Marketing in Times of Coronavirus

We are now entering an essential week in the global pandemic, and the fastness of our response is vital. Marketing is a pillar of business, and even in moments of dire straits we should be able to respond so we can always stay ahead of the curve. In this newsletter, you will find how your business can use SEO & Marketing to combat the Coronavirus impact, learn from how past leaders navigated the upturns and downturns of a recessionary market and how to re-align your marketing and customer loyalty strategy.

Yours, Hiram & Tabatha Founder and Co-founder Content Mist

13 Ways Businesses Can Use SEO & Marketing to Combat Coronavirus Impact

• How can your business survive the economic impact of a COVID-19 outbreak – of the social distancing required to prevent one?

• If you’re doing anywhere between $1 and $5 million in sales per year you should be spending 7-8% of gross revenue on advertising and marketing, according to the U. S. Small Business Administration.

• Can you be a local leader in distributing reputable information to your community about COVID-19 supports? Remember that a lot of places no longer have a local newspaper or radio station. If you have the time to gather information from local government and health agencies and make sure people know where they can get tested for Coronavirus, what steps they should take to report symptoms, etc., why not publish it in a blog or your email newsletter? Include a disclaimer that you are not giving medical advice, and always link back to the original source of the information so people can verify it for themselves.

Marketing During Coronavirus: How to Come Out Ahead

• This doesn’t mean that you should suspend all marketing during this time because let’s face it, every one of your competitors is likely doing the exact same thing.

• McGraw-Hill Research found that in a study of 600 B2B companies during the 1981-82 recession, those who maintained or increased their advertising expenditures averaged higher sales growth during the recession and in the subsequent 3 years.

• While this may be uncharted territory for today’s business leaders, we can learn from how past leaders navigated the upturns and downturns of a recessionary market.

Re-Aligning Marketing and Customer Loyalty for Retailers During the Coronavirus

• Keep in mind that people will be spending more time at home, maybe in front of their computer or smartphone.

• This may be a time when you can help people by providing useful content, and offering services and benefits they actually need.

• If you offer free shipping as part of your loyalty program, you should make the loyalty program easier to access temporarily to maintain people’s interest and show goodwill.