What to do now? (with your marketing budgets)

If you are struggling to figure out what’s next, you are not alone…

In the time of social distancing & shelter in place, staying home is our new reality for the time being. Maybe you’ve just set up your home office and you’re working again, but things are really quiet or you are not sure what to do next. This is the situation we now find ourselves in, but here are some ideas on how to respond:

Stay Connected
Don’t fall off the grid, reach out to customers by offering to host video conference calls, stay in touch via email, social media or even a phone  call.

Be Relevant
Instead of pitching your latest product, reach out and find a way to help. A great example I wanted to share – one of the clients I work with, AJAX  Metal Forming Solutions, is partnering with the University of Minnesota  to supply parts to create much needed ventilators. Read more about their  efforts here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ajax-partners-university-minnesota-ventilator-design-team-horton/?trackingId=mCHlX0pGS8Om5FQ8Vv5SEA%3D%3D

Pivot Your Message
Maybe  your current marketing message is not appropriate anymore. I’m helping  one of my clients change existing copy on a mailer from the theme of travel and vacations to one of helping, by featuring an easy recipe to  try at home right now – and offering insurance Q&A sessions on Facebook.

Stick to the Plan
It  might be hard to focus right now. I’ve had a few days where I wasn’t able to get much done because of all the uncertainty right now. Give yourself some time to adjust to this new normal and try to focus on what  is most important. Is there downtime to finish a marketing project  you’ve started on but haven’t had time to finish? Are there other projects you should put on hold or change the message? Create a plan and  brainstorm new ways to adjust and if you need help with anything, I’m available.
What are you doing to stay in touch with your customers? I would love to hear how you are dealing with this shift in work. And if you have just set up a home office, here’s a link to an article I wrote with some tips for staying productive at home:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/4-work-from-home-tips-jennifer-leonardson