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Whether you are watching from the stands or on the big screen, you are in good company when it comes to the love of sports. In 2022, the sports industry had a record 41% growth rate. With a built-in audience that is passionate about supporting their team, many businesses are taking advantage of sports marketing as a lucrative business opportunity.

Sports Marketing is More Than Just Sporting Events

Sports marketing means a whole lot more than just promoting games. It’s an opportunity to sell a lifestyle. From apparel to cereal, there is a never-ending stream of products that companies can produce to capitalize on this industry. But with so many brands already in the game, how can your company make sure that its products stand out from the rest? The answer is in the package design.

Sports marketing must be strategic when it comes to package design in order to appeal to its target consumers. Read on to learn ocreations’ top eleven factors to make your sports package design stand out and score big with your customers.

1. Bold and Bright Colors

ocreations x PLBSE partner project

A major part of sports is the use of color to show team spirit and support. When it comes to sports marketing, using colors that represent your brand or product can help it stand out on store shelves. Not only will bright colors help you to stand out, but it will also tap into a fan’s emotional connection to their favorite team colors.

2. Eye-Catching Imagery

In addition to color, another important factor in package design is imagery. Sports fans are passionate about their teams and players, so incorporating images of them into your design can help to capture their attention.

A visual endorsement from a popular player can go a long way in helping to sell your product. As consumers are increasingly concerned about representation in media, your product’s packaging can also be an opportunity to support gender and racial diversity in sports.

3. Dynamic Motion

The kinetic nature of sports is part of what makes them so exciting to watch. You can tap into this energy in your package design. This would include things like using action shots, angular shapes, or even lenticular printing to create the illusion of movement.

4. Iconic Symbols

There are a lot of symbols associated with sports, from team logos to player jerseys. Using these symbols in your design can help to quickly build a connection to your target audience.

If you are targeting a specific team’s fans, using their logo will be even more effective. The use of symbols can also convey authority. For instance, many brands have sponsored the Olympics to use the official rings in their designs.

5. Strong Typography

Like any good design, sports package design should have strong typography. Don’t be afraid to get loud and use big, bold letters to make a statement. Just remember to balance your design so that the text can be clearly read. For instance, you might choose to reserve your bold font for the product name and use a more subdued font for the rest of the text.

6. Youthful Energy

ocreations x PLBSE partner project

The average age of a basketball player in the NBA is 26 years old. It comes as no surprise then that many sports marketing campaigns target young adults.

You can tap into this youthful energy in your design by using fun and playful fonts and graphics. This age group is also more likely to be engaged with social media, so make sure to include relevant hashtags in your text.

7. Targeted Demographics

Of course there’s a lot of other factors besides age to consider when marketing sports products. Gender, location, and race should be also considered in your package design.

This will ensure that your product is targeted to the right audience. For example, if you are selling women’s sports apparel, using images of female athletes in your design will be more effective than using images of male athletes.

8. Sense of Fun

Remember that sports are meant to be enjoyed, so your sports package design should convey a sense of fun! This can be done in a number of ways, such as using humor in your text or choosing playful fonts and graphics. Just make sure that your overall design does not go so far as to appear juvenile.

9. Local Sports Fans

If you are selling sports products in a specific city or region, make sure to tap into the local pride of the people there. This can be done by using images and symbols that are associated with the area, such as landmarks or popular sports teams.

Doing so will help your product to stand out from competitors who are not selling in the same market. A product promoting the Pittsburgh Steelers could include the city’s iconic skyline and callbacks to the steel industry.

10. Eco-Friendly Packaging

As awareness of environmental issues grows, more and more consumers are looking for products that come in eco-friendly packaging. A 2021 study reveals that 83% of those under the age of 44 were willing to pay more for eco-friendly packaging. In an industry that is very focused on appealing to young adults, eco-friendly packaging is just one more way that you can make your product stand out from the competition.

There are many ways to make your packaging more eco-friendly, such as using recycled materials or biodegradable packaging. You can also choose to use less packaging overall, which will reduce the amount of waste produced.

