The last 18 months have been a roller coaster of ups and downs for many people, both professionally and personally. Congratulations to those who experienced business growth during the pandemic.
The economy has slowed for many business owners. No matter who you are, we are all grateful that restrictions are being lifted and people are gathering safely again. Recovery is all around us.
However, we can align our goals with comprehensive strategies to kickstart our businesses for the remaining part of the year. If you are willing to work hard and invest in yourself and your business, the post-pandemic climate is ripe with opportunity.
Here are four post-COVID marketing strategies to improve your business.
Measure your marketing
As you look forward, it’s important to look back and assess what worked and what didn’t. Action + Measurement = Results, AJA Marketing’s tagline, addresses this specifically – you must measure your actions to achieve desired results.
If you keep using the same strategy “because we’ve always done it that way,” dig into your data to see what has worked in the past. The world has changed, and methods must evolve.
Do a “marketing audit” – go through your analytics and see what you can learn. Are you getting new referrals? Is your radio ad no longer generating leads? Has your direct mail campaign increased sales by 20%? Understanding your data is critical to advancing your strategy. Don’t waste money on bad marketing; know your numbers.
Reconnect with clients, colleagues, and sources of leads
If you prefer to meet people in person, you can now choose from a variety of live events. Attend something that interests you and allows you to network while having fun. AJA Marketing is located in central New Jersey (yes, central NJ exists!) where there are many wonderful local networking opportunities, including golf outings and happy hours. Look to your local Chamber of Commerce and associations for convenient opportunities.
If you’re not ready for a crowd yet, invite a colleague or referral source for coffee. Absent in person? No worries! Virtual networking is here to stay. This is a result of the pandemic.
Virtual events are a great way to expand your network beyond your local area. There are countless virtual networking events to choose from – register for one that interests you and turn on your camera!
Use of LinkedIn
Social media, especially LinkedIn, is another great way to market your services. Depending on your business, spending hours on Snapchat or Instagram fiddling with filters may not be necessary.
For example, if you run a non-profit and want to promote your resources to your members, Instagram reels may not be appropriate. Instead, get strategic and spend your time where your members, clients, and colleagues do.
A lot of professionals use LinkedIn. Research shows that a complete LinkedIn profile can double your chances of meeting or exceeding sales targets and increase InMail acceptance rates by up to 87 percent.
LinkedIn has both sellers and buyers – don’t ignore it!