Branding in the Time of Corona

You know when the MTA starts regularly cleaning the subways that this event is pretty EPIC to say the least. 

I can already hear your shelved press releases weeping in your draft folders. Make sure to disinfect your media strategies because everything is literally and metaphorically getting quarantined. PR pros and Communicators around the globe are scrambling trying to figure out how to revise their upended media strategies. Coronavirus has officially put everything on hold — including any branding or PR plans you had. 

Things got real when ABC suspended audiences from attending any live shows like: Good Morning America, Live with Kelly and Ryan, The View, Tamron Hall, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy due to the threat of COVD-19 spread. This means any sponsorships, promotions, and audience giveaways will be shelved. Now this is both unlucky and ironic, because more people are likely to reach for the remote and tune-in while working from home.

There aren’t many sections in your crisis playbook that shows you how to handle a pandemic. People are scared to leave their homes and go into any stores. AND, that’s IF you even have a crisis handbook — we’ll get to that one in another post. 

Since we’re temporarily quarantined from traditional media caring about any of your product launches or new service features; now is the time to take action by communicating with your audiences via different media channels. Add new dimensions to your brand and redefine your brand’s voice in a more casual way.

We’re essentially playing in a business hiatus. Explore new ways to get through to your audience by flooding your social media and email marketing. Also, start focusing more on your company’s social causes and mission. Investing more money and sweat equity gives you ample angles to work with in the coming months.

In another post, we’ll lay out some ideas on how you can level up your branding and connect with your captive audience in a creative way.