19 Ways Promo People Can Prosper During the COVID Crisis

Right now, we’re living in a wild version of reality – every day, something happens to spark new anxiety, confusion and fear. It’s true that this will change the makeup of our industry, but it doesn’t have to be all damaging, all scary. Our real fear isn’t a virus – it’s the unknown. It’s important to remind ourselves that we are good at what we do. We’re collaborative, resilient. In a time with so many uncertainties, the one thing I’m sure of is our ability to bounce back and willingness to endure. I’m not going to sugar coat it…this sucks right now. But we can find the good and be the good in a time where it’s easy to only fixate on the bad.

Here are 19 ways to triumph over COVID-19:

1.   Free industry education – PPAI and ASI offer hundreds of hours of webinars to watch on-demand. SanMar University and FAM by Bella+Canvas also provide fantastic apparel and marketing education.

2.   Video conference your co-workers and customers – We’re in an industry full of people who love people. This can help from feeling isolated. 

3.   Prepare virtual samples – even if production is delayed or stopped, virtual samples are the best way to still provide customers with thoughtful ideas.

4.   Call your mom and dad (or an older adult who you care about) – It’s an easy way to beat burnout and re-center yourself.

5.   Approach new markets and new customers - Find industries that are still buying right now…transportation, public works, healthcare, education, essential retail, financial, safety, human services, etc. They all need the products we provide.

6.   Virtual happy hours –They’re fun, free and a great way to end the day on a positive note. I have a feeling this practice will continue on even after COVID. 

7.   Join and get involved in an online community - If you’re not already a member, the Promotional Product Professionals group is the largest on Facebook in our industry. There’s also PromoConnect – PPAI’s free forum to engage, learn and connect with different groups within the industry.

8.   Visit PromoShow.com – A new platform to schedule, view and interact with vendors in a virtual “booth”.

9.   Take a crack at that dusty, well-meaning reading list – I’ve been trying to read Seth Godin‘s This is Marketing for months now.

10.  Write and send your customers hand-written cards.

11.  Join Roni Wright‘s live yoga sessions – Roni is Vice President at The Book Co. and has recently made her Facebook profile public so that anyone can participate in a much-needed break to boost your energy. 

12.  Catalog your gratitude - Try writing down or documenting what you are grateful for. This is proven to minimize anxiety and establish healthy mindfulness.

13.  Set technology boundaries for yourself – I find that now that I’m working from home, it’s much more difficult to disconnect at the end of the day. In your phone settings, you can set time limits for specific apps or for all apps within a certain timeframe. Game changer.

14.  Become a mentor or mentee through PromoKitchen – Submit your application here.

15.  Participate in #PromoChat on Twitter every Wednesday at 3pm EST.

16.  Re-familiarize yourself with digital catalogs… Streamline and find customer-facing content quickly and easily.

17.  Update your LinkedIn and Instagram profiles – If you don’t have either, now is the time. Customers are Googling your name, so make sure that what they find is representative of who you are.

18.  Listen to podcasts – My favorite promo podcasts include SKUCast, unScripted, PromoKitchen, PromoMarketing, Industry Insider and PromoCares. I highly recommend these non-promo podcasts too: We Work w/Adam Grant, Revisionist History with Malcom Gladwell and NPR’s How I Built This.

19.  Be kind to yourself.

No one knows what the landscape looks like when we get to the other side of the COVID crisis, but my prediction is that the majority of our industry’s companies will come out stronger, better and smarter than before. The fact that we have so many industry resources and quickly developed tools and practices in the wake of it all should be proof enough. Yes, things will be rocky for a bit, but if we invest in ourselves and have faith in what we’ve built, we will overcome the adversity we feel now.

Taylor Borst is head of communications and public relations for American Solutions for Business. Joining the print and promo industry in 2015, she specializes in social media, promotional products, and supplier relations. Taylor is currently a Sous Chef with PromoKitchen, on the Networking Committee for PPAI SPARK and is an advocate for education and youth involvement in the industry. Connect with her on Instagram and LinkedIn.