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Even during the thick of the pandemic, we saw businesses struggling to change operations enough to stay afloat. Now, the name of the game is “adapt,” and we are all players trying to find out where we fit into the larger picture. Even if it means stepping out of our comfort zone, we are forced to move past the traditions we built and forward into the digital age.

Contact-Less Service
Before COVID-19, some businesses didn’t even have a social media page. These businesses relied on loyal customers, word of mouth, and in-store marketing endeavors. You know the shops I’m talking about, mom and pop shops who use printed flyers, bulletin boards and give the 100th customer of the day a prize.

For some, this type of business model set them apart from the mainstream shops and made them popular. For others, it was a general lack of enthusiasm for technology (or the inability to pay for pricey digital marketing campaigns). Then, with a snap of the fingers – it was gone. Nobody could come through the doors, and like that, the entire structure of the business folded.

You couldn’t rely on word of mouth, flyers, or bulletin boards. A rise in online shopping for a contactless experience became the thing to do. What did this mean for those who didn’t even have social media?

Dive Head-First Into Digital
Pride has to be replaced by necessity in terms of entering the digital world with your business. You have to be mindful of social media, you have to have a website, and you can’t rely on physical customers to do your bidding. Forget about getting used to the water. Jump in and hope you to swim and stay afloat.

If you want your business to survive now and in the future with the pandemic at large, you can’t wait for things to go back to normal. You have to move forward and adapt to the changes, and they need to be made now.

Transitioning to Digital Marketing
Everything seems to be done on a smartphone or computer device, including making purchases for everyday needs. To expand your clientele and remain in full operational order, the use of digital marketing is more than a requirement. It is the only lifeline that most businesses have. Business owners cannot expect to survive during COVID-19 if they don’t transition to a digital marketing strategy. Make sure your business has an adequate, modern website that is mobile-friendly and user-friendly. Customers should be able to easily contact you or buy through your website on all devices so that you do not miss out on any potential sales.

Business practices and catering to the customer have not changed in your marketing structure, only the method in which it is delivered. Customers need to feel safe during their purchases, and they feel better doing things online. Businesses will not survive this new age if they do not turn to the digital marketing platforms required to reach these customers.

Recessionary times weed out the weak and the strong prosper. In business terms that means they can gain market share. Another perk about these poor economic times is that you can negotiate a better deal for your company and the various forms of advertising since you know that everyone else is cutting or that they are completely stopping to advertise.

Our economy and the global economy is in a pickle. There is waning consumer confidence. Everyone seems broke. Spending has tightened. The mortgage crisis is still taking victims. Just look at the mammoth of a company that it has brought down, Bear Stearns. Who and what company is next?

This Recession is no kitten. It’s a lion that’s ready to go in for the kill. You need to prepare your company for battle and come out kicking.

There are two trains of thought when it comes to branding and a Recession. One is to continue to spend money in spreading word about your brand. The other is to cut off or cut down the spending to branding, advertising and marketing.

It has been found in numerous case studies that the first is the way to go and the latter is only a quick fix that can ultimately actually kill your business. It’s a knee jerk reaction to want to cut all “unnecessary” expenses and of course expenses that are not directly linked to rent, utilies, inventory etc… seem like the likely ones to go.

“That’s where the mistake comes in. Branding gives you an edge over your competitors. It makes your customers remember you and feel more comfortable, familiar with your brand when its time too choose” says Entrepreneur and Author Ben Peterson of the book “$500 Startup” and the fully guided work from home course that anyone can do at [http://www.500DollarStartup.com].

Hard times is actually the best time to take over market share as the weak die off. What a Recession should do to your company is make you smarter with your dollars. I mean you really should always be lean and mean but we all know that when times are fat, its easy to get sidetracked. Anyway, look to maximize your ROI in your branding efforts but definitely keep spending on it.

I suggest you look at more Internet marketing as the whole trend for viewership in the online world is up while traditional medica is down. That’s why you hear all those stories about newspapers, magazines, broadcast tv, and cable tv losing money and viewers.

There is a direct link between Internet companies making more and more money while traditional media and store fronts are hurting. The Internet is enjoying more people every day who are now turning to it as their primary source for entertainment, information and shopping.

You as a branding professional need to be keenly aware of this fact and use it to your advantage.

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Digital Marketing Means Business Survival During COVID-19