11. Social Media Integration

In a major way, social media has changed how sports are marketed, and the internet is the primary channel that most adults use to consume sports content. A recent study indicated that 67% of respondents aged 18 to 27 stated that they watched sports content via social media.

Your package design should take advantage of this trend by including social media icons or hashtags on your packaging. You can also include QR codes that link to your social media accounts. Pairing your package design with a solid social marketing campaign will also increase your product’s visibility.

Energize Your Sports Marketing with the Brand Experts at ocreations

ocreations x PLBSE partner project

You may have noticed that the images included in this article were all created by the ocreations team. Our design agency understands sports marketing and how to design a package that sells. Our team of brand experts has years of experience working with clients in the sports industry, from professional teams to sporting goods retailers. We would love to put our expertise to work for you!

If you are and athlete looking to get your product on the shelves, ocreations partners with PLBSE to make this happen. To learn more about our services, contact us online. Let’s level up your sports marketing game!

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Working remotely is no longer unusual. In fact, many people prefer to work from home because it gives them some degree of flexibility over when and where they work and how they choose to get things done. There are also some benefits for employers, including fewer overhead costs.

Employing remote workers comes with some unique challenges, though. It can be tough to keep your staff accountable, and it can be hard to build team spirit when you don’t have a lot of face-to-face contact. Incorporating a few strategies into your company culture from the outset, however, can help you keep both productivity and morale high.

Find Team Members That Fit Well

Building a cohesive remote team presents some obvious challenges, but you should view each candidate separately before looking at the overall unit. A few key traits you should look for when hiring remote team members include excellent self-discipline, good organization, strong communication and healthy interpersonal skills. Each of these can help your team members work well in an environment that requires them to self-motivate every day. Although a sense of humor isn’t generally required for a positive attitude, hiring employees that can make one another laugh and roll with the punches rarely has negative effects.

Build Your Brand

You might not think of your business’s brand as pertinent to your remote team, but it is. Work with a digital marketing service like ocreations to establish your company’s brand and voice early on, and make sure that each new employee you onboard fits well into your business model. A good team of complementary professionals is an excellent foundation for company spirit. Plus, as Harvard Business Review points out, it’s a great way to encourage staff engagement.

Make Your Rules Clear

Some people think that working from home gives them a free pass to do whatever they want during the day and put minimal effort into their job. That’s why TechRepublic suggests making your rules clear from the very beginning.

In a kind way, let your employees know what you expect from them and clearly establish any deadlines you expect them to meet. Unless it’s needed to meet outside demands, such as interactions with clients, suppliers or other team members, tell them that as long as they meet your standards for productivity you don’t mind if they get their work done in the wee morning hours or late at night. Avoiding unwanted conflicts is a great first step toward a positive company culture.

Schedule Regular Check-Ins

Regular check-ins are important not only for accountability but for morale as well. Schedule time so that your employees can give you updates on their projects and let you know if they need any additional support. Routine fun and lighthearted virtual meetings provide a great opportunity to get to know one another better and create a positive and welcoming work environment.

Budget Accordingly

One thing many employers overlook is the cost of remote crews. Bear in mind that while you can save a bundle on overhead by not paying for a brick and mortar, your staff still comes with costs beyond their hourly rate. If you intend to have them use particular software for project management, communication, timekeeping and so forth, you’ll have to cover the expense, and depending on your arrangement, you might also be paying for the necessary hardware.

Ensure Safeguards

Having your team spread across miles means that you also have data spread across the cloud, and ramping up security is a must. Some of your protocols for staff should relate to data handling, such as password protection, routine security updates and encryption.

Similarly, it’s worth spending some time mulling over the benefits a limited liability company can offer over other business structures. If you opt for an LLC, you’ll reduce your personal liability, and you’ll also be on the receiving end certain tax advantages. Just don’t try to cut corners; take the time to follow your state’s regulations when setting up your business.

