The coronavirus crisis has held the entire world in its strong grip and locked millions of people in their homes, cities, and countries. Naturally, all businesses came to a surprising and unprecedented halt – urging businesses to think of ways to deal with this crisis in an effective manner.
Marketing Events in the Time of Coronavirus
Events – of all kinds – have been cancelled across the world because of the Covid-19 crisis. Businesses have paused their activities, including the launch of their products and services. In this age of uncertainty, marketers are not sure how they’d conduct the usual operations of their businesses and how they’d help their brands deal with the situation efficiently.
The unfortunate fact about this stressful situation is that it is all very new for all people, which is why a majority are clueless when it comes to tackling the situation. Here are some ways that, to some extent, help marketers deal with the still-unfolding crisis.
1.Take Advantage of Social Media
The good thing about social media is that it has a huge audience. Facebook, for example, has 2.5 billion monthly active users. More than a billion active users visit the site daily. You can post pre-recorded sessions or webinars to interact with your audience. Or, you can have an expert does a live session and take questions.
2.Create Virtual Trade Shows
Many establishments, including museums, art galleries, and theatres, are streaming their shows and tours. This lets people do something different during the quarantine period and keep their mind off of depressing and troubling news. The same idea can be applied for trade shows and conferences. While it is true that a lot of work is needed to be done to pull off a great trade show, going virtual with your conferences is a great way to keep your business going during the times of the COVID-19. With resources such as Zoom, you can easily set up a virtual event.
3.Stick to their Expertise
It is good that you are worried about this global pandemic and want your audience to stay safe. However, not everyone is interested in learning about what precautionary measures to take by the organizers of an event for which they have already paid during the pre-quarantine period. This is the time to strengthen your communication with your audience. There will be a large number of people who would want to know about your refund policy regarding the event that is canceled. Be responsive to them and keep your audience informed.
4.Shifting Strategy
Is it time to shift to digital marketing? You want your brand to stay relevant in the post-quarantine world! A large number of people are spending time on social networking sites to keep themselves entertained. Use this prime opportunity to create digital ads and increase your customer base.
The Final Word
The coronavirus outbreak has taken everyone by surprise. Dealing with the crisis is somewhat like a trial and error method, where you will have to make several attempts to get the desired results.
For more information on how to convert your in-person events to online events, feel free to contact us today for a consult.