Flying the Marketing Plane Through Economic Turmoil
Marketers are like pilots through this economic turmoil. How can I make it smoother? A strong content strategy.
There is no shortage of pessimism and dark clouds in business and the economy these days. Business pundits seem to endlessly debate the question, “Are we in a recession or not?”
Additionally, the term “headwind” is thrown around all the time as it is an effective term for any non-specific discomfort that affects our journey.
If you’ll forgive the metaphor, we marketers are like pilots tasked with navigating the world of marketing bravely. As experienced professional pilots understand, dealing with turbulence and headwinds is only part of the expertise and skill set we must bring to the job. Given that we are in turbulent times where markets have seen ups and downs and the future looks uncertain, it makes sense to revisit content her marketing, a key component of any marketer’s portfolio. .
Marketing confusion is real
I recently attended a webinar. There, the VP of Technology soberly outlined the challenges ahead for the economy as a whole and for marketers in particular. In his view, last year (2021) was just the beginning of a bigger change, with turmoil and market turmoil moving forward. He weighs factors such as the impact of the pandemic, ongoing skills shortages, problems in his chain of supply, and geopolitical trends, as well as changing consumer demand and the need for his ongoing digital transformation. was cited as a major factor in creating a major storm in the near future.
Like many experts, this observer believes that 2022 and 2023 will be even more disruptive as individual market forces combine to affect the economy as a whole. The likelihood of a recession is amplified by these interwoven factors, each creating their own set of problems and concerns. Marketers must find ways to respond boldly and keep their companies and brands on top of their heads in the chaos.
Related article: Responding to CX during a recession
Stable flight with content run
The important thing for marketers to know is that they can actually fly through the storm, whether literally or figuratively. That content is essential to successfully landing your organization. When it comes to long-term marketing results, the best way to “steady on the fly” is to have a great content his marketing program. Content plans are like air traffic control, designed to provide a great brand experience that resembles an on-time flight, while providing the safest way to weather a potential recession cloud. increase.
Achieving these goals means delivering targeted content to buyer and influencer demographics, giving each individual something at every stage of the sales funnel. Your readers’ wants, needs, and job-relevant content is important and should be delivered in a similar way across multiple platforms, including web and mobile. Additionally, content efforts need to be integrated with larger PESO (paid, earned, shared, owned) media strategies. This ensures adequate coverage in terms of reaching all key audiences and demographics where you live or work.
Smart data, empathy, and authenticity = the best formula for content
Additional key elements of modern content programs include smart use of data and the integration of empathy and authenticity. Gartner reports that CMOs use “scaled judgment,” described as “the use of data-driven insights to act on market signals,” and “empathetic intelligence,” which has a deep understanding of customer needs. employs influence. — “11% more likely to report revenue growth for their organization”
An empathetic connection to your brand is especially helpful in an era when so many products and services are on par in terms of price and performance. As such, brand connection becomes a key purchase differentiator. In most cases, one airline cannot be distinguished from another. Today, even customer service organizations must have a content strategy.
To build a true and lasting relationship with your customers, your messaging must deliver more than that. Gone are the days of buying as a mere transaction, and businesses must strive to leverage content as part of an ongoing relationship. That means companies need to present relevant and timely offers, not just email blasts.
As such, businesses should leverage content to build customer relationships and highlight the importance and value of individual customers to the company’s success. Customers should feel more than just numbers, and consumers and her B2B customers alike should view the companies they do business with as useful and trustworthy.
Vendors should thank their customers for their patronage. Vendors should use a variety of content to demonstrate that they are responsive to their customers’ needs and understand their situation. In addition to demonstrating empathy as part of a content strategy focused on customer service, companies bring together multiple elements that help customers understand themselves within the company’s brand image and story. is needed. This content-driven long-term brand identification helps retain customers, reduce churn, and increase long-term profitability.
Related Article: Content Marketing: Developing an Omnichannel Strategy in 9 Easy Steps
Take the risk of content, but bring it in for a safe landing
It’s always good to remember that strong market turbulence or disruptions are usually temporary. Like the turbulence you experience while on an airplane.
And as a marketing “pilot,” you need to understand how to fight fearlessly in any situation and fine-tune your approach to ensure a safe and comfortable flight. Pilots can change altitude and direction. Similarly, a balanced and diverse content strategy is agile, adaptable, and helps ease our journey.
More than ever, your content strategy must support sustained brand awareness while enabling the differentiation and loyalty that drive growth.