If you’re worried about your ability to navigate legal requirements when establishing your business structure, you may find great peace of mind by using a business formation service. You’ll not only have less stress if you use such a service, but you’ll also save money you would otherwise spend hiring an attorney.

A positive company culture fosters employees who feel personally invested in helping your business succeed. If you follow these helpful tips, managing your remote workers’ productivity and morale should become second nature, and you’ll be set up for success.

For logos, website design, graphics and much more, call ocreations at 412-532-8282!

Written by Guest Blogger Tina Martin

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HEALTH & NUTRITION

• Have a shop or page that describes your products, their benefits, ingredients, etc.
• Incorporate testimonials (written or visual) from happy customers
• A location list or finder, so customers can easily find out where they can buy your product
• Create health or fitness challenges to keep your visitors engaged
• Include a blog and/or news page with health trends, tips, tricks, and industry-related news

Design-wise, using colors, fonts, and imagery that match your brand tone are going to be crucial. For instance, if your brand is high end, healthy and clean, make sure to use white space to your advantage. Or, if your brand is organic or natural, utilize tones and images that create a natural, earthy feel.

Website Spotlight: Ready Nutrition

BEAUTY & SKINCARE

• Have a shop or page that describes your products, their benefits, ingredients, etc.
• Incorporate testimonials (written or visual) from happy customers
• A location list or finder, so customers can easily find out where they can buy your product

• An Instagram feed will add to the heavy imagery needed for this type of website. Plus, it will increase engagement, and encourage an increase for your social following on other platforms outside of your website.

Website Spotlight: Calithea

CONSTRUCTION

• A before & after gallery that allows potential clients to see the variety of projects you’ve worked on, where you started, and the final result.
• Case studies for your favorite or best projects will provide more detail than just before/after images, and give potential clients a better insight on the project details and process. Every project is different, so anything that you can note that was unique or outstanding about the project, add it in!

Website Spotlight: Franjo Construction

TOURISM & EVENTS

• A registration form for event-goers to register or purchase tickets for the event from the comfort of their own home.
• A schedule of events, activities, speakers, performers, etc. so potential event-goers can get a sneak peek at what the event is going to be like.
• A custom parking map or page for visitors to plan accordingly
• Design-wise, the website colors, fonts, imagery, etc. should match the event’s brand identity. The site should make visitors feel excited and invited, and make them want to come to your event.

Website Spotlight: Pittsburgh Irish Festival

TECHNOLOGY

• Do user experience research and testing while strategizing how to lay out your website to create the most functional and friendly site possible
• Keep the copy simple, as your services may require highly complex processes that your clients may not understand right away. Copywriting in an easily-understandable format is key.
• Incorporate unique interactive elements to help your users understand your services and/or products. 
• Think about icons and infographics you can incorporate to explain complex processes, especially for visitors who may be visual learners.
• Include forms on your pages so visitors can directly reach out to your company

Website Spotlight: Itero Group

MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

• Host your videos on platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo (then embed the links to your site), to keep the high quality of the video, yet save the site from getting bogged down (speed-wise) by custom embedded videos with large file sizes.
• Write frequent blog and news posts about updates on new songs, videos, projects, performances, etc.
• Have a dedicated page or section for website visitors to purchase tickets or merch (if applicable).
• If you run a studio, include specs on your equipment and services, and offer a virtual tour, whether it is with high-end photos, or even a video.

Website Spotlight: The Vault

HEATING, COOLING & ELECTRIC

• Testimonials, testimonials, testimonials. Reputation is so important for businesses in this industry because many often undeservingly get a “bad wrap.” Make sure your business has a system in place to request testimonials after each completed job (and reward customers for providing a testimonial), and an organized way to save them and sift through to add them into your website. You can add a few featured ones on your home page, and dedicate a full page to add testimonials as you receive them.
• Include forms (and your business phone number) on your services pages so visitors can reach out right away.
• Include any special offers, coupons, etc. on your site that visitors can download and redeem on their next service.
• Incorporate any relevant financing options on an individual page of your site so you can help potential customers when financing any large home upgrades or projects with your business.
• A careers page and form is key if you are looking to add more talented people to your team.
• Add how-to or DIY videos and write blogs to keep visitors coming back to your site and stay engaged.
• Create a gallery page for completed projects, and even include a few case studies of some of your more unique jobs or your favorite projects you’re most proud of.

