The coronavirus has spread uncontrollably and governments round the world are still attempting to contain it by closing schools, public spaces, and borders. This has affected all businesses – and marketers have to be compelled to adapt their digital marketing strategy.

Physical events like business conferences, sporting events, and concerts are canceled and global markets are in a very free fall. Companies, like Unilever, Spotify, and Google, are encouraging workers do their work from home. 

Now marketers are asking themselves if these changes are permanent.

A totally different consumer

The increase of individuals being in their homes has led to a change in living style where customers have shifted to spending much time online than before.

Brands already catering to the ‘sofa-surfers’ have shown to be within the clear and in some cases have even seen an increase in sales. Brands that are traditionally offline have innovated new on-line products in an attempt to adapt to the current new method of living. 

The most significant factor of the pandemic is clearly the health of the population, however there are much more people affected than just the sick. 

The effects of the virus are felt by businesses. Corporations are declaring cutbacks one after another.

Marketing departments around the world are noticing the consequences as well. 

Most marketers are at a crossroad, thinking what path to go on in such an uncertain future. 

This article goes through how marketers are adapting to those new circumstances and what you ought to keep in mind while getting through the present situation. 

The way marketers are responding

• Short-term adaptations

61% of marketers are altering their short-run media strategy(shown by recent research). However, solely 9% are creating long-run changes. 

There may be a slight move from offline media to online, as marketers within the same study made clear that they would take a additional on-line approach. 

· Moving to flexible channels

Marketers seeing a cut in budgets can profit by moving toward cheaper and much versatile channels such as programmatic advertising where consumers presence and accessible impressions are increasing. 

Digital display ads, social media, and on-line video are channels that most probably can increase within the short-term media plan. 

Out-of-home advertising like metro billboards can have more lower exposure because of most of the people staying at home. Event promoting has come to an instantaneous stop, and we’ll possibly see that marketing budgets stop or shift towards on-line ads. 

However, not everybody sees marketing budget cuts because the solution. 

Some B2B brands are increasing digital advertising pay to compensate for the leads they otherwise would have picked up at events. 

• Long-term concern

An existing concern is that no one is aware of once the pandemic is over and everybody will return to their regular lives. 

We are seeing how pay is decreasing in several industries. The travel sector, retail, or events are scrambling to avoid wasting costs. However, several on-demand on-line services can probably increase advertising pay – particularly in on-line channels.

Services like on-line food delivery services, streaming or on-line news shops are benefiting from the higher on-line presence. These brands may need to take a bigger market share in a larger market and increase spend.  

Below are examples of industries that are benefiting vs those who are taking damage from increased online activity.

What to keep in mind throughout the pandemic

The uncertainty of the longer term is understandable. Nonetheless, this too shall pass. 

It is very important to remain centered on the long-run and not turn away from new growth opportunities.

Branding works best long-run. Cutting budget pay too much once not necessary might negatively impact the brand once the pandemic is over. Marketers shouldn’t forget that within the midst of a crisis – there can be opportunity. 

Seize the opportunities 

This may be a new time for everyone, to not mention the consumers. 

Now that a lot of are staying indoors more than simply one or two months ago, we are seeing a brand new kind of on-line behaviour. 

Online activity and shopping may shift to mid-day, when activity in normal circumstances is low. 

Online activity may even be higher since there’s a continuing stream of breaking news. 

As marketing budgets in certain industries are cut, Media are cheaper. If there’s a possibility, capitalising on this may have clear positive effects on share-of-voice.  

Digital opportunities

With several affected firms decreasing their digital promoting budgets, a drop of up to 47% in CPM and CPC prices has been seen due to decline in the competition. This can be a perfect chance for a few marketers to acquire new customers at a lower value than previously.

Consumers spend longer reading or looking at the news than ever before. Marketers currently have the opportunity to capture plenty of eyes by advertising on these common websites, at a lower value than the pre-corona period. 

Adapt to the new customer

For a brand, an internet presence has ne’er been as vital as today. 

Try to treat your daily work as business as usual, however keep it digital. 

Locate your target market and how their life-style has modified and plan how you ought to be targeting them. 

What is your target audience’s emotional context? What do they need to hear? however do you have to be in communication with them? 

Do not underestimate how the coronavirus has modified your customers and the way it’s affected their demands.  

Conclusion

There isn’t any doubt that the corona virus has left its mark in history. The question is quite what quantity things can change and how will the planet look once it’s all over. 

We have currently seen the consequences on different industries and promoting efforts, but how can marketers adjust?

More digital solutions have to be compelled to be thought of for all industries.

Even throughout a time that feels like a downward spiral – there is an opportunity to be seized. 

Digital Marketing during Covid | Repunext provide online tools

A totally different consumer | Repunext Chennai