As the world set into the decades’ longest crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, economies have suffered tragically. Complete lockdowns, globally, have created gaps between the economic flow. Import and export services have come to a halt with restrictions and bans on international travel.

Just when we thought of getting back to our feet with the pandemic coming under control, the world was hit by a second wave of Covid-19 disease. At this time it became difficult for most people to keep their faith in place. Ones who wanted to wait for the pandemic to get over could now fathom the distress of getting buried in the same pit again. From west to east, countries are declaring total lockdowns once more. The prospects of flourishing go down for the second time in such quick succession.

For a world like ours, waiting for the situation to get under control or magically get fixed, is a futile hope. As we have come to terms with the “new normal”, businesses and economies as well need to adapt the same in order to outlast the crisis.

Here we shall talk about the ways brands need to position themselves for the end of Covid. We hope to bring some light to the “new normal” marketing strategies that would help entrepreneurs bloom and benefit in a situation like ours.

On-line is In Vogue

With the internet as our muse, we have successfully innovated ways to reach out to every corner of the world with business and enterprise. Although it was difficult at first, especially for the lesser tech-savvy population, with time we have all come to terms with the usage of online platforms to fulfill our needs.

At this hour, no matter what your business deals in, it is important for all companies and entrepreneurs to have an online presence. From educational institutes to grocery stores, online modes have come to the rescue at all points. After enduring the pandemic situation for a year, in 2021 the whole world seems to have accommodated within the screens of our laptops and smartphones. Placing your products on e-commerce websites can help you sell more than a physical store.

All this indicates a substantial change in the buyer-seller, employer-employee, teacher-student and other relationships as well. However, with the help of technology, there’s always a way to overcome the physical absence.

Let us talk about some of the fields that companies have to lay their focus on in order to perpetuate a smooth and profitable online business post-Covid:

• It is advisable for all brands to initiate the use of competent CRM software and tools in order to maintain and manage proper customer records.
• In order to exchange ideas and talk about associative business plans, formal webinars are highly recommended. You can use apps like Whereby and Zoom to organize large webinars and invite relevant individuals to join your case.
• Make arrangements for a long-term work-from-home situation for all your employees. From providing systems to arranging for networks, you might have to make some considerable work done here. The software market has come up with several tools and apps to aid internal communication and sharing within an office team or group. Apps like Slack, Skype, Google meet and many more can prove to be of great help.
• Online data management and analysis are enormously important when your business shifts away from the offline mode. Google sheets, Notion, Tableau, Google Cloud Platform are some of the online tools that can help you keep a track of your activities and make efficient plans for the future.

Social Media and Mass Outreach

For lives bound indoors, smartphones have become the only companion, providing us with information, entertainment and keeping us connected with all friends and family. According to data, more people have started indulging in social media since the outbreak of the pandemic. This change can prove highly beneficial for brands battling for prominence.

Social media is more or less an addictive ground and most likely, the newbies on these platforms (which is a great part of the world’s population currently) are going to continue the usage even after the pandemic ends. In this scenario, it is only profitable if you concentrate more on social media marketing and plan your strategies in that direction. You can get ensured engagement and higher conversion rates with this medium.

Here we shall talk about some of the marketing policies on social media that can assist better outreach during and after the hard times:

• Make your marketing strategies more empathetic than opportunistic. Social media is the perfect ground to display oneness as it has proved time and again to be the source of modern community creation. Hence you can have ample opportunities to make people feel one in a global crisis. As a part of this Cobid-ridden world, every entrepreneur has the opportunity to promote safety regulations with the help of their brand names.
• Boost your creativity when delivering a message. Social media platforms are all about being creative. It is not a newspaper column or a pamphlet. When you’re using social media as your marketing platform, you need to make your objectives more attainable and lively for people to connect better. You can use online tools to create and edit ad videos for Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms.
• Use influencer marketing as your new strategy. There are some well-known faces that netizens tend to follow on a regular basis. Use these faces to promote your ideas. It is always a better technique to grab mass attention when you collaborate with public figures and let them promote your brand. This not only grabs attention but also acts as a positive reassurance to the viewers which is an important factor during this time.

Aligning with Values and Ethics

The new decade started off with a massive loss, emotional and economic. The year 2020 was not only hit by the ravages of a pandemic but the climatic crisis, racial violence and movements, food crisis and much more. This is a time where human values have gained more power, choosing the right side has become more significant.

In times like this, brands too can’t completely disregard values and ethics. If your branding shows no empathy towards the humanity that’s in danger, it is likely to get counteraction from users. Boycotting and banning brands and businesses is nothing unimaginable at this moment. The post-Covid entrepreneurs have to therefore ensure positivity and humanity in their branding techniques.

For making success in this tumultuous situation you need to be well-aware and open-minded as an entrepreneur. If you plan as a benefactor today, your company is sure to be remembered tomorrow. Even at the cost of some loss, many large companies have provided assistance to the ones in need.

Summing it Up

It is important for all business owners, small and large, to have a plan ready to meet the apprehensions of the market and the clients once the Covid situation gets over. We shall face different kinds of demands for different industries. However, once you have read your market inside out, you’ll know the best ways to meet the upcoming challenges.