Website Spotlight: J&A South Park

HOUSING & REALTY

• An interactive property search. Look at websites like Zillow, Apartments.com, or Realtor.com. These sites all have interactive maps, searches, etc. to browse for a home or rental within the custom criteria a customer may be looking for.
• High-end photography is one of the most important features to have on your site. Visitors are looking to invest in a place they want to call home, and photography will help them make that decision. Have galleries of rental properties, homes, etc. that visitors can easily view from any device.
• A form to get in touch with an agent that has fields for type of property, price range, location, number of beds, baths, parking options, etc. to get help from a professional expert.
• A blog and/or news section with home buying/renting tips, FAQs, DIY decorating or money-saving tips, and general housing market news

Website Spotlight: Rockwel Realty

As a Pittsburgh-based real estate agency, Rockwel Realty offers luxury commercial and residential properties for rent in premium neighborhoods throughout the city. Rockwel also prides itself on its lasting relationships with residents and clients. When designing the website, ocreations knew forms and property searching tools were essential to include, which are actually included on the home page, and as a sidebar on all other pages. Ocreations also knew the importance of featuring high-end photography to provide an inviting, high-end, and professional look to the site.

LAW

• High-end imagery will give a sense of professionalism, before visitors even begin to read copy.
• Incorporate a “meet the lawyers” page that includes an image, contact info, and background/qualifications for each lawyer at the firm. This will help potential clients get to know their lawyers and gain a sense of each lawyer’s expertise and put a face to a name. It puts potential clients at ease to have a means of getting to know who they may be working with.
• Custom icons to go with each practice area your firm has experience in will help add a distinctive, yet simple and inviting characteristic to your site.

Website Spotlight: Anderson & Labovitz

AUTO

• A clear and simple page (or pages) with the services you provide, with forms for customers to get in touch immediately.
• High-end photo gallery with completed projects your business is proud of
• Testimonials are important. Vehicles are a large, continual investment, and people want to make sure they can trust your company in whatever service or product your business offers.

Website Spotlight: Remarkable Autoworks

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There has been a dramatic spike in virtual events since the start of the pandemic. Thinking about hosting your own? Learn the basics, ideas of different types of virtual events, and tips on how to make your first virtual event a success!

First things first, what is a virtual event?

A virtual event is a type of organized gathering, but online rather than in-person. The purpose of virtual events can be anything from a simple team meeting, to a large-scale digital concert.

What are some examples of virtual events?

Tutorials & Classes

Could your audience benefit from learning quick tips from your company? The answer should be yes! Find different topics or lessons your target market may be looking to learn in their spare time at home, and record how-to videos! Or, record your lessons live so you can answer questions from your viewers as you teach your lesson.

Behind-the-scenes Tours

People love to see behind-the-scenes tours, especially if your company offers entertainment value. Theaters, airports, museums, zoos, galleries, or even outdoor spaces like national parks can truly benefit from recording behind-the-scenes tours. It will give your audience a virtual escape from reality!

One of ocreations clients, the National Aviary, has been sharing behind-the-scenes videos of their exhibits while they are not open to the public. These videos have been getting great engagement on social media!

Interviews

Host an event where you interview an industry expert on their journey to how they’ve become successful, and open up the “floor” to viewers to ask questions at the end of the interview.

Performances

Many popular artists are performing live or pre-recorded renditions of their music to share with the world during this global pandemic. There are also many benefit concerts popping up.

For example, in Pittsburgh on April 18, there was a concert, “Pittsburgh Service Staff Aid Benefit Concert” that was a twelve-hour Facebook Live concert, including live performances from more than 60 local artists. Proceeds went to United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and raised over $23,000. Ocreations helped design the logo and branding for this event!

