Using Pet Influencers to build your social media presence during COVID-19

With a rapidly evolving landscape, it’s pretty safe to say that we’re all experiencing a huge change in how we’re consuming media whilst in lockdown.

As the COVID-19-related conversation develops on a daily (hourly/minute-by-minute) basis, we’re forced to constantly evolve and assess our response through our social media channels.

Whilst this can be tricky to navigate, we’ve devised 8 tips you can follow to continue building your social media presence during this ever changing period.

Know your audience

Of course, how we’re consuming media varies throughout generations. People are turning more to social platforms such as TikTok (the creative hub of the internet RIGHT NOW), Instagram and YouTube, whereas millennials are more inclined towards podcasts. There is a noticeable increase in the amount of online TV people are watching and lots are cooking more, and baby boomers are spending more time on the telephone. Across the world, we can see live streaming and video calling is increasing rapidly.

Be reactive 

We’d suggest pivoting, not pausing - this might mean instead of cancelling an event, you change it to a virtual event. 

If you do have to cancel, consider options such as postponing to a later date, or offering ticket refunds. Polls and questionnaires can be a great way to get honest feedback from your ticket holders before making any changes.

Reach out 

Take the time to engage with other like-minded business owners - now is the time to share, like, comment, repost and connect with people in a similar situation. Consider joining industry relevant groups or even checking for any upcoming webinars and digital networking events you can join.

Be thoughtful 

Now is not the time to sell, but to show empathy for others and help out the community as much as you can. Be sensitive, don’t be too pushy and make sure you’re posting thoughtful and relevant content across your platforms.

Do your bit for the community 

If you’re in a position to, offer your services to frontline workers for free or at a discount, or donate to charity. Consumers are looking for uplifting and inspiring content right now - brands such as L’Oreal and Budweiser have done this really well.

Analyse your content

Whether it’s social media posts, webpages, emails, ebooks or articles to name a few, ensure you evaluate your assets carefully. Are there any high-quality pieces you can repurpose? What would most likely appeal to your consumer at this time? Cute pets are always a huge pick-me-up!

Maintain your online presence 

That means continuing to post on social media, write blog posts and create engaging content. Maintaining brand awareness for your business is vital to ensure your customers will return following the end of the pandemic.

Plan ahead

Although it may feel like it, this period isn’t going to last forever. If you’re able to, consider how you can plan for mid to long-term activity including key periods such as summer, back to school and Christmas. Take advantage of the time we have available to strategise and develop on any new or pre-existing ideas and put these into a marketing strategy (online and offline).

We can only try our hardest to navigate through this uncertain time - but we’re all in this together.

Stay Safe everyone x