Introduction
Ever since COVID-19 has hit the countries, several businesses have witnessed a downfall. With so many shops and stores shutting down, saving the businesses from the economic crisis seems daunting, isn’t it? With 31.6M cases worldwide (currently), this pandemic has made us shift from our usual lifestyles. Every day we hear about a new prediction on COVID-19, but the truth is we still don’t know when this will end. So, instead of wasting this time, better make the most of it.
Speaking of the marketing world, it has been a roller coaster ride for marketers. However, in my opinion, this is probably the best time for businesses to catch up with the competition. Unlike other business fields, marketing is a magic wand that can attract users with its unique online mediums.
Before we move on to the digital marketing trends of 2020, let’s take an overview of the marketing before and after the Coronavirus outbreak.
A Big Shift
The times before the COVID-19 were evolving and shifting to new technology. With the rise in influencer marketing, video marketing, and email marketing, the world of digital marketing embraced technologies with open hearts. With the outbreak of COVID19, there has been a massive increase in internet usage and a shift in consumer preferences. When I say a big shift, it does not restrict the usage of the internet for entertainment purposes but seeking information as well. The evolving search patterns of consumers has changed the dynamics of digital marketing.
Now, let’s have a look at how COVID-19 has impacted the world of digital marketing.
Social Media Is A Hit
The power of social media is immense. The pandemic has left us all strangled at our places and the lockdown crisis made the world hop onto social media even more. These times have seen a considerable peak in social media usage. People are using social media for entertainment, learning, educating, promoting, and more. This is an excellent time for businesses to establish their brand and expand their reach on social media.
Several brands that deal with groceries and daily necessities saw a sudden surge during these times. The online market was the only resort during the lockdown times and this further boosted the social media engagements. It has also been observed that social media engagements increased by 45% during COVID times.
When in business Communication is the key to survival and social media platforms are the best way to stay connected with your audiences. The brands that were not investing in social media before COVID-19 have also hopped onto social media. So, start engaging with your audiences and see better conversions.
Video Marketing Has A Long Way To Go
Video marketing has been catching several eyes ever since it hit the online world, but the COVID19 times have made them a more integral part of marketing. Videos are highly engaging and researches also show that people are more likely to engage with video rather than reading a pain blog or article.
Video marketing is definitely a win-win for businesses. If businesses are still perplexed whether you invest in this or not, can try it by free mediums. There are ample video marketing tools that can help you with the video templates, elements, and more. You can curate good content for video promotions and see how positively it affects your business growth. Make sure you frame a strategy to create videos and test unique ideas to drive more attention.
Influencer Marketing Is Growing
Influencers have grown a massive market on online platforms. They have a reach to a large segment of audiences and can efficiently engage them with the brand. Influencers like famous celebrities, bloggers, and activists can drastically enhance your website traffic and boost sales. Your favorite actor endorsing a product would be hard to miss, isn’t it? Well, that’s the power of influencer marketing.
Virtual Events Are The New Meetups
The outbreak of COVID19 halted physical meetings and gatherings. Virtual events are the new business meeting rooms and marketing platforms. From everyday Zoom meetings to weekly webinars, this is the new normal for businesses. Whether you want to showcase a new product to your customers or want to promote the existing ones, virtual events can effectively target your audiences and market your products.
Virtual events are not just limited to product marketing, but these events are also a great way to reach wider audiences and grow your business. To organize the virtual events, you can use Facebook live sessions, Zoom, Webinars, and other platforms. The best part of conducting virtual events is people can easily attend them at their convenience while you can access markets at the global level.
Personalization And Transparency To Must Prevail
COVID-19 has not only changed the marketing trends but also the consumer’s expectations. Customers want the brand to stay true to its offering, especially in these times of uncertainty. They want to know how a brand is dealing with this global pandemic and how they are ensuring the safety of the employees and customers.
No brand is perfect, everyone has their own way of doing business and spreading their brand’s message. Customers just want the brand to be real and appreciate when the brands personalize their presence in the online world. For example – brands like – Uber and Amazon show stories of their employees and publish personalized posts. That is what is attractive to customers.
The customers also expect the brand to communicate with them and solve their concerns. The tip is, make sure to add a personal touch to your online posts, this will surely help you gain customer loyalty.
A Concluding Note
Brands have no longer an option to invest in digital marketing, they must make the most of it. We can clearly see from this post how there has been a sudden change in the way the market works, so make the most of this pandemic time and build a strong online presence. Digital solutions are what businesses are looking for, so make sure you make the most of this time and plan a strategic marketing approach. Good luck!