Conferences

Large scale conferences have been transitioning to digital platforms as well. Just because major in-person events have been shut down, didn’t stop them from still happening – just virtually!

Casual Events

Casual events like office or client happy hours are even becoming increasingly popular! For instance, one of ocreations clients, Sabika Jewelry, are encouraging their consultants to host online jewelry parties and happy hours!

Corporate Events

Corporate events can take place online, too! These are a great chance to network within your own company, learn about company-wide updates, etc.

Design Events

Many popular design-related events have had to transition to digital platforms as well. These events typically have a wide variety of industry leaders and experts, panel discussions, tutorials, and trends in the design industry. For example, our Art Director Nina attended the Making Midwest conference in 2019, which is going digital for the 2020 year.

Social Events

This can be anything from a casual happy hour, to an industry-related networking event. Typically, social events are a little less informative, and more interactive and engaging.

What platform(s) can I use to host a virtual event?

There are a variety of platforms you can use to host a virtual event! Depending on your goals and type of event, some platforms may work to your benefit more than others.

Social Media Stories (Pre-Recorded)

Social media stories are an excellent way to share content (videos, interviews, etc.). Most of the platforms listed below have a multitude of features to add some fun to your posts, including filters, special effects, stickers, polls, etc.

Here are some of the best social platforms to post “stories” to:

• Instagram Stories
• Facebook Stories
• Snapchat Stories
• TikTok

 Live Streaming

If you’d like to host a live event that you are anticipating a large audience, or expect it to last hours, there are some great sources to consider:

• Facebook Live
• YouTube Live
• Instagram Live
• Periscope
• Zoom
• LinkedIn Live
• Twitter Live
• TikTok

For many of these platforms, you can see your real-time audience, and receive questions/comments in real time. Live streaming can truly increase engagement, especially during this time where people are in front of their screens all day and looking for unique entertainment, or something new to learn.

What should I consider when planning my event?

Develop a strategy.

The last thing you want to do is just “wing it.” You could end up hurting your brand by appearing unprepared or uninformed about your event if not carefully prepared for.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself and make sure you have answers to while planning:

• What is the goal?
• Who do you plan to reach?
• Will the event be live, pre-recorded?
• What platform will you use?
• What day and time will the event take place? Or will there be multiple?
• Will access be free, or will there be a fee involved?
• Who will host the event? Will there be multiple hosts?

Promote your event.

Nobody will know about your event unless you promote it to the world! Make sure to start promoting a few weeks before the event (or even further out if this is a much larger event requiring registration), and continuously up until the day of the event. There are numerous ways to promote your event, depending on your budget! Here are just a few ideas:

• Email blasts (countdowns, etc.)
• Social media (as many platforms as your company has profiles on) – organic posts, boosted posts, paid ads
• Digital banner ads (paid retargeting ads)
• Blogs, news posts, and general web content on your website
• Even word of mouth (virtually, of course during the pandemic)! Text your friends, tell them to spread the word!

ocreations can help promote and market your digital event!

• Website Design
• Landing Page Design
• Web Banner Ad Design
• Retargeting Ad Design
• Social Media Ad Design
• Webmail (new & existing emails) Design
• Digital Billboard Design

Be prepared for technical troubles.

The best thing you can do is be prepared!

• Test the platform you plan to use so you can understand the functionality and features.
• Test your connection and audio equipment.
• Run multiple rehearsals, if possible.
• Have backups of files.
• Share FAQs with your audience (for those who might be using the platform for the first time)

Be inclusive and encourage engagement.

Think about it. You are miles, states, or even countries away from your audience. Don’t let the distance stop you from creating an engaging event! Encourage your audience to make comments during your event, ask questions, etc. Create polls or quizzes that your audience can participate in! Encourage live tweeting, Facebook statuses, etc. on social and create a hashtag your audience can use, too! After the event, ask for feedback. After all, this is your first shot at hosting a virtual event – you’ll be able to learn and improve understanding how your audience perceived your event!

