5 Reasons You Need To Use Digital Marketing More Than Ever
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the world seemingly overnight. With businesses closing up temporarily or asking employees to work from home, is now really the best time to use digital marketing?
Yes! It’s essential to use now more than ever before. With people staying home, you can’t rely on conferences, events, and other face-to-face marketing strategies. Your customers are remote, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reach them.
Whether your business already focuses on digital marketing or you’re just getting started, putting the time and effort into mastering digital marketing right now will pay off immediately and in the future.
1. Remain Relevant
If your brand suddenly disappears, your audience might move on to your competitors who have chosen to use digital marketing to stay relevant. Instead of hiding away or waiting to go back to other methods, businesses are transitioning to a mainly digital approach.
Why? They want to remain relevant. They want to continue conversations and building relationships with their audience. Show your audience that you can continue engaging with them throughout the coronavirus crisis and remain relevant in their daily lives.
2. Reach People Where There Are
The truth is every business needs a digital marketing strategy anyway. There are currently over 4.5 billion Internet users globally. In North America alone, 94.6% of the population uses the Internet at least sometimes.
If you want to reach people, go where they are – online. Build a website so they can find you via Google. Build an active community on social media. Make sure you’re creating a presence where people can find you where they hang out. During COVID-19 stay at home and shelter at place restrictions, even more, people are staying online, so now is one of the best times to use digital marketing.
3. Generate Leads Digitally
Many industries suffer during the coronavirus, especially any business that typically generates leads through mailers, face-to-face meetings, and local events. You don’t have to stop generating leads. You just have to switch to a digital strategy.
Continue meeting new people, but do it through social media. Add a contact form and/or live chat option to your website. Even if your physical business is closed right now, digital marketing helps you build up leads and answer questions until you can open back up.
4. Offer Connections Virtually
There’s a common misconception that virtual connections aren’t effective. Live streaming is growing for a reason – people like it. It’s convenient. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s also a great way to stay connected while staying safe.
Businesses and brands all over the world are switching to live streaming as a form of video marketing. Companies that would usually be closed are staying connected and bringing their audience together. For instance, clubs are hosting cloud clubbing events. Gyms are hosting fitness classes. Real estate agents are increasing in virtual tours.
Virtual connections keep you engaging with your audience, which will make them more likely to do business with you after this is all over. Plus, it’s a great way to build brand trust and loyalty.
5. Invest Now To Stay Competitive
Whether you use digital marketing regularly or this is a whole new world, now is the best time to invest in digital marketing to stay competitive. Digital is the best way to reach your audience during COVID-19. Businesses that adapt to digital now will have a distinct advantage after the pandemic passes.
Businesses that put more into their current digital marketing strategy will weather the storm easier. With digital being your best bet right now, why wouldn’t you use it to reach your audience, interact with them and grow your brand throughout the coronavirus outbreak and beyond?
With so many digital marketing options, explore what works. Just stay connected, and your audience will appreciate it.