No, we are not joking. Really! Catalogs are still a viable marketing tool.

How can this traditional, print marketing tool possibly hold its own against flashy digital marketing strategies? This fact might convince you:

Consumers spend an average of 15.5 minutes looking through a catalog and keep it for weeks, according to Trends and Updates, USPS.

Marketing During The Coronavirus Requires Treading Lightly

Right now it is far too easy to make marketing mistakes that can cost your business customers, profits and reputation including:

Great, It’s Finally Time To Re-Open Your Business. Now What? 

When your brick-and-mortar business is able to reopen its doors, you may not necessarily be in a position to get back to business. Customers and employees wary of being exposed to coronavirus may worry about being in an enclosed space with other people. Furthermore, many of your customers are straining to keep their own business or lives afloat as they are in the wake of a crumbling economy. Consumers do not currently have the budget to spend exorbitant amounts of money and for a business, it takes money to make money.

You need street cred during the coronavirus outbreak. How can you get it? By improving your online star ratings and getting more positive reviews.

• 97% of consumers read online reviews before making a buying decision.
• 86% of people would pay more for services from a company with higher ratings and reviews, according to Nusani.
• RevLocal found that 42% of consumers will not use a business with less than a 3-star rating.

Uncertainty is running rampant at the moment due to the virus and economic crisis. Captain Obvious: People are dealing with a tremendous amount of stress. In times like these, when people feel like the ground beneath them keeps shifting, demonstrating that your business can help them find stable ground - even in a small way - is paramount.

Small businesses with American-made products and local services are highly regarded right now due to the coronavirus outbreak. I know what you are thinking, what is this “American-made" thing you are talking about? Well products use to be made in the good ole U.S. of A. but everything got outsourced across seas to boost profits and look at where we are at right now... A lack of trust in foreign markets and issues getting imported goods across borderlines have given these U.S. companies a distinct advantage over their counterparts.

What are the best ways to demonstrate that you are local and capitalize on this advantage? Create or update your local listings, social profiles, and your website.

CBD wellness company is overnighting its stress-reducing products to customers free-of-charge. Strip clubs are offering drive-up services in which dancers stay six-feet away to comply with social distancing protocols. Automotive dealerships are offering contactless white-glove services such as home vehicle pick-up to every single customer. 

Social media has become the primary form of entertainment for many people during the coronavirus outbreak. Many people are stuck at home, unemployed or both. As a result, those people are spending much of their time on social media platforms talking about Tiger King and Carol Baskins, or planning that annoying drive-by birthday procession.

For this reason, social media marketing has become more valuable than ever before.

What is your primary marketing objective to help your business survive the economic disaster caused by COVID-19?

1. Get leads and drive them to the end of your sales funnel
2. Drive traffic to your website and reinforce your brand

In order to keep up with that pesky Amazon, Google recently made its advertising tool available by including unpaid, organic listings in the Shopping search results FOR FREE (yes, free - no BS, no Google Ads account or credit card needed).