(815) 503-0286 matt@matthewlbrennan.com

We look outside, and things are quiet and eerie. Companies of all sizes have sent their employees to work from home. Some remote workers, myself included, have even gained a junior “coworker” due to school closings. The coronavirus has ushered in some strange times for all of us, but we can make the most of it.

What I’ve noticed in the last few days, is that many business owners and executives seem motivated to improve their marketing. And that’s an awesome way to work on your business when you’re limited in other capacities. Here are some content-specific suggestions for marketing in the age of coronavirus. Maybe you can come out the other side with something stronger.

Some Ideas for Marketing in the Age of Coronavirus

Perform a Content Audit – Think about your company website. This serves as the home base for your business and provides all the key information that a customer will see the moment that they search for you online. So, does your page content best reflect who you are, and the services you offer? In other words, are there products or services you provide that you don’t have page content for?

Now is the time to address that by creating new content. You can also double-check to make sure that your images look sharp, the links on your website are operational, and that the current content makes sense. Read through your website with a critical eye, and make sure that you make edits as you see fit.

Keep Blogging – This is still one of the best ways to create search engine friendly content. I always tell my clients that it helps you to cast a wider net. There are plenty of industry phrases that won’t come up naturally in the content of your web pages.

For instance, if your company manufactures medical devices, you may not write about the health conditions they can be applied to, or the best ways to use the product. A blog can help you educate your customers. It can help position you when people are searching for services within your industry.

Keep blogging. Keep producing quality content. Past all the regular reasons, the world needs interesting content right now.

Try Something New – Now is the perfect chance to try and reach people in a new way. If you’ve been waiting to open a new social media channel, start a podcast, or otherwise find a new way to reach your customers, this is the time to do it. Experiment and find your groove in new ways.

Become a Digital Connector – Just because many of us are working from home, and meeting in person isn’t encouraged, doesn’t mean you have to be a hermit. Now is a good time to hop on the phone, try out Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Skype, or try any other form of digital communication.

Watch What You Say – We have to watch our messaging in a time like this. Right before they cancelled the NCAA tournament I found a “March Fever” ad in my local newspaper. Even though it was arguably early in the turn of events, it didn’t sound good. It’s probably time for marketers of all stripes to retire the phrase “going viral” as a way to talk about the most popular content.

This Isn’t Forever

What we’re experiencing now, it’s temporary. It may not be easy in many cases, but we’ll come out the other end stronger. Now is the time to work on marketing in the age of the coronavirus. It’s the perfect time to strategically build your business and focus on the strength of your connections. If you have questions or would like to talk about what that means in your particular instance, contact me today!

 

Matthew Brennan is a Chicago Copywriter and copy editor. He is also the author of Write Right-Sell Now and The Virus and Us.