Why Businesses Turn to Digital Marketing to Survive COVID-19
Remember how easy it was for us to drop by at a store to test a new product or inquire directly from a sales assistant? Yeah, well, these buying experiences were heavily affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other pre-pandemic activities under strict observance include: restaurant dining, mall dates, walks in the park, going to the movies, and attending concerts. Anything that is inessential and involves being in a crowd can range from being limited to outright illegal.
This pandemic led us to realize the importance of human interaction. It has brought changes in our routines, particularly in the online landscape. As consumers turned to e-commerce to shop for products and services, businesses adapted to survive the COVID-19 onslaught.
How Digital Marketing Helps Businesses Survive COVID-19
The unprecedented lockdowns and barriers to face-to-face business posed a serious threat that led to the permanent closure of many businesses across various industries. However, the key to survival is adaptability, which led organizations to become more reliant than ever on their digital marketing strategy to tide them over the pandemic and lessen its consequences. Some of the reasons businesses turned to digital marketing include the following:
1. Make products and services available online
With the restricted movement, businesses need to adjust their offerings—make their products and services easily accessible to consumers even while staying at home. It means making online purchases a convenient process and deliveries available, affordable, and preferably contactless.
2. Reduce the impact of retail closures
A 2020 paper revealed that approximately 70.6% of MSMEs in the Philippines were forced to temporarily close due to the pandemic. Even as the world gradually reopens, numerous businesses may not recover from their losses. However, that may not be the case for companies that resorted to e-commerce to make up for their loss of foot traffic.
3. Take advantage of the growing market space
E-Commerce Online Shopping Plant Sale
E-commerce was already a fast-growing industry even before the pandemic. Online sales are forecasted to account for 4.7% of all retail sales in the Philippines by 2025—up from the 0.5% share in 2015. The pandemic further fueled that growth as consumers discovered the ease and convenience of online shopping.
Being present online gives you the advantage to tap into this growing market over those that rely exclusively on brick-and-mortar sales.
Digital Marketing in the New Normal
The government is gradually lifting restrictions, and businesses are slowly reopening. However, fears of the COVID-19 aren’t going to disappear overnight—people will remain cautious. Many would still prefer shopping online for safety, added savings, selection variety, and convenience.
Getting started with digital marketing will not only help your business survive but also position it to be resilient in the face of a global threat. It provides you with the platform to succeed in the long term, particularly when traditional shopping is restricted. Consumers are already embracing e-commerce with open minds, which has made this shift easier.
Post-COVID Marketing is Hybrid
It’s clear that, moving forward, digital marketing is not an option but rather a necessity for businesses to survive. In-person retail sales may continue to increase as COVID-19 cases decline, but you should expect unprecedented situations that may temporarily accelerate online orders and deliveries.
The key to surviving in today’s unpredictable situation is to operate with an offline-online marketing approach. Your customers will appreciate you for giving them options as to how they would transact with you.
Is Your Business Digitally Resilient?
Digital marketing offers opportunities to build a better normal. As a digital marketing agency in the Philippines, we can help make your business resilient during the pandemic. We’ll guide you through your digital transformation journey, so you’ll come out stronger than ever.
We would be glad to discuss this further with you. Get in touch with us at Createmoto today!
