Starting out as an entrepreneur can be challenging, and with the current limitation toward social gatherings such as conferences, it’s even more challenging. As an entrepreneur, you have to be your own marketing department, PR team, and provide the product. Entrepreneurs should seek alternative ways to stay visible during the pandemic with the lockdown entering into its second year and a considerable skepticism toward physical meetups. In this article, we’ve suggested five ways to stay visible during the pandemic.
- Virtual appearances
What seemed strange only a year ago is the new normal for many. Conferences, meetings, and other work-related interactions have moved away from conference halls or meeting rooms into digitals spaces such as Zoom and Teams. Many companies and organizations have started offering digital conferences to stay engaged with their audience or clients, which provides a tremendous new opportunity for entrepreneurs to market themself.
Set out to make a list of companies that could be interested in hosting you on their virtual conference, reach out, and offer to hold a talk, Q&A, Webinar, or Livestream for their audience. This way, you can provide value to someone else in this challenging time and simultaneously expand your network.
- Be your own PR agency
Put your knowledge to use by pitching yourself to traditional media. Maybe the local newspaper would run a story on entrepreneurial struggles during the pandemic? Or your local TV station is looking for interview subjects for a case their running? Start out by offering your services as a source. You’ll help someone else in their job and gain free publicity in the process. Sign up for HARO (Help a reporter out), a free tool used by journalists to access sources and a great way to gain some publicity.
- Be the connector
Most are in the same situation during the lockdown. Home office or remote working has people feeling isolated and lonely. This can offer a great way to increase your network. Everyone is looking for a way to connect with people through new methods, reach out to your network, and be the connector. Check-in with your network and listen to what they are struggling with during the lockdown. Offer ways for people to connect, collaborate, or brainstorm new ideas. You’ll not only build a massive network but also stack up on some good karma.
- Seek out new ways to interact with your following
One of the main ways we market ourselves is through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram. While these are frequently used for publishing content, they also offer great new ways to interact with your audience through live streams or webinars. What better time to go live than now that everyone is stuck in front of their computers? Try out new ways to interact with your following. Maybe live streams can turn out to be a vital part of your content schedule in the future!
- Help companies in the digitalization process
Entrepreneurs and startups often lead the way in digitalization. Use this as a marketing point and create content to help others adjust to a digital environment. Something that might be an everyday activity for you might be a huge adjustment for someone else. Put that experience into action and get marketing value for your brand at the same time.
The Bottom Line
Entrepreneurs need to be flexible and adjust when conditions change. While many might see it as a challenge, these adjustments also provide great opportunities to grow and expand in new ways.