COVID-19 has caused a lot of panic worldwide, not just regarding health-related safety, but also financial doom. With the globe on lockdown mode, most businesses are facing challenges in staying afloat, especially brands that do not have a digital presence. Let’s take a look at five things your company should do right now.

Plant the seeds for future success – Don’t Hold Back

If you were thinking about cutting back on your digital marketing investments, think again. A Harvard Business Review study that analyzed 4,700 public companies three years before, during and after recessions, indicates companies that cut costs quickly and deeply are at a disadvantage. Companies that adopt a progressive focus outperform their rivals.

When the economy is suffering, you do not have as much competition. Everyone is rolling back, which means if you play your cards smartly, you’ll be able to get a jumpstart in the post-COVID-19 era. Right now, most of your competitors are probably reducing their digital footprint drastically. You can leverage less competition and take advantage of cheaper Ads to target your audience – you will generate more leads and build loyalty. Now is the time to plant the seeds for future success.

Pro Tip – If you need to cut down costs, try to improve your workflow or streamline processes.

Refine Your Digital Marketing Strategy

More people stuck at home means more eyeballs glued to the Internet, especially social media portals. Invest in pay-per-click ads – research indicates the cost-per-click has decreased by 6% and may continue to further decrease. Scoop up a wider share of the market like a rookie. Email marketing and social media ads are also a great way to push meaningful content that not only builds trust but locks-in pre-sales.  

Lastly, everyone is looking for a human element. We’re all navigating this pandemic together. Encourage your team to showcase how you’re adapting to life in the time of coronavirus – give people a glimpse of your new work-from-home culture. In essence, your team can serve as your brand ambassadors on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Step Up Your SEO

Improve your SEO so more customers can discover your business when they search for particular products and services online, especially in their geographical area. A lot of consumers are looking for brands that are “near me.”

Do not expect overnight results – but, rest assured that when the economy recovers, your genuine efforts will yield an increase in organic rankings, leads and conversions. When everything returns to normal, you will be in greater demand than your competitors.

Invest In Training Your Team

With more downtime on hand, now is a great time to not only attend to tasks that were being neglected, but to also encourage your entire team to up-skill. Did you know businesses only spend a tiny 4.7% of their marketing budget on training employees? Now is the time to future-proof your team so they can excel in a post-coronavirus market. For example, training your team in the areas of LinkedIn marketing, email automation tools, AI and machine learning will help them take your upcoming digital marketing campaigns to the next level.

Tailor Your Communication

Right now, everyone is feeling some degree of anxiety. Don’t let your customers’ trust break. Keep them in the loop about changes your brand has taken to adapt to COVID-19 in a transparent manner –

• If you have shifted your business services from offline to online, communicate this change.
• If you have increased sanitary measures for safety, reassure your clientele with this information.
• Update your Website’s FAQs to reflect recent changes in business operations and customer service.
•  Consider running discounts to ease the financial strain.
• Share updates regarding charitable efforts your team is a part of – brands that show empathy will definitely rank higher than others. 
• Offer free resources that are of use to your customers, such as Webinars and tutorials. Add value!
• Share stories about your team’s new work-from-home culture on social media. 
• Maintain a positive, upbeat attitude. 

Pure Design Solution is helping many brands adapt their marketing and communication to the new norms a COVID-19 landscape poses. Simultaneously, we are also holding frequent interactive sessions to support fellow business owners so they can leverage their time wisely to get ready for the road ahead. Click here to contact us for a digital marketing consultation and to sign-up for our next online workshop.