Has the pandemic changed digital marketing? Has it affected the way consumers think and act online? The answer is yes, and in a big way. In fact, Covid-19 has already led to short-term impacts in digital marketing, and more changes are expected in the future.

This post will highlight both the short-term and long-term implications of Covid-19 on digital marketing. Since adapting to these changes can be challenging, we will also explore the best digital marketing tips to consider at the end of this article.

So let us take a look at how the pandemic is affecting consumers and businesses and how you can adapt your digital marketing strategy to this new reality.

1. What Changed in Digital Marketing During the Pandemic?

There is research observing the impact of Covid on the marketing industry since the beginning of the pandemic. For this reason, it is essential to first identify some key statistics that will help us categorize how marketing has changed during the pandemic.

1.1 Key-Statistics

A 2021 CMO Survey survey shows that digital marketing is more important to businesses than ever before. Covid-19 plays a significant role in this. More than 70% of businesses responded that marketing is critical to the success of their online presence. In June 2020, the percentage was only 62%.

Another statistic shows that internet sales reached new highs during the pandemic. In February 2021, 19.4% of sales were made over the internet, while internet sales were around 12% from 2015 to 2019.

It is clear that the pandemic has led to two important things: Consumer habits have changed, and businesses have started to invest more in digital marketing as a result.

1.2 How Did Covid-19 Affect Digital Marketing?

While we all know the pandemic had a significant impact on our lives, identifying how it affected digital marketing. Let us take a look at the top five changes in digital marketing caused by Covid-19:

1. Social Media Marketing

Covid-19 has changed the way businesses promote their products and services through platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. Numerous companies have realized the importance of social media marketing strategies and invested in them during the pandemic.

2. Visual Content 

The way businesses promote their products and services using visuals (photos, videos, etc.) has changed rapidly following the advent of terms like “social distancing.” This has everything to do with the fact that marketing reflects people’s lives and should always be based on consumer values.

3. Business Online Presence 

Especially after the global lockdowns, almost every company increased its online presence. Digital marketing quickly became important for every type of business, from startups to giant corporations. This was a natural result as more and more people made their purchases online. Therefore, implementing digital marketing strategies has become essential to standing out from the competition.

4. Targeted Marketing

One-on-one marketing is one of the most significant changes that have taken place in the field of digital marketing. The term has everything to do with the importance of customer loyalty. It is not easy to build a loyal customer base, but there are numerous ways to do so. Quick communication with the customer and targeted marketing are the first and most important steps.

5. Customer Priorities and Expectations

The lockdown has suddenly shaken up our shopping habits. Accordingly, customers expect a different, more human approach from online businesses. For this reason, digital marketing strategies must adapt to these new customer priorities, which will remain even after the pandemic.

7 Digital Marketing Tips for 2021 

Although digital marketing is changing rapidly due to covid-19, businesses should first understand the ground rules. Channels like SEO and conversion rates are essential to understand and integrate into your digital marketing strategy. So, let us analyze the best digital marketing tips that will help your business adapt to the changes caused by the pandemic:

1. Invest in Email Marketing

Whether you have a small blog, a clothing brand, or something else, there are many ways to promote your business through email. For example, most companies set up email newsletters. In fact, email marketing is a smart way to maintain constant interaction with your customers and build the loyal base mentioned above.

2. Follow Successful Digital Marketing Strategies 

Following successful companies in your niche that have already succeeded in digital marketing is a brilliant tactic. For instance, if you have a clothing company, you can check examples with stellar digital marketing strategies like Zappos. Understanding what makes these companies successful is the first step before building your unique digital marketing strategy.

3. Invest in Social Media Marketing 

With billions of active users online, social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook are a smart way to gain attention and draw traffic to your business. You can start by understanding the rules and basic marketing guidelines. 

Social media promotion is a brilliant tactic, but it requires consistency and top-tier visual content. Thankfully, there is numerous online software like Mojo and Movavi Video Editor Plus that can help you create professional posts and stories with no video-editing or photo-editing skills. 

4. Generate New Blog Ideas

Creating high-quality written and visual content is significant for any digital marketing strategy to be successful. You can give a try to Blog Ideas Generator from Hubspot. This tool asks for 5 words related to your blog and then generates new titles for you. 

5. Engage with your Audience

As mentioned above, engagement is critical for any online business, especially during a pandemic. You have to be consistent when answering comments and questions on your website or social media accounts. This is a smart way not only to retain traffic but also to rank higher on search engines like Google.

6. Alter your Advertising Strategy

Advertising is a smart solution to scale your online presence in the future. There are numerous ways to do it, from social media ads to google ads. Still, you have to keep in mind that Covid-19 has changed the values, priorities, and needs of customers. So, it is important to alter your campaigns and content accordingly. 

7. Use CTAs (Call To Action)

It is essential for your visual and written content to include a call to action section. Even though many businesses use CTAs only on the home page of their website, a smart thing to do is use them on all pages and social media posts. 

Wrap Up

In summary, Covid-19 has changed digital marketing to a high degree. Digital marketing categories such as social media, visual content, and customer priorities and expectations have changed. For this reason, all companies have had to adapt to this new reality.

This article shows you how to take advantage of these changes to be successful. We have analyzed the best digital marketing tips that you should follow. By investing in and changing areas such as social media marketing, email marketing, and advertising, you can stand out from the competition and build a solid online presence for your business.