Keep Your Brand Visible During the Pandemic

TDMAW 2013 Board of Directors

Ben Kosmatka - Service Tool & Die Corp. Harvey Tomasini - United Tool Corp. John Mack - Liberty Tool Corp. Louis Ullstrup - Ullstrup Tool & Die Co. George Sowinski - Tri-Par Tool & Die Co. John Weber - Saller Tool Corp. Tom Stanek - Stanek Tool Corp. Al Wendorf - Wisconsin Gasket & Mfg. Co. Leo Lebal - National Mfg. Co. James Schultz - Wisconsin Drill Head Corp. Richard Marsek - Maintenance Service Corp. Ted Terwelo - Banner Tool & Eng. Co. Bob Waker - Sterling Tool & Mfg. Co. Ed Stanek - Stanek Tool Corp. Gene Fritsch - Economy Tool & Machine Joe Bock - Wisconsin Machine Co. Ed Michalski - Milwaukee Parts Corp. Frank Wirtz - L & W Tool & Die Co Art Gieringer - Gieringer Tool & Die Al Janiszewski - Superior Die Set Steve Pohlhammer - Northwest Tool & Eng. Jerome Stanek - Stanek Tool Corp. Larry Wacker - Sterling Tool & Mfg. Co. Harry Schauer - Hasco Valve Company

Current President Kirk Kussman TDMAW 2019 Board of Directors

Article submitted by Linda Foster, Vive, LLC

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 Schedule Customer Interviews - To pandemic has changed the way we interact and shifted how we conduct business. From moving tradeshows from in-person events to virtual experiences to creating new challenges associated with social-distancing policies, change has been present throughout. The silver lining of this unprecedented situation is companies have had the opportunity to step back, rethinking obtain key voice-of-customer input, set up a time to speak directly with your customers to check in with them, remind them they are valued and that you are there to support them. After all, we are in a relationship business, so continue adding value to those connections and provide a stronger base for continued growth. what they are doing and how often they are Social Media - For many small to middoing it. This reflection has allowed some sized manufacturers, this marketing stratmanufacturers the opportunity to produce egy may be a bit overwhelming, but if you essential products, after not being focused want to further connect with your current on medical-related applications, while customers and prospects with pertinent inother companies have been forced to make dustry and/or company information while tough decisions to account for short-term, impacting the opportunities to connect, organization reductions. As things continue to start with LinkedIn. Begin by planning two slowly reopen, it’s important for your company to three posts per month, and as you have not to be quiet, but rather continue to keep more content to share, increase the cadence the communication line open, focusing on for boosted visibility. Be mindful that all maximizing marketing efforts. posts meet the criteria of quality over quan

One of the biggest mistakes companies tity. Lastly, if your audience takes the time have made during this pandemic is stopping to respond to your posts, be sure to interact communication or completely pulling back back with them! from their marketing initiatives. While Videos - Today, many of us have smartthere will certainly be a shift in priorities and the investment levels in marketing efforts, there will always be ways to keep communication channels transparent and active – even with a modest marketing budget. There are various communication channels your business can optimize to maintain or reignite conversations with your audience that include marketing initiatives such as: phones in our pockets capable of shooting high-quality videos, making it easy to produce short videos to share via social media, e-blasts, etc., as a solution to visually connect with your audience. Video as a platform continues to grow in popularity, but creating them does not have to be hard. It could be as simple as sharing a company announcement, showcasing your operations or highlighting the latest Email Marketing - Beyond your day-topiece of technology equipment. day emails, get strategic and creative about By incorporating these best practices, what you are communicating. Using a platopportunities for increased and improved form like Mailchimp or Constant Contact communications with your viewers creates an opportunity to design a profesare created, keeping your brand at the sional-looking deliverable and provides forefront, and when things get back a deeper understanding of user behavior. to “normal”, you will be in a position These platforms will track what the reader of continued marketing momentum, is clicking on and even reveal how well-vetwhereas others may be playing catch up. ted your CRM list is. Start by deploying an e-blast once a month or every other month to connect your message to your audience. If you are looking for additional marketing insights, visit https:// marketingformanufacturers.com/podcast/