make the website mobile-friendly.
Leverage PPC Advertising.
The lockdown is a great time to utilize pay-per-click advertising. Since more people than ever before are online, such advertisements could fetch you great results. You will also be able to reach out to more people using such online marketing methods. All of this can gift your business a tremendous competitive advantage. Make sure that the niche your business falls in is a utility during the times before you advertise. For instance, if you deal with international shipping, it would make less sense for you to spend money on advertising now due to stringent government sanctions.
Don’t Panic or Freak Out.
While your business might be a bit tight, make sure you don’t jump head-on into bad marketing decisions out of desperation. Rest assured that things will get better, as the worst is behind us. Commerce is picking up all over the world, and most nations have now lifted lockdowns. Do not make decisions as a knee-jerk reaction, and throw your online marketing strategy off on a tangent. Also, don’t pull out of the business fearing failure, but ensure that you keep minimal digital marketing going so that you maintain your online presence.
Adjust to Meet Customer Needs.
Keep your online marketing strategy flexible and try to adapt to changing customer preferences. For instance, due to a dip in demand for cars, Ford is putting its 3D printers to better use by helping Healthcare companies create medical equipment. Similarly, smaller businesses will have to pivot their structure to suit customer needs. For instance, you will have to add a home delivery tab to the website, start a community kitchen, or take part in community activities.
Analyse Marketing Metrics.
This is a great time to analyze your metrics and gain insights into your online marketing efforts. Keep track of all your media campaigns and social channels. Understand what works best and re-invest in it, while shutting down methods that seem to be falling on deaf ears. Also, use this time to plan future campaigns, create content, and curate a detailed social media strategy.
While the world is facing a serious threat, it doesn’t have to be the end of your business. Make use of the above pointers and re-invest your effort into online marketing. With everything and every one going online, the COVID-19 has made the importance of digital marketing clear. Utilize this time to work on a great online marketing plan, and keep pushing online traffic to boost sales. Outrank your competitors using good SEO practices, to improve your digital presence and step into the future of online marketing!