Marketers are renowned for being good at thinking on their feet and planning ahead. That being said, currently, with the COVID-19 outbreak and it’s increasing impact on business, it would be fair to say that we’re all in unfamiliar territory.  With a lot of businesses announcing temporary closures and tackling a lot of disruption to their industries, the country is having to adapt, and adapt fast.

It is clear that businesses across the country are faced with the dilemma of whether to put things on hold and wait-and-see, or jump into crisis mode and start improvising. It may seem counterintuitive to be promoting your business in such sensitive times, but there is plenty your marketing team can be doing to stay ahead of the game and ensure that your business puts its best foot forward amongst all of this uncertainty. 

At Wriggle, we’re all about leaving the right impression, and working closely with our clients to help them stay ahead. With that in mind, here are six tips and tricks for making the most of your marketing team in the current climate:
 

Six Ways To Make The Most Of Your Marketing Team During COVID-19

SOCIAL MEDIA STILL MATTERS

While it may not be business as usual – engaging with your customers on your social media platforms should still be part of your routine. Remote working shouldn’t mean remote engagement. Social media activity is particularly high at the moment, and we’ve already seen a lot of people reaching out to tell their stories and discuss the current climate. This is a great time for your team to be using their platforms to talk positively about the work your business is doing during this crisis. When customers see positive content from employees of a business, it not only helps your employees bond with the brand, but it will give your customers a feel for who you are as a business. Just make sure everyone is aware of any social media policies to avoid potential mishaps online.
 

FLEXIBILITY IS KEY

According to Business Leader, an estimated 20 million people have made the move to working from home. Whether things have slowed down for your team or you’re busier than ever tackling new challenges, your marketing team will be some of those fighting fires and keeping the business moving. Make sure you’re working with your team to be flexible and adaptable. Regular communication amongst your team will ensure that you’re all on the same page and confident in your priorities.

BE PROACTIVE

It’s important to remember that whilst we can’t predict the future, we do know that this current state of crisis won’t be forever, so it’s important to be mindful of this and think long-term. It’s easy to get distracted by the short-term stresses but try to set aside time to think about what might be on the horizon and how your business should respond.
 

DON’T LET STRATEGY SLIP

 Customer demands will be changing and you should expect your marketing strategy to change with it. Why be a business that puts things on pause when that’s what so many of your competitors will be doing? Putting the work in now and making sure your digital presence remains a priority will put you in good stead for when things have turned a corner.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

 It’s safe to say that at the moment, there is a real buzz around self-improvement. The nation seems to be diving into home workouts and decluttering and there’s no reason why this can’t be an opportunity to bring that buzz into your work life too. We all have tasks that take a back seat when things get busy. So, what can you be doing to stay ahead of the curve and prepare your team for the future? It could be:

• Streamlining some of your processes 
• Doing some digital spring cleaning
• Filling skills gaps

Now may be the time to invest in your team to ensure everyone is geared up for what’s ahead.
 

COMMUNICATE

As we mentioned in our last blog post on working from home, this is new territory for a lot of us and it can be hard to adjust. Scheduling recurring catch-ups with the team via video chat will build some structure into your day and keep everyone focused. It will also be a great way to stop people feeling isolated. If you’re used to socialising as a team at the end of the week, why let social distancing stop you? We’ve seen some great examples of virtual pub quizzes and happy hours to keep morale high.
Jay Flynn, from Lancashire, has been posting virtual pub quizzes onto his YouTube channel since the lockdown, and has gained over 100,000 followers!

It’s hard to know when we’ll be back to ‘business as usual’ but working with your marketing team will ensure you’re being proactive and navigating these challenges in the best way you can.