So, it definitely takes a lot of planning and strategy to create an event that is memorable and engaging, especially in a digital platform. Yes, it is important to take it seriously and have a good game plan in place, back-up ideas in place, etc. However, it’s most important to keep things fun and craft an event people will talk about, remember, and want to participate in again!

Need design support or marketing ideas for your first (or next) virtual event? Contact us at ocreations. Let’s get virtual, let’s get creative.

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Work from home has become a trend over the past few years with larger corporations. However, with the current global pandemic, work from home has become a demand for many companies, large and small. How can a team stay productive, and still work like a team, when working remotely? At ocreations, our team is used to all working in the same room, so the transition to all of us working remotely has been an adjustment. We’ve become much more efficient and organized as the weeks have passed, and have some tips and tricks to share!

Over-communicate

When you’re used to stopping by a coworker’s desk to let them know you’re getting started on a project, or planning to give a client a call, it’s much easier when working in an office together. When you’re working remotely, you can’t just have that quick in-person interaction. Make sure you’re letting your team know what you’re doing as much as possible! Now, you really don’t have to tell them every time you’re getting up to go to the bathroom, or that you’ve stepped away to make a quick cup of coffee. But if you’re planning to be unavailable for a period of time during work hours, let your team know!

The ocreations team has a shared calendar system set up in our phones so we can add meetings, sick days, vacation days, phone meetings, etc. so we know everyone’s availability on any given day.

Leaders Need to Keep Team Members Informed

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, many workers are being laid off (some temporarily, some permanently). Job security is a huge factor for many working people, so as managers, executives, presidents, or CEO’s, keep your team members informed. Give frequent company updates regarding the status of the company and how the situation is being handled. Uninformed people become nervous, so try to give weekly updates on the situation to keep workers feeling safer than they would otherwise.

Know How to Reach Everyone On Your Team

This should be a given, but for those who work in a corporate office setting, get your colleague’s personal cell phone numbers. This will make it easier to communicate if you need to shoot a quick text, or make a quick phone call, rather than solely relying on email to get in touch with your team members.

With that being said, a great tool to use is a group text! 

Sometimes updates, questions, etc. for the group can be communicated more easily through a group text.

Note Project Progress & Keep Your Team Copied on Communications

Let your team members know where you’re at on your tasks or projects! Depending on the size of the department or how many projects are happening at once, send a daily, bi-weekly, or weekly project update so everyone can be in the loop on project progress to make sure questions are being answered, projects are progressing, and everyone is staying busy. Also make sure to keep your team copied on all communications, so everyone can see things happen as emails get sent back and forth.

Set Up Weekly or Bi-Weekly Meetings

This one is a big deal. Set up a time each week (or more than one time) to gather everyone together (on a computer screen of course) to discuss all projects. This is a good time to ask questions on your own projects, discuss next steps, and generally make sure everyone is on track and has plenty to work on.

The ocreations team has been using Zoom for weekly project run-downs, and it has worked perfectly!

Resolve Questions Quickly with a call or text

Need to ask your boss, supervisor, art director a quick question that’s not worth crafting an email for? Send them a quick text or call them directly! It’ll get you an answer quickly and efficiently, without wasting time waiting for an email response.

Help Out One Another

That’s what a team is all about, right? Everyone’s situations during the pandemic are all completely unique. Some of your teammates might have children or pets to take care of throughout the day that have been causing additional stress. Internet connections may be slower, or, someone’s power might go out temporarily (which actually happened to one of us at ocreations)! If you notice someone is overloaded or needs help, step in and offer to lend a hand! Teamwork makes the dream work.

Keep Up The Fun

We all have inside jokes at the office, and when working remotely, sometimes it can feel like your job has become much more serious. It’s important to keep up the jokes and fun – after all, we are all going through the same global pandemic together. Throw in a smiley face, joke, or even a funny GIF into an email to lighten the mood (when appropriate of course). Or, send a text to check in on your team members! It’s so important to personally check in on the people you care about – send a text to the people you spend most of your days with! They’ll appreciate it.

