Agency Blog

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, slowly, surely, everyone in every profession is testing the waters for making 2021 a better year. Recent reports indicate that influencer marketing has a newfound popularity. What can this mean for your business, and what should you be aware of?

As 2020 was the year of digital transformation for many, 2021 needs to be the year that you’re more digitally equipped than ever.

Who in the advertising field doesn’t feel inspired by a “think-outside-the-box” campaign that becomes a major success story? You know—one that arrives out of nowhere and results in a “what was that?” reaction from everyone who witnesses it. Well, one brand pulled that feat off, and achieved a major win among this past Sunday’s Super Bowl parade of ads. This brand was Reddit—that social news/web content rating/discussion site symbolized by a smiling martian face on an orange circle.

When looking ahead to 2021, EGC outlined 10 key trends that were shaped from a previously challenging year. The health, social, and economic situations of 2020 forced all industries to pivot, and businesses—big and small—needed to reassess their ability to meet changed consumer patterns. Analyzing the trends and applying sound marketing strategies based on the needs of a business is key to opening new doors of opportunity. To help clients put ideas into action, EGC developed a kickSTART process.

Many industries and verticals have changed to meet the consumer demand for convenience. Healthcare is a prime example. Consider the variety of options that are available to anyone who’s seeking medical attention: private practices, hospitals, urgent care centers, and a resurgence of “medtail.” You may not be familiar with this term, but you’ve seen it in your own neighborhood. It is particularly noteworthy because it impacts not one, but two, verticals—medical and retail.

Gone are the days of in-person face-to-face meetings, conferences, and trade shows. Being at a trade show was all about discovery. Roaming isles (earning those steps!) and discovering something new was fun and exciting. (The free swag was nice, too.) One lesson the year 2020 has taught us is that there are different ways to stay connected. The practice of hosting and attending virtual events was not new to us, but it certainly forced its way in and has not only become a necessity, but the new norm.

Having spent some time discovering Clubhouse over the past few weeks, here is what you should know…

If it’s true that a picture is “worth a thousand words,” then video is worth far more, especially where the value of public relations is concerned. Each video produced about your company is a reflection of everything from its goods and services to overall culture. Video should therefore be an essential part of your public relations strategy. And in today’s world, it’s more important than ever for PR professionals to be video-savvy. They must understand how videos can elevate—or sink—a company’s reputation and public standing.

With every new presidential administration comes a new focus on policies and priorities. Right out-of-the-gate on day one, it seems like President Biden’s administration will be putting a sharp focus on inclusivity and accessibility.

If the year 2020 revealed anything, it was our ability to adjust and adapt to sudden changes. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people had to work remotely. Businesses everywhere shut down, some permanently and others temporarily. Local businesses that managed to survive are perhaps the strongest examples of how to adjust and adapt. And much of their survival was due to digital marketing.