Marketing Strategy & Pro Tips from Tag Marketing

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).

• Marketing email engagement has climbed to 25% higher than pre-COVID averages.
• Conversely, sales or promotional email response rates are down over 25% from pre-COVID-19 times

Emails that lack targeting or personalization are bound to end up in recipients’ trash folders, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. People are overwhelmed and stressed out. Just think of all the emails you are currently weeding out of your inbox. However, personalized emails that speak to customers based on which part of the buyer’s journey they are at is a different matter altogether.

Going overboard with special offers to the point they undercut the value of your services is never a good marketing strategy or idea. However, giving customers economic reliefs like deferred payments, late fee forgiveness, discounts and rebates during the coronavirus pandemic is a good way to demonstrate value proposition consideration to customers who may be struggling. You are doing what you can to make their lives easier and they will appreciate that.

Steak-ummm recently tweeted the following: “life is full of uncertainty and mystery. the more we learn the more we realize how little we know. in times of doubt and existential angst it’s comforting to know one thing for sure: frozen beef sheets are good”

Coors Light’s Made To Chill campaign plays well to the social distancing aspect of the coronavirus pandemic: “The Official Beer of Drinking in the Shower.” The accompanying image to the Coors Light campaign is of a person whose pants are down around their ankles while in the shower. It strikes a lighthearted, humorous tone that is playful rather than offensive.