Create Systems for Sharing Documents

If you’re used to working with internal systems, servers, etc., sharing documents with one another may pose a challenge. Trust us, our team saves files to a server in our office, without any outside access or VPN privileges. However, we do have a variety of tools to access files and share documents within our team while working remotely! Here are our tips from our own experience:

Have access to older files.

Two of our team members have a copy of files from 2018-2020 to access if we need to go back and reference files from last year or the year before.

Use Dropbox (or something similar).

Dropbox has been a great tool to use while working from home! Everyone on our team has access to the same Dropbox, so we can upload and download files from that portal at any time.

Need to send a really large file to someone on your team, or even outside of your team? Try something like wetransfer.com, which allows you to send up to 2Gigabytes of files for FREE.

A Quick Checklist Overview of Our Tips:

• OVER-COMMUNICATE
• KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED
• GROUP TEXT
• CC ON EMAILS
• ZOOM TEAM MEETINGS
• VOICE CALLS
• SHARED CALENDAR
• VPN ACCESS
• DROP BOX
• HELP EACH OUT OUT
• HAVE FUN

So, as ironic as it seems to be a part of a team while sitting alone at your computer in your house, it is possible to keep that team mentality. Just put your mind to overcommunicating, communicating in different ways than you’re used to, and keeping the fun aspects alive in your workdays. We’ll be back to reality soon!

Need help with design, web, blogging, or other creative ideas during the pandemic? We’re here to help. Contact us at ocreations today. Let’s remotely work together through the pandemic, let’s get creative.

The post WORKING AS A TEAM, REMOTELY appeared first on ocreations A Pittsburgh Design Firm.

The pandemic has put a disruption in all of our lives, on a personal level and on a professional level. Many businesses are requiring employees to work from home. And, as a result of the economic decline, many businesses are cutting budgets – including marketing. If you’re in a marketing, design, or creative role at your place of work, now is the time to get even more innovative and creative. It is so important to continue marketing efforts during the pandemic, even if you have a smaller budget. Each industry has different needs and different outlets that may be more effective. So, we’ve come up with a list of different ideas that can help your business continue marketing efforts during the pandemic.

Review your website, and consider e-commerce.

Does your business rely on online sales… or should it now? With the spike in internet usage, and online sales, take a look at your website, and consider an e-commerce page if you do not already have one.

First things first, make sure your website in general is in the best shape possible. You may experience an increase in web traffic to your pages, and making sure everything is accurate and up-to-date is crucial. Add new testimonials, new project/gallery images, or new news posts if applicable. A lot of companies are even updating and adding to their FAQ pages, not only to make sure their answers during the pandemic are accurate, but to also help new customers that may visit the site during the pandemic.

Next, you’ll definitely want to consider an e-commerce page. If you have a WordPress site, we recommend WooCommerce. It is a user-friendly online shop plugin. There are a variety of pre-made themes, which you can customize to match your brand identity.

If you already have an online shop, now is the time to clean it up. Make sure all product photos/descriptions are accurate. Delete any products you don’t sell anymore, and add in new ones.

Many companies are discounting products during the pandemic. Consider a limited-time offer or sale. Companies are also offering special delivery deals – free delivery or shipping, or even majorly discounting delivery or shipping.

With many shoppers in front of computer or phone screens, adding a chat feature may be good to consider implementing on your site or your online shop. While people are shopping, they may have questions about your product. What easier way to get in touch with your company than a quick online chat? However, you need to make sure someone is monitoring the chat and responding quickly.

Offer Webinars/Digital Workshops

Many companies had events planned, that they recently had to cancel. Was your company planning an event? Make it digital! Work on transitioning your in-person event into a webinar or online workshop. Your guest speakers can still deliver their planned speeches, and can still answer digital question submissions, just as if you were there in person. There are a variety of video communication tools out there – Zoom and Google Hangouts are just a couple to mention. Do your research and find a platform that works well for the event you’ve planned. If there is enough time before your event (and you still have enough budget), you may even want to consider sending in the mail any kind of informational packets you had planned to give out at the event. It would add a personal touch and show that your company (or event) truly care about everyone’s well-being and ability to still participate in the event.

