6 Reasons Why Digital Marketing is Important Post Covid-19 in 2024 [Updated]

In this Blog You will Read Reasons Why Digital Marketing is Important Post Covid-19 .

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution gave us one of the most profound phrases –‘Survival of the fittest’. It is a rare instance that the entire world is facing an epidemic, and each person’s survival instincts are under test. From our immunity to our businesses, all aspects of our lives are disrupted. The Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us of that expression as we try to make ourselves physically, mentally, and economically stronger.

Fortunately, the human race has learned to foresee and adapt accordingly.

Changes in the Economic Scenario post-Covid – Digital Marketing is Important

Although commercial activity in the physical world is considerably affected, the internet and e-commerce have gained momentum since March 2020.  

The digital world is evolving -new prospects and digital marketing trends are now the mantras to survive in the market.

According to Statista, people are spending 44% more time on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Another significant change post-Covid is the increase in popularity of online shopping; not just through e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart, but also via social media channels such as Instagram. The digital marketing potential increases by a significant amount using the above mentioned digital marketing trends.

To understand digital marketing’s importance, let us first review the current financial scenario of businesses. Post Covid-19, businesses have encountered a huge setback due to the lockdowns. We are all aware that there is a drastic loss of income and the economy faces the following problems:

• There is a decrease in the spending power of the consumers and they mostly buy or use services that they feel are necessary.
• Marketing is essential to convince buyers to buy a product or avail of services offered by the company.
• The usual methods of marketing are not as effective as before. Businesses and organizations are employing digital marketing trends to promote their products/ services.

Before we go into detail about digital marketing’s importance in this scenario, let us first have a brief overview of what is a digital marketing and digital marketing trends.

What is digital marketing? – Digital Marketing is Important

Marketing is a group of activities that aim to promote services or products to consumers. Digital Marketing is the use of digital/online channels to promote and sell services or products. The digital channels include various components such as:

• Social Media Marketing (SMM): Use of social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram to create brand awareness and promote products or services.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Techniques to organically rank the website higher in the search engine ranking and create visibility for a business.
• Search Engine Marketing (SEM): Paid advertising to rank higher in the search engine ranking and creates traffic for websites.
• Email Marketing: Market products/services directly to the customer through newsletters/ promotions by email.
• Mobile Marketing: Marketing directly to customers using SMS or adverts in mobile apps.
• Although a basic understanding can be attained about digital marketing trends, the optimum use of digital channels requires much more in-depth knowledge. You can achieve a thorough knowledge of digital marketing importance by enrolling in structured Digital Marketing courses.

Let us understand the reasons for a rise in digital marketing importance post-Covid to rebuild the economy and in financial restructuring.

#1 Traditional Marketing Media Is Less-Effective Post-Covid – Digital Marketing is Important

The most common offline marketing method is billboards (hoardings) and posters. Billboards provide maximum visibility while driving on roads or from top of buildings. Posters are effective due to their repetitive nature and instill an idea in the minds of buyers while they are en route to offices or markets.

We have all experienced the relief of seeing the red and yellow McDonald’s sign while traveling by road and have certainly satisfied our hunger pangs at the fast-food restaurant. The tempting McDonald’s ads on billboards create a familiarity with the brand and were a good marketing strategy before the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.

But can McDonald’s rely on billboards to entice customers post-Covid?

The movement of people has reduced post-Covid due to restrictions/precautions taken in the society. We are confined either to our homes or areas in close proximity to our homes.

Unfortunately, less traffic on the road also means fewer customers. In business terminology, we would say the Return on Investment (ROI) of the billboards and posters has now reduced.

So, what is the alternative but to understand digital marketing importance and employ them as per our requirements!

Similarly, other marketing techniques such as offering membership and discounts at stores/supermarkets are also not viable nowadays. But, we still need to advertise and create a business.

We can achieve the marketing done by billboards digitally by online ads that appear on various digital marketing trends and create an interest among the consumers. With the Work-From-Home (WFH) becoming the new normal, restaurants are now adapting to bringing the dining experience to people’s homes and provide a tasteful experience. Grasping the digital marketing importance, they now use social media to create an online presence. The shift to digital marketing keeps the business of the restaurants rolling and increases the employment opportunity for delivery-personnel.

#2 Data Collection and Analysis is Easier – Digital Marketing is Important

According to the Wall Street Journal, an average U.S. adult spends over 16 hours with digital media. As digital marketing trends are becoming more commonplace post-Covid, a majority of consumers are now acceptable to the idea of sharing personal information if it leads to a faster and easier shopping experience. Companies can gather user data across multiple digital channels such as websites, shopping apps, PoS systems, mailing lists, etc. This enables businesses to promote their products/ services to select clientele by accessing a database of target buyers.

Another factor that increases the digital marketing importance is that consumers are more willing to provide information digitally due to the following reasons:

• To avoid filling paper forms while trying to maintain social-distancing at a shopping center or mall.
• It takes less time to fill a short feedback form/ take a survey online
• It is also easier to collect data from consumers online because they do so at a convenient time.
•  Information can also be collected indirectly as part of any digital channel on social media or common search phrases in a shopping app.

Why Collecting Consumer Data Increases Digital Marketing Importance?

Collecting data from buyers is essential for a company. Businesses can also analyze the feedback provided by consumers to incorporate modifications and improve their products. It helps them to further promote their products using various digital marketing techniques.

