You have probably received many emails from a variety of businesses talking about the measures they are talking to support at-home work and keep spaces sterilized. However, after that initial email, many companies go dark and return to “business as usual” when it comes to their marketing. This is a mistake.
During times of uncertainty, companies need to be talking with their customers and potential customers even more than usual. Don’t settle in the belief that, now that everyone knows how you are weathering this storm, they will continue to buy and use your products and services at a normal rate.
Instead, now is the time to ramp up the marketing.
Use These Ten Online Marketing Platforms
These days taking out an ad in the local print paper, buying a billboard, or sending out a circular may not get the response for which you are hoping. However, there are many ways to advertise and connect online. Here are ten marketing platforms that you may (or may not!) have considered:
1. Standard social media platforms
If you have not gotten your business onto the usual social media platforms, now is the time. The most commonly used social media spaces are:
Each platform requires great content, but content can be varied and shared across many of these platforms. Here are just a few things you can do in the social media space:
- You can create an event or webinar and cross-promote it on LinkedIn and Facebook. On top of that, you can post about it on Twitter and Instagram.
- Take some visually stunning pictures or particularly useful screenshots and share them on Instagram and Pinterest.
- Find interesting past quotes from press releases and imprint them onto a picture - then upload the quote to all platforms.
- Do a live interview on Facebook and Instagram.
- Share up-to-the-minute information on each platform.
- Provide free tips and strategies in daily posts on each platform.
2. Platforms for Younger Demographics
If you are already a social media pro, now may be the time to try a platform that hits the younger end of your demographic. If your business needs to advertise to the under-18 set, try using Tik Tok or Snapchat to connect.
3. Podcasts
More and more people are listening to podcasts right now. This medium is beginning to replace radio and, like radio stations, podcasters need ad revenue. Place an ad on podcasts to which your marketing demographic listen or create your own podcast.
4. Event platforms
Create an online event and promote it on Eventbrite, Meetup, Evensi, or other event platforms. This allows people who subscribe to these platforms to get the good news that there is an event they actually can attend.
5. Direct email
Be sure to email your clients directly with updates, promotions, free tips, and event information. You can let your email list know that you are exploring these new platforms, share giveaways, promo codes, and more through direct emails.
You can also send direct mail during this time in the form of a postcard or personalized notecard as many people are home and checking their mail right now!
6. Your website
Your website is your online office. Be sure to keep notifications and banners up-to-date. Additionally, this can and should be your content hub. Include any free resources, tips, videos, and more on your website as well as any other platforms on which they are shared. These can be shared in the form of blog posts, ebooks, or white papers that are all accessible on your site.
7. Blogging platforms
Get onto other blogging platforms like Medium, Quora, Wordpress blogs, or LinkedIn. Creating quality content for sites that already have a large readership can help potential customers connect with you in new ways.
8. Video platforms
If video is interesting to you right now, be sure to get onto YouTube, Vimeo, FacebookLive, and InstaLive. All of these platforms will help you connect with clients through video.
9. Review platforms
There are plenty of articles on the internet that discuss how people can support local businesses. One way listed on such articles includes writing online reviews for these businesses, so be sure that your company is on review sites and easy to find. Many review sites are specialty sites for specific types of business, so ensure your company is on the right site for your business.
A shortlist of common review sites is:
- Angie’s List
- Yelp
- Houzz
- TripAdvisor
- TrustPilot
- Business.com
- Glassdoor
- FourSquare
10. Local listing sites
Get listed on local business listing sites like Yahoo Local and Patch.com. You may also want to take an online ad out in the local paper or send in a press release with something interesting your company is doing during this time. Every mention of the name of your business is helpful!
Try Something New
The other day we saw one company try something new and we wanted to share it here to show that you can go out on a limb and have it work.
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma has closed its doors to visitors for now. However, they still have security staff patrolling the museum and the grounds, ensuring everything remains safe and secure. Because of this, the museum marketing team decided to put the head of security (Tim Send) in charge of the museum's Twitter account. He was so charming and lovely that his tweets - and thus the museum - ended up on BoredPanda with an article that went viral on social media.
While this story and Tim’s tweets are genuinely delightful, we shared it to illustrate the point that trying something new with your marketing can work exceptionally well!
Are you ready to tackle the challenges facing you in today’s business environment? Contact Business Success Consulting Group to get your free initial consult today!
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