This is an enduring year for all of us. The pandemic brought many flourishing businesses down and most of us are still learning how to live in the “new normal.”
Is there a way for your company to thrive while still ensuring your health and safety? By the end of this article, you’ll learn how to make a bulletproof marketing business plan in uncertain times.
2021 Consumer Trends
Before you start building your new marketing business plan, it’s essential to know how consumer behavior has changed since the onset of the pandemic. The experts have noted the following significant changes in consumer’s behavior which can significantly affect your marketing strategy:
In-Demand Online Shopping
Due to the pandemic, the demand and growth for online shopping accelerated by 4-6 years. The pandemic forced brick and mortar businesses to close down and shift to the e-commerce world.
Changes In Brand Loyalty
Many businesses have closed down since the health crisis started, which has shifted consumer trends in brand loyalty. It’s now more common to try out new brands based on need and availability.
Safety Concerns
Whether you’ve decided to stick to having a physical or online business, health and safety measures have become an essential part of your marketing business plan.
Consumers want to know exactly what to expect from your business. It’s wise to be thoughtful in showing social distancing signs, implementing health and safety precautions like mandatory wearing of face masks, getting temperatures, hand sanitizers, etc. Customers today value businesses that give value to their safety in return.
Rise of the Gig Economy
Our homes have become the center of our lives. Our home is where we work, study, shop, and bond with our families. Consumers are now patronizing businesses that can offer virtual services from the comfort of home. Companies that offer services like food delivery, online classes, home fitness, etc., are likely to thrive in the new normal.
What You Can Do To Build A Bulletproof Marketing Business Plan
#1: Invest in Visual Mockups
If you cannot advertise your product through samples, it’s essential to invest in digital visuals now more than ever. Creating mockups to showcase your products is vital to your marketing business plan. Mockups help showcase your products or services in real-life scenarios.
You can hire a professional graphic designer to do your mockups. If not, you can use free graphic designing tools such as Canva to have simple yet stunning images for your business.
#2: Invest in Video Marketing
Besides investing in visual mockups, you can also take your marketing business plan to the next level through video marketing. Video marketing is an interactive and innovative way to repurpose your content. It’s also a great medium to increase customer retention and improve brand awareness. Videos are also mobile-friendly, making it easier for your customers to watch your content in the comfort of their homes.
Here are the types of content you can repurpose with video marketing:
- Videos to introduce your products and services
- Tips and secret tricks to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the industry
- New trends and updates in your industry
- 360-degree virtual reality videos (this is especially great for hotel and accommodation businesses)
- Testimonials from clients
- Reviews made by your influencers
#3: Sharing Daily Updates Through Stories
Another essential element to consider in your marketing business plan is Stories. Since you cannot interact with your customers physically, you can build rapport by sharing personal stories and social media updates. Take advantage of Instagram and Facebook Stories, and post relevant content on your business page.
These can be an inspirational quotes, links to visit your website, or even advertising your products and services occasionally. These updates help your followers know you and your brand more. The more they interact with your brand, the more likely they’ll turn into loyal customers.
It’s recommended to support product updates with paid ads to take advantage of the swipe feature. The swipe feature helps your followers access your landing page easier.
#4: Send Email Newsletters (Yes, They Are Still a Thing!)
Email marketing can still be an effective part of your marketing business plan strategy, especially during this pandemic. The marketing experts say email is still the best platform to generate the most leads and sales.
Here are some promising stats to back those claims:
- A whopping $44 ROI is generated in every $1 you spent on email marketing.
- Email marketing yields a 4,300% ROI compared to other marketing channels.
- Experts projected that around three billion people would have emailed by 2021. It gives businesses plenty of opportunities to expand their customer base.
- About 20.9% of people check their emails at least five times a day.
#5: Install Chatbots on Your Website and Social Pages
Excellent customer service plays a vital role in your marketing business plan. Customers value businesses that are always available to address their needs. While it’s impossible for you to be up and available 24/7 (unless you have a dedicated customer service team rotating their shifts), you can still address their needs with the help of technology.
Invest in installing chatbots and auto-replies on your website and social media pages. These tools can help you answer the frequently asked questions of your customers.
Not only will you be able to address their concerns immediately, but it also helps to better manage the time you spend on customer service. Chatbots and auto-replies can help you categorize your customer’s concerns according to priorities. Thus, saving you precious time.
If a customer has an urgent and custom inquiry that needs your utmost attention, the system can forward the message so that you can attend to it personally.
Conclusion
Starting or recovering your business in these dire times might be challenging, but with the right marketing business plan, we know you’ll be on the right track to start the new year with a bang! If you wish to learn more about how our marketing plans can help your business thrive, our consultants will be more than happy to talk with you.
