Why do Companies turn To Digital Marketing To Survive COVID-19?

For the entire planet, Covid-19 has resulted in challenging times. Businesses’ finances and their ability to stay afloat have all suffered due to this. Governments worldwide are progressively urging their citizens not to go outside, which means that even those in your target audience who previously resisted online purchasing will be more open to it than ever before.

The smartest organisations in the environment right now will make lemonade out of the lemons of uncertainty, panic, and global upheaval. People will be shopping online far more than they do now, and the tools to make digital shopping simple are already available.

New environment adaptations are their lifeline as they face these difficulties. Some people have been left with nothing to pursue, while others have benefited in many ways from government assistance. Many small and big companies have changed their marketing strategy to stay relevant, maintain logistics, and push past the Covid-19 crisis. 

That is why the implication of digital marketing for corporate purposes has risen dramatically. Companies that ignore social media material are now using Facebook and Instagram to engage with their customers. Those companies who previously had little to no awareness of SEO are now investing time to improve the operation of their websites. Some people who have highly invested in physical networking previously now have sizable online communities. This is due to the sudden and gradual shift made by the pandemic, which has fueled the demand for digital marketing as a contingency plan to future-proof businesses beyond the pandemic’s effects.

This can be a difficult but also an exciting period for businesses if they are new to digital marketing. There are numerous opportunities to be availed. There are numerous advantages of digital marketing for small and big businesses. Although this pandemic has created melancholy and negative consequences, turn this one into a positive by presenting your company into the digital world.

Changed the way of business dealing for better 

Some organisations have entirely redesigned their company – for the better – by establishing a digital marketing strategy amid these uncertain times. Businesses in all industries have witnessed improvements in exploring new possibilities and providing better services due to pivoting.

• Factories are retooling to create PPE, hand sanitisers, and ventilators as part of a shift to a digital strategy for business growth.
• To meet social distancing, restaurants are also offering internet ordering for takeout and delivery.
• Healthcare facilities adopt “Digital First” concepts, which allow patients to get care while on the go.
• Shifting to virtual experiences is assisting service-based industries in reaching out to clients in innovative ways across the board.
• Additionally, virtual technologies, such as GoToMeeting, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, are bridging the gap by allowing firms to collaborate while adjusting to working remotely.
• Virtual Reality (VR) is giving people new methods to experience areas without leaving their homes.
• Learning Management Systems (LMS) are utilised in classrooms and organisations to support training and online learning.

Bringing economy to new heights 

A Digital Marketing Transformation With the pandemic raising concerns about face-to-face engagement, improving the human experience through digital solutions can strengthen bonds and foster trust. With the tremendous growth in online sales, the world of e-commerce is evolving in 2020. E-commerce sales increased by 16 per cent in 2019, compared to 14.4% in 2018 and 13.2% in 2017. This was the largest annual percentage point increase in penetration since at least 2000. (Digital Commerce 360).

Our new reality is presenting economic chances for cyber, mobile, and online social presences as a means of sustaining their growth. “How can I best engage with my customers right now?” is one of the primary questions businesses are asking themselves. 

Turn to Digital Marketing to promote themselves.

The good news for organisations questioning whether or not to continue their marketing tactics in this challenging time is that they still have opportunities to expand, according to digital marketing ideas, to help you survive COVID-19.

Your clients will be using the internet for valuable information, entertainment, and even to choose which firms they can trust now more than ever. If you can get your branding in order today, you’ll be able to reap the rewards for decades to come — long after COVID-19 is no longer a concern. All you have to do now is demonstrate to your customers that you can adjust to their changing needs.

Notable Examples of effective digital strategy in different industries

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health organisations have advised individuals and businesses to postpone or cancel meetings with more than 50 people. As foot traffic and local visits come to a halt, many businesses are forced to reconsider their business models.
• Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee company, has stated that it will switch to a to-go-only strategy, ensuring that customers can still receive their caffeine addiction without risking their health.
• Disney’s theme parks and stores are no longer open, but the company is doubling down on other services, such as the new Disney Plus Streaming service in the United Kingdom.

How can you use Digital Strategy to your advantage?

While you may not entirely match the services and experiences that you can provide in-person in the virtual world, you can take proactive actions to keep customers coming to your business.

1. Make sure your website is search engine optimised and packed with information on how clients may still purchase from you.
2. Update your Google My Business page with current information about your business. If you provide takeout or to-go orders, make sure your consumers are aware.
3. Improve the user experience on your website so that clients are more comfortable shopping online.
4. If you’re worried that your marketing campaigns will fall short when you’re selling things like Judo sessions that clients may sign up for three months in advance, it’s time to start adding something fresh to your plan.
5. Perhaps you’ll only be able to provide your in-depth lectures in person once the situation has calmed down. Even so, a beginner’s taster lesson provided online via video conferencing can help them get started. This could be a terrific method to acquire new clients, strengthen your standing as an industry leader, and earn money simultaneously.
6. Ensuring that a company stays top of mind for its customers is one of the most critical things a company can do right now. Consider how you can expand your marketing roster to include new types of material to increase brand knowledge and recognition, in addition to adding additional sales chances to your campaign.
7. Create a podcast that showcases your industry expertise and invites people to join up for your email newsletter.
8. Use articles and blogs to demonstrate your thought leadership and guest writes for other top sites to increase your featured chances.
9. Collaborate with influencers and other brands to demonstrate to your audience that you’re a trustworthy company while also providing them with useful information.
10. People will be seeking evidence of who they can trust and who they can’t in a crisis, so manage your reputation. The holy grails of marketing and sales are trust and respect.
11. If you want your customers to keep buying from you throughout this difficult period, as well as when COVID-19 is over, make sure you’re projecting the correct image.
12. Update your tone of voice. There’s nothing wrong with keeping your personality in a crisis. People will still expect you to speak distinctly. You should not, however, make light of other people’s suffering. Take care not to come out as nasty or uneducated in your tone. Show that you care. Don’t just tell them that you’re there to help them; show them that you’re looking out for their best interests. If people need demos, give them away for free.
13. Provide discounts to those experiencing a loss of income due to their exposure to the Coronavirus. Make a significant difference.
14. Stay engaged in digital marketing. Don’t go silent when your clients need you the most. Keep your customers informed about what you’re doing to make their lives easier.
15. Even a simple email newsletter can have a significant impact.