The COVID-19 pandemic brought a monumental shift in how businesses approach digital marketing. With the ever-changing digital landscape, it’s important to understand what has transformed in this realm. Let’s take a step back to examine the bigger picture and examine the changes in e-commerce, website development and SEO, and social media usage. What does the post-pandemic era have in store for digital marketing?

Increased focus on e-commerce

With physical stores closed due to restrictions, businesses had to pivot to online sales. And it worked! The number of products and services purchased online doubled compared to 2020. Companies that learned and overcame the challenges of the pandemic, saw growth from 29% to 58.4% on purchased products or services online. With this increased focus on e-commerce, it’s essential to ensure a smooth customer experience, such as:

• A user-friendly platform that is responsive to mobile, tablet and computer screens.
• Easy access to the platform for customers around the world.
• Clear product descriptions and attention-grabbing pictures.
• Secure payments and transparent purchase policy.

At Globally Cool we also noticed a rising interest in the development of online stores. Elevating the Vietnamese furniture association HAWA in 2021 and developing a multi-level funding approach towards ecological e-commerce in Africa in 2022 are projects from different parts of the world, yet they both focus on improving the e-commerce strategy for business growth.

Mobile first

Another critical aspect of digital marketing is websites and SEO. With 92.1% of internet users accessing the internet via mobile phones it’s vital to have a mobile-friendly website with a strong SEO strategy to increase your brand awareness. Ads on social media are also successful in raising brand awareness. Let the numbers speak for themselves, with 127.9 billion spent on search ads in 2020 and a whopping 182.4 billion spent on search ads in 2022.

The power of an online community

Finally, social media has seen significant growth during the pandemic. With 4.62 billion active social media users in 2022, a rise of 10.1% from the previous years, it’s clear that social media remains a powerful tool for brand discovery. More than ever, people are turning to social networks as a primary source for researching brands, with Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, and WeChat being the most used social platforms.

Also, don’t forget the value of online communities. Building a community with shared values or interests can be an effective way to connect with potential customers. Research concluded that more than 90% of the respondents who participated in a group supported other group members online. This a sign to build a community with your customers and start profiting from it.

In conclusion, the pandemic has brought significant changes to the world of digital marketing, with a 39% increase in spending and a total value of $465.5 billion in 2022. With the right approach and a focus on e-commerce, website development, and social media usage, SMEs can thrive in the post-pandemic world.

How can we help you? Globally Cool can lead the way in elevating your business with digital marketing. How? Have a look at our digital marketing services and contact us!