We’ve gone into lockdown… again- something that would have sounded crazy a year ago, but is now reality. This time round, we’re all feeling slightly more prepared and more familiar with the nation-wide situation, whether we saw it coming or not.
Whether your business has furloughed staff and is temporarily closed, or if you’re still going full steam ahead, this second lockdown could be seen as an opportunity in many ways.
The economic down-time gives each business in the UK a different experience, however it’s important to stay positive and look for ways your business can be prepared and ready to bounce back stronger in 2021. It could be a chance to renovate your shop, or a time to give your brand a whole new look. How will you be using lockdown 2.0?
Never stop learning
Lockdown is new for us all and therefore one thing we can all take from it is the learning experience. Use this opportunity to learn more so you are more prepared and equipped with knowledge to carry your business into the new year, post-lockdown.
Why not read up on expected trends for next year or learn a new digital skill? Using this downtime to gain new knowledge relevant to your business can help to benefit your marketing strategy in the long run.
Look under the rug
With lockdown comes a sense of time, as though we all now have more time on our hands, and we are all waiting for it to be over. Why not use it wisely?
Doing long, less glamorous jobs which are constantly swept under the rug doesn’t sound fun, but you and your business will feel better for it. Use your time in lockdown wisely and crack on with some of your other jobs. You could write that blog you’ve been putting off, or finally get around to looking at optimising your social media more.
One key part of your business which is often ‘saved for another day’ is your website. Lockdown has taught us that this is actually one of the most important parts of your brand, and many are relying on it now more than ever. Don’t put it off any longer, look into it and check for any issues your users may be experiencing. Review your analytics to see what your users are actually doing, and maybe consider updating your site to meet their needs.
Network, network, network
Community is something that has become very prevalent in 2020. Businesses are coming together to form communities and support networks in many ways, whether it be in your industry or your local area. Be in on the action and connect with others!
Get on LinkedIn, send some connection requests and show support for your network. Help other businesses like yourself, shop locally and help to lift others. Your relationship with other businesses could be invaluable to your own and you could help each other through this turbulent time.
Communication is king
One valuable lesson we learnt from the first lockdown is the value of communication. There was a sudden need to be able to communicate quickly with your audience to tell them important, up to date information. Don’t stop now.
Communication has always been a key part of your brand experience and to maintain strong communication during these unsettling times will elevate your business in the eyes of your customers. As we enter 2021, keep updating your staff and customers with relevant information to both maintain, and keep building your brand relationships.
Create new content
Your marketing content is one of the most important aspects of your brand’s digital identity, so ensuring it’s the best it can be is a great way to use this downtime. After seeing many brand responses to the lockdown, it’s noticeable that there is not a ‘one-size fits all’ approach to marketing through a pandemic. It’s up to you to create authentic, creative content to suit your brand’s values, message, USP and mission.
Spend some of the downtime bringing your creativity levels up.
Everything, from your ‘About Us’ page on your website to your last Facebook post should be up-to-date, optimised and worded to best represent your brand. As well as reviewing the old, why not bring some ideas to life and create some new content to use in your marketing strategy in 2021.
Work on your SEO
Being ‘proactive, not reactive’ is a common thing we have all learnt over the past year, so why not do it – research search trends and be ahead of the game by optimising your website content.
Lockdown is a great time to start climbing the mountain that is Google search results. Find both seasonal and year-round search trends and see what your audience are searching for when looking for your business- optimise your website and content to match their queries and ensure you meet their needs. As we come out of lockdown, aim to be at the top of Google’s page 1, ready and waiting for your customers to click through.
2021- are you ready?
As 2020 (finally) comes to an end, it’s good to look back and reflect on what we’ve learnt. No one knows what 2021 will bring, but preparing your brand for whatever that may be could be your key to success. Don’t just survive, thrive during this economic downtime!
To discuss your brand’s direction as we head towards the new year, get in touch with us at Digital Storm. We offer a free initial consultation to look over your brand and your mission and can offer our industry expertise. Our marketers, web developers and designers love working with our clients to produce creative, bespoke solutions. Call us today on 01202 298392 to discuss your brand.
