Are you using the current lockdown to focus on your digital marketing efforts? As uncertain and stressful as the COVID-19 crisis has been, quarantine can be a good time to adapt your business and explore growth opportunities. Many businesses across the country are still reeling from the effects of the lockdown. Some industries have faced a major, devastating impact – hospitality industries and other sectors dealing directly with customers especially. If you invest in digital marketing the cost of digital marketing is going to be significant compared to the advantages to be achieved.
Digital Marketing During COVID-19
While there is not much that individuals or businesses can do to fight this unprecedented global crisis besides staying safe and staying at home, lockdown can offer a pause that allows you to focus on your business. The effects of the pandemic are very likely going to change the world in many ways, as more and more businesses find new ways to move forward. Digital marketing is adapting at a rapid rate, providing a surprising number of opportunities for growth – during and after the crisis.
Some of the ways that digital marketing is already adapting during the coronavirus crisis and resulting lockdown include the following:
1. Customer service matters more than ever
Although customer service should have been at the forefront of your strategies right from the start, it has become more important than ever before. Businesses that were proactive, keeping customers in the loop as early as possible have found it far easier to ease customer worries. Make sure that customers know exactly what is happening, what your business is doing during the lockdown, how you are protecting customers and anything else customers need to know. Be crystal clear on your operating hours if you are still providing essential services. Be clear on closures if you will be pausing during the lockdown. Keep lines of communication open at all times.
2. Remote work is not going away any time soon
Remote work has become widespread across the globe, helping businesses to continue with minimal interruption. There is a very strong chance that remote work will continue, even after the crisis is over. Thanks to the rise of tools such as Zoom and other online meeting platforms, remote work is not only keeping workers safer – it is also lowering operational costs, improving employee retention, increasing productivity, and enabling global partnerships.
3. Customer engagement becomes multi-dimensional
Just as customer service has become paramount, customer engagement has also become more essential. Customers today have more ways of engaging with businesses than they have in the last decade. Social media has become more social than ever since lockdown began, with many audiences using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other platforms as a way to communicate during the quarantine. You can leverage this by focusing your efforts on engaging content that encourages interaction. You can also make use of tools such as WhatsApp to assist customers in real-time.
Embracing Change With New Digital Marketing Strategies
The current lockdown and global impact of CV-19 are far-reaching and difficult to fully comprehend. One of the positive things to emerge from any crisis, however, is change. New technologies and strategies are opening up, as businesses around the world find new ways to connect to customers and grow their businesses.
Using this uncertain time to refine, reflect, and revamp your digital marketing strategies will help you navigate the stress and use it to grow your results.
I’ve also been struggling with the value of digital marketing activity. With everybody working from home but also reduced marketing budgets overall, is digital marketing and social media marketing going to increase or decrease overall?
I believe the value of digital marketing is going to increase, but it will be more value focussed.
The first week of lockdown was kind of sketchy because no one actually knew and fully understood what was going on. In the second week, people and brands became fully aware of the reality of lockdown – especially when the extension was announced. The third week it really became a reality because many realised that this going to continue for a while and they should adapt to the current global situation – they just don’t know how.
This is where we can play a massive role and also change by educating and helping brands see the true value of digital marketing. Especially the importance of staying top of mind during this difficult period.
It’s a hard time for everyone and we might not continue the same as we did before in the digital marketing industry, but there is definitely an opportunity in helping brands understand the true value of digital marketing and what crucial role it plays.
Hi Anton, you have explained each point in a clear way. Yeah, its hard time for everyone, we might not continue the same as we did before in Digital Marketing but I believe the value of Digital Marketing is going to increase after this pandemic. I am pretty much agree that remote work has become widespread across the globe and there is a very strong chance that remote work will continue even after the crisis is over. Thanks for sharing this amazing article!