As much of the world is cautiously optimistic about returning to normal after the pandemic, the reality is that we’re heading toward a “new normal” rather than life exactly as it was before COVID. With new travel patterns, working schedules, and shopping habits, should you be thinking about changing your marketing strategy?
The short answer: yes, you should absolutely revise your post-pandemic marketing strategies if you want to stay competitive. So, how exactly, can you do that?
This article explores 4 key ways that all businesses should rethink their marketing strategies post-pandemic.
Table of Contents
1. Stay (or Go) Online
If there’s one thing that businesses learned about changing consumption patterns over the pandemic, it’s that the internet is the future of marketing and retail commerce. That’s not to say that in-person shopping is entirely going away, but rather that most customers are now used to making online purchases by default and visiting a brick-and-mortar store only when they need to.
What this means for you is that all of your marketing activities, from call campaigns to social media posts, need to center around getting customers to your website. Your website should be the place where customers can manage their account information, payment options, order status, loyalty points, and so on.
2. Focus on Customer Loyalty
With so much business negatively affected by the pandemic, a lot of companies are struggling to rebuild their customer base. That’s only natural, but don’t forget about your existing customers who have stayed loyal to you throughout the pandemic. Your marketing efforts should focus on their needs and maintaining that high level of trust.
For example, instead of offering sign-on incentives for first-time customers, create or revamp a loyalty program that rewards long-time customers instead. If you had to suspend certain types of subscription services during the pandemic, offer an extension so that previous customers have the opportunity to make the most of what they paid for. This is also an easy way to bring back customers who canceled subscriptions but would still be interested in your services.
Of course, you’ll eventually need to expand your customer base to stay profitable, but prioritizing your most loyal customers will help you achieve that goal faster through word-of-mouth referrals and positive reviews of your company and its services.
3. Revisit Your Business Patterns
As much of society is starting to settle into a hybrid work model, there’s no question that consumption patterns are changing. But instead of lamenting about how business hasn’t been the same since before the pandemic, think about how you can take advantage of new opportunities.
For instance, if you run a casual restaurant in a residential area, you’re probably used to more business in the evenings or weekends. But with so many more people working from home, you can take advantage of more business from teleworkers. Offer special lunch deals that could include discounts on takeout orders or an express lunch menu.
On the other hand, if you run a restaurant in a business district, you’ll likely notice fewer customers on Mondays and Fridays, when many hybrid business schedules allow working from home. One alternative is to use a food truck or a pop-up stand to bring your business to other areas. Not only will you attract more business, but you’ll also be building brand recognition among new customers. This works hand-in-hand with effective social media marketing by posting your pop-up location and increasing online engagement with customers.
4. Get a Toll-Free Vanity Number
Having an 800 vanity number is probably the most important part of your post-pandemic marketing strategy besides keeping a strong online presence. That’s because customers are more likely to call you when they need support rather than visit a brick-and-mortar store. And the easier it is for customers to remember your business number, the faster you’ll be able to help them and improve their experience.
Another advantage of a toll-free vanity number is that you get much more control and insights about what customers are calling about, how effective your call center team is, and how successful your call marking campaign is performing. Vanity number providers that include call tracking and call intelligence can help you have the data you need to stay ahead of the competition.
In summary, there’s no doubt that successful marketing strategies post-pandemic will be significantly different from what worked before COVID. But by focusing on your customer’s current needs and leveraging data from call tracking, your business can stay competitive.
Ready to start call tracking and call intelligence with an 800 vanity number? Browse one of our affordable calling plans today and give your next call marketing campaign a jump start.
