Lead Consultant of Komskraft Consul, GayHeart Mensah has advised Public Relations (PR) outfits and Marketing Professionals to take advantage of the various opportunities social media provides as the world suffers the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him with almost all of the world’s population being under lockdown, the need for information from online sources and social media have soared through the roof and has become quite prudent for businesses to engage their stakeholders via online platforms.
In a webinar series on the topic, ‘Effective Marketing Communications during COVID-19’ organized by Global Media Alliance (GMA), the consultant said, “We can turn our lemons into lemonades by engaging in reassuring communication and capitalizing on social media #hash tags to engage our stakeholders amidst COVID-19.”
GayHeart acknowledged that Public Relations and Marketing prior to COVID-19 were already moving from traditional media to online platforms but the pandemic had already sped up the migration. With lots of people now on social media more than ever, “the future of businesses post COVID-19” has already been established.
He reiterated that, businesses need to know what they want to achieve amidst and post COVID-19 and with those objectives set, they need to connect like never before with customers and stakeholders via online platforms. “Brands that communicate well are brands that will be the future post COVID 19.”
The marketing expert advised manufacturing businesses making losses to also repurpose their activities to support the fight against the pandemic and build loyalty for future business. Citing a marketing strategy used by a shoe manufacturing company to build loyalty in America, he revealed that the company has put a hold on their conventional production and is now producing footwear for medical professionals. “The shoes are being distributed freely to healthcare workers.”
Though the act may be seen as many as Corporate Social Responsibility, the company is building a brand and communicating that they put their customers first which buys them customer loyalty.
The maiden edition of the Global Media Alliance (GMA) webinar series which was coordinated by Fati Ali-Shaibu had Private Marketing Consultant, Cabutey Adodoadji, Roger Adekpui, Head of BTL and Consumer Marketing, Perception Management international (PMI) and GMA’s Head of Digital Innovations, Eli Daniel –Wilson all serving as resource persons.
By: Joel Sanco