One of the best ways to up your immune system and your physical and mental health is to exercise. It’s probably something you’ve heard, read, and seen over and over again over the past five months. 

And that’s the truth; study after study has shown that personal fitness really does affect your health and wellness. So,while you may or may not be able to make it to the gym during a pandemic, it’s important to find a way to get some level of exercise, whether it’s walking around the block a few times or dancing to a class on YouTube

Now you’re going to ask–what in the world does this have to do with marketing?  

Marketing is exercise for your business. Statistics show that you get more return on your investment by marketing than by something like word-of-mouth. And now, with so many more people shopping online, it’s more important than ever to put time and effort into digital marketing for your business. 

Let’s examine exactly why marketing is so essential at a time like this.

You Have a Captive Audience

During the pandemic, many people are stuck at home bored and not exactly sure what to do with themselves. They have needs that need to be addressed. And it’s difficult to make a quick run to the store right now. 

That means that these people are looking for what you and your business may be uniquely qualified to give them. Marketing your business gives you the opportunity to speak directly to a captive audience. With an effective campaign and compelling message, you capitalize on attention that you may not have otherwise received. 

The Competition is Fierce

It is important to remember that you are not the only business vying for the attention of your target audience. Many small- and medium-sized businesses are struggling to keep up with larger businesses. 

However, choosing not to compete runs risk of your business being forgotten altogether. Even a small, highly focused campaign can be effective if you understand who you are targeting and what you are trying to sell. 

The point here is to remain relevant. Taking yourself out of the game is almost akin to waving the white flag. 

People are Easily Distracted

Your ideal customer has a wealth of options when it comes to how they spend their time during this pandemic. Marketing your business gives you the opportunity to appear on their radar during times when they are taking a break between binging a show and spending time on social media. 

Your audience will most likely get distracted so you want to consistently deliver quality content, even if it is the same message multiple times to serve as a reminder to take action.

Now is the Time to Establish a Relationship

The pandemic will eventually end and life will slowly go back to what it was before it started. By promoting your business now you set the foundation for a relationship with potential customers who, for one reason or another, may not be ready to make a purchase. 

When the world does start getting back to a sense of normalcy and consumers begin to go back to their old purchasing habits, you want to be in a position where you have established relationships with your most ideal customers. 

You Can Start Building Trust

Part of establishing relationships is building a level of trust. In times when budgets are tight consumers want to have confidence in where they spend their money. Start building trust now to give yourself the opportunity to establish a connection with your audience. They’ll get comfortable with your brand, have their questions answered, and potentially sample one of your lower-cost products. 

These actions will pay dividends in the long run when people feel more confident they can spend their money. 

You Can Provide Valuable Insights for Your Business

One of the most valuable things you can do as an entrepreneur is to learn more about your business. As you promote your products and services, you learn more about what your audience likes and dislikes. During a pandemic this is especially important because you only want to focus on what your customer truly wants and needs. 

In the end, you can end up with a more streamlined, and more profitable, suite of products and services as well as a dedicated audience that is ready to line up to buy your product or service. 

Marketing your business is a must under any circumstance. During a pandemic, the importance becomes even greater. Not marketing your business runs you the risk of becoming an afterthought. You most likely cannot afford a campaign that costs thoughts of dollars to manage, but you don’t need that. 

What you need is a clear and concise message delivered consistently to a well-defined audience. It doesn’t cost a lot of money, just time and effort. In the end, when things are more normal and the world is once more distracted by life outside of digital channels,  you will be happy that you spent that time creating a solid marketing foundation that will only keep getting better.