The global pandemic has been one of the most disruptive events in modern history, reshaping the world in unforeseen ways. Beyond its profound personal impact, it has destabilized national economies and forced businesses to rethink their strategies as they prepare for a post-pandemic reality where the concept of “normal” is redefined, says Daniel Yomtobian, a distinguished entrepreneur and online media expert. “Facing an unprecedented public health crisis, brands quickly realized that adaptation required more than just cutting ad budgets or modifying campaign strategies. Advertising is no longer solely about acquiring customers or promoting products. Now, more than ever, brands have a responsibility to educate and inspire by creating campaigns that are informative, authentic, relevant, and empathetic. With 89% of consumers indicating they will maintain some of the habits developed during the pandemic, companies that embrace a positive message and contribute to the greater good will be the ones that thrive in the post-pandemic world,” Yomtobian explains.
To their credit, most of the world’s biggest corporations and countless smaller ones have pitched in to fight the virus, donating to various healthcare funds, deploying resources in new ways, offering free products or services, or supporting their employees and communities through different initiatives. However, brands of all sizes can and should offer their support for the concerted effort through their advertising campaigns as well, according to Daniel Yomtobian. While survival and effective crisis management were the top priorities in the early days of the pandemic, it soon became apparent that the crisis also offers new opportunities for brands that emphasize trust, send a positive message, share uplifting experiences, and strive to create value for their customers in a socially distanced world. Given the current fears and uncertainty, tactful, mindful marketing is of great importance as it can improve the collective experience.
“Being a responsible advertiser in the pandemic environment entails a comprehensive evaluation of the campaign pipeline to determine what should be put on hold and what prioritized,” Daniel Yomtobian explains. “Since advertising is an intensely visual form of communication, brands need to be extremely careful of the images they utilize and the accompanying language. The world may return to its old ways someday, but brands currently have a responsibility to promote safety first and foremost.”
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