Well, it’s 2021, we made it…now what?!
We have spent the last year navigating the new world of work from home, social distancing, wearing masks and sanitizing well, EVERYTHING. We understand that the rules have changed, with the shadow of uncertainty many companies are facing, no matter the industry, we’ve all been thrust into a “business metamorphosis”. Ok so it’s hard to not picture that grubby little caterpillar happy and trudging along when all of a sudden, he holes up becomes a pupa and then after all sorts of nature magic, that caterpillar has changed and emerges a beautiful butterfly, prepared for the same world, just in a different way, you know…with wings.
That’s how we see 2020, it was the opportunity to take a chance on change. We all understand that what worked before might not work now or in the future. In an era defined by universal change context is king, It’s important to remember that we’re all human, we’re all seeking empathy and we’re all in this together for the long haul.
This brings us to what we feel are the two major trends of 2021: Kindness is Currency and Digital, Digital, Digital.
Kindness and appreciation in the digital world are all too important as we enter 2021. Acts of kindness, no matter the size won’t go unnoticed. Large companies in the tech industry have invested millions of dollars in making programs like zoom more secure and readily available to the public and in response to skyrocketing unemployment numbers, some online universities have opened up their course catalog to help retrain workers for new professions. These acts don’t go unnoticed by consumers and with the competition just a click away in the all too saturated digital market, it’s important to understand that they are relying heavily on your website to understand just who and what your brand is all about. Video provides an excellent outlet to portray messages.
Excellent customer service is a necessity, and in 2021 it can’t just be about providing solutions quickly it will be about empathy as well. Using more video or face-to-face communication, flexibility, and ease in purchasing products and making payments all add to the kindness currency. Employee and customer appreciation will take a front seat in all aspects of business. Be it a digital shout-out on LinkedIn for a job well done, a cup filled with goodies delivered to a doorstep, or a sales lunch via video chat, ensuring you’re making that personal connection will help nurture connections in this new year.
With social distancing still a “thing” it’s likely that most in-person events such as tradeshows, seminars, and luncheons will continue to transition to the digital space. We’ve seen some pretty cool webinars and product launches that incorporate a “kit” of products that are used to lead the event via a live unboxing webinar. It’s an excellent way to marry the personal touch of a goodie bag or new product with an online experience.
As sales professionals struggle to bridge the gap of in-person interaction with clients it’s recommended to incorporate the use of digital video books. Literally, drop your most important messaging in the hands of potential clients and give them something to reference back to instead of just a video on a website. We all love swag, cool products, and innovative ideas. Creativity, kindness, and understanding the changing market will certainly provide the “wings” needed to successfully fly through 2021.