The Importance of Digital in a Pandemic World

The Opportunity

The Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the importance of digital tenfold in only a few months. As stay-at-home orders continue, businesses and organizations in a variety of industries have been forced to adapt or fail. Restaurants need to have at least some digital infrastructure to make the process of to-go food convenient. Conferences and events are going virtual and finding ways to connect with their audiences. Retail stores are depending on their eCommerce platforms now more than ever. Large technology brands like Twitter and Facebook are making remote working mainstream, revolutionizing what the workplace looks like moving forward. Quite simply, the pandemic has shed light on the importance of digital, and companies that invested heavily are enjoying significant engagement, ROI, and others. It’s not that digital wasn’t already important, because it has been for years. The difference now is that it’s essential.

The Advantage

Despite the economic devastation, some industries are in an elevated position to come out of this stronger than ever. Businesses that depend on online communication are thriving. E-Sports and streaming platforms are seeing a massive uptick in viewership. Social Media (especially Tik Tok) has seen significant increases in user content, engagement, and viewership. E-commerce powerhouses like Amazon and Wayfair are thriving. Home fitness companies see significant backlogs from recent purchases. Home Improvement businesses (Like Home Depot and Lowe’s) are breaking all-time records. These businesses are in a position to double down on their messaging and provide a quality service that’s in high demand. These are the outliers. They can’t miss a golden opportunity like this.

The Devastating Economic Reality

Local Mom and Pop businesses across the country are in huge trouble. They simply don’t have the infrastructure, resources, and cash to get through this crisis. The economic effect has been and will continue to be devastating for years to come. PPP loans and help from the government can only go so far. Unemployment will continue to rise. Likewise, because many workers make significantly more on unemployment, they won’t feel pressured to find work immediately, leaving our economy in shambles. This is a systematic failure, as American citizens haven’t been getting paid enough to keep up with inflation, real estate, and education for years now. The stock market is not an indicator of the economy as a whole; investors simply understand that large businesses can handle this crisis and may even come out of it stronger than before. Mergers will be common, as many businesses will need to make incredibly tough business decisions and settle for less than they’re worth. Watch out for this in the coming months.

Conclusion

Despite tough times, businesses can’t lose sight or give up on their digital presence. Spread your message on social media. Tell your customers you care about them. Make your website great user experience. Digital is here and the pandemic has made it even more important in 2020. Don’t miss the boat.