Use of Digital Marketing to Stay in Business During COVID-19
##### Digital Marketing as a way to stay connected to customers
Now, more than ever, is the time to be investing and altering your digital marketing strategies as the pandemic continues to disrupt industries and alter consumer buying behavior indefinitely.
These moments of uncertainty and abrupt change is when digital marketing is most vital as these forms of communication are some of the only ways to connect with your audience.
##### Trailblazer or Trail Behind...
There are businesses that are ready to bounce back and there are also ones that refuse to embrace the opportunity to adapt.
Though these stay-at-home orders and social distancing have created physical distance between us, this pandemic has taught us that businesses and consumers can connect in new, pivotal ways. Life doesn’t stop.
##### How Instacart experienced rapid growth during the crisis
Who would have thought that something as simple as going to a grocery store would be incredibly dangerous for people? Thankfully, we have companies like Instacart, a grocery delivery platform, that makes grocery ordering and delivery simple for customers - and you don’t even have to step foot in the store!
Instacart experienced exceptionally high growth since the COVID-19 outbreak, and even announced in April that they would add [250,000 more shoppers](https://digital.hbs.edu/platform-digit/submission/instacart-delivering-groceries-during-covid-19-and-beyond/#_ftn1) (total of 750,000 shoppers) to satisfy the higher demand and give customers quicker turnaround times.
This innovative online delivery app has allowed many to remain safe in their homes, while still being able to feed themselves and their families.
##### Go online, or Go Home
Even in this crisis, consumers still need the essentials like grocery stores, pharmacies, home services, etc. This means consumers need you and your business. So show them you are still here for them.
Though the future is unknown, adapting to digital marketing strategies is a responsive reaction that will help you communicate and make you more visible to your consumers, while creating lasting customer loyalty.
Source: [https://giphy.com/gifs/outsiders-wgn-shay-mountain-x9PMAsMvUM0g0](https://giphy.com/gifs/outsiders-wgn-shay-mountain-x9PMAsMvUM0g0).
##### A lesson on adapting to change
There’s a popular story called, “Who Moved My Cheese” by Dr. Spencer Johnson, about four characters that live in a maze and all love cheese. When the cheese disappears one day, two of the characters go off searching for new cheese (eventually finding a new supply and even more cheese options!), while the other two waste their time and energy waiting for the old cheese to reappear. The cheese is a metaphor for what we want in life: money, health, love, a good job, happiness, etc.
The core message is that things constantly change so we must adapt. The quicker we adapt to change, the more satisfied we will be.
> "Life moves on, and so should we" -- Dr. Spencer Johnson
About the author
Chiara Squillantini
Creative Director
Chiara Squillantini is the Creative Director at Otis AI, where she has been shaping branding and marketing strategies since August 2020, ensuring consistency across Otis AI’s marketing efforts. She holds a background in copywriting, marketing research, and brand management from Ace Saatchi & Saatchi, Royce Agency, and Unilever Philippines, respectively. She is passionate about digital marketing and technology and likes to share insights on digital marketing trends through blog articles and press releases for Otis AI.