Utilize Social Media to Your Advantage

If your marketing budget is struggling during the pandemic, social media is one of the best tools you can use to continue marketing during this time. It’s especially effective since many people are stuck inside their homes, and turning to social media for many things like communicating, getting news, and even entertainment. Need ideas on where to start? Here’s just a few ideas to kickstart your social media efforts:

Share Company Updates

During this time, it’s important to share how your company is coping with the global health crisis. A press release or message to share with followers about how your company plans to work through the pandemic will help existing customers understand how your business is handling everything and what to expect. Whether it’s employees working from home, offering online sales only, or new methods of communicating or delivering products, it’s important to give an update to inform the public about your temporary operational adjustments.

Share About Employees Working from Home

This one is more light-hearted and fun! Have employees take pictures of their “home office” and share on social media! It will add a more personal touch to your social media and make your brand more approachable.

Share Company Productivity Tips

This is also a more light-hearted content idea. While you’re getting images of co-worker home offices, ask them to share a tip on how they stay productive from home. Share these tips on your social media platforms as well! You never know who hasn’t thought of a certain productivity tip, and could really benefit from it during this time. This kind of content also adds personality to your social media accounts, and has the potential to increase engagement with followers.

Go LIVE!

Want an innovative way to still engage with your audience, but can’t do it in person? Go live on social media! Make a product announcement, share advice, and answer questions from the safety of your home.

Want more tips on using social media? Read one of our recent blog posts, “16 Ways to Generate More Social Media Content.”

Try to Collect Reviews & Testimonials

If you find yourself having any downtime, try to fill in the gaps with things you’ve been meaning to work on, but haven’t had a chance to. Reviews and testimonials are a great place to start! Reach out to customers and ask them for a testimonial. Not only will this be a great addition to your website or social media, but it will also get your business in front of your customers during this pandemic. It could even generate more sales, especially if you reach out to older customers who may not have utilized your services or purchased your products in some time. Try and collect as many as you can, whether it’s through more personal emails/phone calls, or through one mass email blast.

Utilize Your Email System

This is an important one. If you haven’t sent out an email blast recently, now is the time. Again, people are on their phones and computers more than before. With many businesses offering great deals on products and services, people are checking their emails more to see what deals their favorite brands are offering. Be one of those brands! Send out an email to your customers with weekly promos or specials. Send out reminder emails. Get your name out there while people are paying attention to their emails!

The ocreations team has experience with, and recommends the following email systems:

• Mail Chimp
• Constant Contact

Get Creative for Your Specific Industry or Company:

During this pandemic, the ocreations creative team has noticed a shift in types of design and marketing we’re working on for some of our clients. Here are some examples of what some of our clients are doing during the pandemic:

Look What Some of Our Clients are Doing:

–       The National Aviary is offering CyBIRD Learning, an online educational experience where kids and parents alike can watch videos and learn about birds from the safety of their home.

–       Sabika Jewelry is offering online sales, product launch happy hours, and online consultant parties.

–       Ready is sharing inspirational videos and workout challenges on social media

–       J&A is promoting helpful tips in blogs, and promoting a product that can kill viruses

In general, many companies are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic around the globe, and many budgets are being slashed. As a marketing specialist, designer, or creative professional, it’s important to hold your ground and show that branding and marketing efforts should continue despite the health crisis around us. If you’re able to help your business generate sales, and keep customers engaged and happy with your company during this time, it will illustrate to your company that you are a valued employee, you were able to help keep the company afloat during a crisis, and that marketing is important to keep a business running, even during the worst of times.

Need help with design, web, blogging, or other creative ideas for your business during the pandemic? We’re here to help. Contact us at ocreations today. Let’s get marketing through a pandemic, let’s get creative.

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