How businesses are marketing in COVID times?

Coronavirus has spelt nothing but doom for companies across the globe, regardless of how big or small they may be. Besides being locked up in our homes 24*7, we have experienced a significant rift with our business partners, employees, as well as our customers. Is spiralling the only option downwards before the doors shut tight on our big business ventures and dreams? Absolutely NOT! The beautiful thing about being human is the ability to adapt, reassess and reform. We certainly can’t change the situation, but we most certainly can come up with a solution in these desperate times, because as they say, ‘desperate times call for desperate measures’! 

Business in COVID times may not necessarily be a booming one, but you can still keep it far from destruction with a slightly different marketing approach, which suits both you and your customer. 

Here are five ways through which businesses are marketing in COVID times: 

Reanalyzing plans keeping COVID in mind

The supply chain may have been interrupted most unexpectedly with the onset of the corona, but businesses who have known how to tackle the situation have responded most aptly, keeping the current scenario at the forefront. They have not panicked but have moulded their marketing plans to fit the political and social environment. Depending on what your business type is, you need to begin by being flexible and calm. The panic button is not going to get you anywhere, and therefore you need to start by revisiting your marketing plans and adjust them accordingly. Take your offline ideas and put them online, represent and repackage certain products that may generate high demand amongst the masses, and make the most of paid ads, as they have gotten cheaper during this time. 

Change of messaging and packaging

With corona taking over our lives, everyone is looking for brands that promote a safe, hygienic and easy to access environment. Whether it is food or household items, sanitization products, or things related to wellness and lifestyle, people need reassurance and a sense of security. Every business out there that is excelling at the marketing game has changed its tone, voice and messaging to appeal to the masses. Whatever your brand may be, link it subtly or overtly with the current emotional state of your customers and see the difference it makes! 

The fine line between positivity and insensitivity

Coronavirus has gone on for so long now that people are beginning to get back into their comfort zones, not realizing that the seriousness of the situation still exists. If you search the internet, you will get all kind of content around the corona, some of which is insensitive or hurtful. While marketing calls for all sorts of creativity and innovation, we must be responsible for circulating the right messaging that instills hope and positivity but does not come off as crass or crude. Your brand must communicate a new sense of zeal and optimism, but should not turn a blind eye to what is happening in the world. 

Paid advertising

A lot of brands have made the mistake of pulling back their paid advertising, but NOW is the time to make the most of it. The good news is that paid advertising is not expensive in the current scenario, and therefore you must use it to your advantage. Once the pandemic is over and your brand resurfaces without any ads to back it up, you may have lost a large percentage of your clients. Therefore, don’t get into the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ bracket, and push paid ads that are in sync with the present state of affairs. 

Get social

Everyone is ONLINE but, much more than they ever were before. Social media content is being consumed tremendously every single second, so you really can’t afford to miss out on this one! That said, business in COVID times has certainly gone online with exciting campaigns, creative interactions with customers, short films, videos and practical engagement activities that have kept the momentum high both for the brand as well as the customer or end consumer. Get busy posting as often as you can, come up with ways through which you can communicate with your consumers on social media platforms, make shopping easy for them, give them more information and stay connected. It’s a big, BOLD digital world out there right now, and businesses are creating countless opportunities around it. 

Just like any other pandemic that has happened before, this one shall pass too, but that does not mean that you stay stagnant. Utilize modern-day tools and virtual platforms and create business opportunities, which can be beneficial for you and your customers.