If you’ve been glued to the news or your Twitter feed these past few weeks, you’re not alone. COVID-19 (the official name for the novel coronavirus) continues to spread across the globe and the United States. We’re seeing new developments on the daily, including some countries choosing to close their borders and some U.S. states issuing “shelter-in-place” mandates. This ongoing situation has left the stock market extremely volatile, and some businesses in jeopardy.
As a leading digital marketing agency, Snap’s goal is to maintain consistent communication with our clients and continue to set and exceed expectations. If you’re feeling nervous about the future, know that we’re on your side and are here to help you weather the storm. Here are some things to keep in mind as we continue to navigate the world of digital marketing during these uncertain times.
Staying Healthy
The CDC has stated that prevention is the greatest key to limiting the spread of COVID-19. Be sure to stay up to date on the latest news about the disease while taking steps to limit exposure for yourself and others. In general, the CDC recommends the following:
- Washing your hands
- Avoiding close proximity with others
- Covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing (then wash hands)
- Staying home if you feel ill, are ill, or present as ill
Reevaluating Budgets
Economic uncertainty is another significant factor to take into account as COVID-19 continues its spread. The stock market just had its worst week since 2008, and the airline and tourism industries have already been hit hard by cancellations. Given the potential for more “shelter-in-place” mandates and other social distancing efforts, it seems likely that other industries and businesses will also be impacted. Manufacturers and suppliers of industrial or construction products, for example, are seeing canceled trade shows, some of which usually secure a large amount of their revenue for the year.
Does this spell certain doom? Absolutely not. We’re entering a time when more decision-makers will be working online than ever before. This means that strengthening your digital presence—or at the very least, maintaining it—is a smart move. Some of our current clients are pivoting their sales and marketing budgets from canceled events to webinars and direct-to-listener programs. This is just one approach that can put your budget to good use. Snap is here to help, and we’re happy to put together a customized plan that can support your marketing efforts and adapt as the situation changes.
Shifting to Remote Work
As a digital agency, being online is our bread and butter. We support remote and distributed teams—in fact, we have both employees and clients located around the world. But that doesn’t mean everyone is used to working from their home office or not seeing colleagues each day. Video and teleconference services like Zoom and UberConference can go a long way towards bridging the gap and maintaining communication amongst your team members. And if you’re already feeling the WFH blues, get back on track with some of our tips and tricks for working remotely.
While we don’t know what the future will bring, we do know that our society is adaptable and more tech-savvy than ever before—so keep communication strong, whether that means setting a daily video conference to touch base with your team or scheduling a regular digital happy hour to maintain office culture and that sense of camaraderie.
Your Digital Presence Matters
At the end of the day, companies are made of people. And right now, we’re all awaiting new developments in the response to COVID-19 while doing our best to keep our communities and families safe and healthy. At the same time, we remain dedicated to providing high-quality work and insight into the state of marketing. If you have any questions about keeping your digital marketing effective during these tumultuous times, reach out today.