Marketers define new best practices

I recently joined my colleagues at ThinkGlobal Qualitative in conducting research with marketing and insights leaders around the world to understand the challenges they are facing and their best practices in handling those challenges.

Their biggest question: how can we strategize and move forward during this crisis when customers’ attitudes seem to change every few weeks?

Certainly the changing circumstances have required some quick course changes for businesses around the world.  But upon further discussion, we realized that obtaining a deeper understanding of our customers can uncover their foundational values to help us better navigate their changing circumstances.  Qualitative research is particularly well-suited to get at that kind of deep understanding.  It goes beyond the surface questions and asks “why?”

I co-wrote an article based on the research, “Marketers Get a GRIP on the New Normal.” 

GRIP refers to the top four challenges discussed:

  • Growth – how to maintain and grow the business in a volatile world
  • Recovery – how to function most effectively in the new normal
  • Innovation – figuring out the new ways brands will interact with customers
  • Pivot – how to make those changes quickly and effectively

The article discusses meeting those challenges and outlines approaches companies can use to not only survive the crisis, but actually thrive.  Click here for the article.

Let’s get a deeper understanding of your customers in order to figure out how your organization can meet those challenges. Call me at 760-469-9266 or email info at bureauwest.com.

In the current crisis, it’s innovate or die

OK, maybe I’m overstating it … or am I? 

The pandemic has caused significant changes for almost every company.  Many have seen a sharp drop in revenue.  Others have had revenues remain the same or even increase, but customers’ needs have changed.  Many have new rules and restrictions about how they can do business.  Some restrictions may be relaxed soon… but customers aren’t sure it’s safe to go back to their old behaviors.

The result of this chaos can be summed up in one word: Disruption.  And when it comes to dealing with disruption, companies that fail to innovate do so at their peril. 

We’ve all heard the stories of companies that ignored disruptions going on around them.  Nokia didn’t realize that data would become more important to users than voice.  Kodak ignored digital photography.  Blockbuster refused to believe their model could be improved upon.

And then there are the companies that recognized disruption and innovated.  Netflix was in the business of mailing DVDs to their customers.  The company saw the growth in high-speed internet and developed its streaming service.

More recently, online meeting provider Zoom grew immensely as a result of the lockdown… and then had to deal with significant disruption when security flaws were discovered.  As a result, many companies and organizations stopped using Zoom.  The company reacted quickly, releasing versions of their software that addressed vulnerabilities and going so far as to acquire security company Keybase to help with their security and privacy efforts.  Now the New York City Department of Education and other organizations have lifted their bans on Zoom use.

So how can you ensure your company doesn’t get crushed by disruption?

We recommend conducting a brand innovation process, which includes the following:

  • A review of how the competitive landscape has changed as a result of the current crisis
  • Research with customers and prospects to understand how they feel and what they are doing right now
  • Disruption workshop with your key stakeholders.  Looking at each of the “4 Ps” –Product, Price, Place, and Promotion – what has changed in the current environment?  How should the brand evolve to address those changes?  A SWOT exercise leading into brainstorming: what could be done better or differently when it comes to each of the four Ps?  What are ways to leverage the company’s strengths and opportunities (including new opportunities) in order to overcome the weaknesses and threats?

Can Bureau West help? I thought you’d never ask!  I have teamed up with Joe Sharlip, an expert brand strategist, to offer brand innovation to our clients. Call me at 760-469-9266 or email info at bureauwest.com to discuss how best to tailor the process for your needs.