For example, digital marketing importance comes into play when companies selling baby products can send personalized emails related to discounts on their products to parents having children less than one-year-old children. In this case, we can use digital marketing trends such as Video Marketing and Instagram to promote products to specific buyers in the age group of 30-40yrs.

If you want to promote company services such as online tuitions, understanding digital marketing importance can be a game-changer. Maths-aid.com is among the top 25 websites visited by females (86% females, presumably mothers or teachers). Therefore, advertising on that educational site is a good strategy to get maximum coverage among the target clientele.

Thus, relevant and insightful data analysis of the online activity of consumers can help organizations decide on the best use of digital marketing trends.

#3 Traditional Marketing Events Such As Seminars and Conferences Have Been Discontinued

Many professionals such as financial consultants, life-transformation coaches, and resort groups used to rely on seminars and group events to generate interest among the audience and create a turnover in terms of future clients or club members. Due to the travel restrictions and lockdowns post-Covid, people are reluctant to attend such conferences or seminars.

As a result, the above organizations/ professionals have to turn to digital marketing trends to create the same marketing impact. Adapting a new marketing technology might seem tedious, but imagine lessening the burdens of event management of booking a conference hall and still being able to connect to your audience through online webinars. The lockdown norms will not affect the marketing strategy drastically and it truly reflects the digital marketing importance post-Covid.

Visualize another scenario of a car dealership after the launch of a new car. Post-Covid, there will be very few people who would visit the showroom to take a look at a new car. Alternatively, the car manufacturer can advertise the launch of the car on various digital marketing trends such as Twitter and YouTube. Then instead of waiting and interacting with a minimal clientele, the car dealer can send an e-invitation to online visitors who might have approved/liked the launch. Next, the potential buyers can attend a virtual test drive of the car and the features of the car can be explained to many prospective clients simultaneously. Here, digital marketing importance becomes evident.

#4 Digital Marketing Is Faster, Flexible and Economical

While the physical world is still reeling under the lockdown chaos, the Digital world is advancing by leaps and bounds. The need for survival has caused technology related to digital marketing trends to advance at a faster pace.

In case a company wants to run an ad campaign, they conduct research related to the most effective digital marketing trends suitable for their purpose. It is also possible to run the same campaign across multiple digital channels such as YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

In addition, marketers can easily gauge the response of the netizens by something as simple as the views/likes that a campaign receives.

Depending upon the feedback, modifications in strategy is very common. the company can continue with the marketing campaign or change it within a very short duration of time.  

In short, digital marketing trends here can be aptly related to the word ‘viral’. Digital marketing is faster and far-reaching. Strategically changes can be easily incorporated in online marketing making it much more flexible as compared to offline marketing and again increasing the digital marketing importance post-Covid. Another feature of the digital marketing trends is their cost-effectiveness. The entertainment industry is starting to shift from cable and satellite TV to digital channels such as Netflix, Disney Hotstar, and Amazon Prime because of their value for money. Therefore, advertising on these channels has a better return for money and is also economical. The same advertisement can be run on multiple digital devices such as mobile, laptop, or TV screens. The marketing strategy helps in increasing the viewing percentage and hence ROI.

#5 Digital Marketing is Futuristic – Digital Marketing is Important

The digital marketing trends may change. Facebook was the most popular digital media to stay connected. But, over past few years, WhatsApp has also gained popularity as a sharing app. Plans are already in progress to allow advertising on WhatsApp to benefit from its popularity among mobile users. An app may gain or lose favour among consumers (changing trends), but the strategy or method to channelize the digital media for marketing stays the same. Hence the digital marketing methods will be effective even in the future even if there are advancements in technology.

If the thought comes to your mind that digital marketing importance will decrease after the Covid pandemic has run its course, then you need not be worried. Once consumers have got used to working from home (WFH), it is stated to be the new normal. Similarly, the habit to purchase products/ services online will stay with the consumers due to its ease of use and convenience of time management.

#6 Digital Marketing Trends to Create a Brand Image

Digital marketing importance is not restricted to selling products/ services by a company or organization. Another vital functional of digital marketing it to create or promote brand image.

All age groups of people are in one way or another interacting with digital media, whether it is for entertainment, information, or professional work. There is an increase in our daily exposure to online content which also contributes in shaping our needs and opinions. Add to this the fact that if multiple people in the same family are viewing the same content, the impact on the family will be greater.

It is a known fact that our brain reacts better to audio-visual stimulus. Well-created Videos posted on social media such as Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook are powerful enough to go viral and establish a company’s brand image within no time.

Post-Covid, this effect of digital marketing is even greater. Companies can create brand awareness by associating themselves with some trending social cause or supporting some NGO for community uplifting. The company can associate themselves with a cause that sits well with their vision or brand image.

For instance, a book publishing company can contribute a small percentage of their book price towards sponsoring a child from the economically weaker section of the society. The movement can be projected across multiple digital marketing trends. When consumers relate with the cause, they also show an inclination to buy books published by the company.

By now, you must have gained a pretty good insight into digital marketing importance in today’s difficult economic scenario. Even if you are not associated with an organization but just want to be heard online- then too the digital marketing trends can help achieve your goals. If you want to create awareness about a product, service, or any social movement; or if you want an idea to go viral and projected to the masses, all you need is a sound digital marketing strategy. Better still get a digital marketing professional on your side or become one.