Many businesses are transitioning to working from home amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, spurring a shift in online publications. Mountains of content are being produced to help organizations navigate their way through the coming weeks and months. In the world of marketing, staying informed is paramount. So, we’ve curated and vetted a list of articles you’ll want to read from reputable sources across the web.
One of our core values is to Bring a Curious Mind, and as such, we dedicate ourselves to staying ahead of the curve. Because of this, our team is constantly researching, reading, and sharing news articles, industry updates, and stories from the rest of the world.
As marketers, we understand that we are part of a larger community and want to do our part to help however we can. We believe that we have a responsibility to our community to help spread valuable information from trusted sources, to keep people informed and inspired.
Below, you’ll find a curated and vetted list of news articles and sourced information, which we will update on the regular. Bookmark this News & Resources Roundup to stay in the know.
Meant for nonprofits who are struggling to navigate through the COVID-19 outbreak, this is a compilation of “specific Facebook tools recommendations as well as resources from leading health authorities on how to communicate information in an effective, relevant and timely fashion.”
Continuously updated
COVID-19: $800+ million to support small businesses and crisis response
Google pledges $800+ million to address the challenges COVID-19 has placed on small-and medium-sized businesses, health organizations and governments, and health workers on the frontline of this global pandemic. Find out how it breaks down in this article.
Published March 27, 2020
FREE Moz Courses
Curious about SEO? Good news, from now through to May 31st, Moz Academy is offering FREE coursework. There are over a dozen on-demand courses, open to all skill levels.
Responding to the coronavirus: For Retail advertisers
The effects of COVID-19 on local economies are severe. Facebook provides information for retail or store-based clients on how to respond with open communication and strategies on how to stay connected.
No publish date, reposted by Major Tom March 24, 2020
Hootsuite, one of our marketing BFFs, is offering FREE access to Hootsuite Professional for small businesses and nonprofits. Check this link out yourselves, post it to your social, and tell your friends: there is a lot of good in the world. Shout out to Hootsuite for supporting the community!
No publish date, reposted by Major Tom March 20, 2020
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
In one of the best examples so far of a large corporation doing its part to help smaller organizations, Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses. It almost guaranteed that someone in your community could use a little extra help right now, so spread the word.
No publish date, reposted by Major Tom March 20, 2020
Information and support for businesses facing the Coronavirus crisis
SMBhelp is an online resource center that all freelancers and small to medium-sized businesses should have bookmarked. The center provides a place to get guidance, 24/7 support, tips on taking your business online, and on facing the Coronavirus crisis. It’s operated by Fiverr, an online platform for freelancers to find work.
No publish date, reposted by Major Tom March 20, 2020
Business resource hub: building resilience during challenging times
Facebook’s providing resources to help your business make it through the COVID-19 crisis. The article includes links to tangible resources like a resilience toolkit where you’ll “find best practices, tools and a self-assessment to help protect your business from interruptions” and a quick-action guide to help “plan your emergency response and develop plans to minimize downtime.”
No publish date, reposted by Major Tom March 20, 2020
Creative Works: what brands are doing for the coronavirus pandemic
The Drum offers up a collection of brand creative that we can all draw inspiration from. Navigating the gravity of our global situation with your business needs can take a toll on messaging; it can be difficult to balance the line between striking and sensitive. Just remember, you’re not alone. Click through to see how others in the industry are navigating these waters.
March 19, 2020
B2B turns to digital marketing in the wake of coronavirus outbreak
Interteam Content Services' Dan Gerstenfeld makes a sound argument for why businesses should not cut their event budgets but rather allocate them to digital marketing. They state “the major advantage of digital marketing, besides the fact that it does not require face-to-face interaction, is that it is measurable.”
Published March 16, 2020
4 Reasons Why Facebook Ads are Critical for Your Business During COVID-19
This article discusses why it’s a great time to advertise despite conversions not rolling in as they normally would. Find out the other benefits to keeping your awareness campaigns going.
Published March 26, 2020
Quantcast, one of Major Tom's programmatic media suppliers, has put together a deck which summarizes the impacts of COVID-19 on advertising and online behaviour.
No publish date, reposted by Major Tom April 17, 2020
The Coronavirus Pandemic’s Relationship to Online Behavioral Shifts in Canada
This piece tracks Canadian online behaviour patterns, showing the areas that are trending the most with online engagement.
Continuously updated
Media Consumption during the Coronavirus Pandemic
Another Comscore gem, this top-level look shows how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting audience and consumer behavior across platforms.
Continuously updated
COVID-19 insights and resources for advertisers
Microsoft Advertising provides insights and trends in consumer behavior to help you make informed business decisions.
Continuously updated
How Gen Z is shopping online while staying home
This piece has valuable information on what Gen Z is looking for when it comes to advertising. It promotes ethical, value-driven ads and how to speak to this particular generation.
Published April 14 2020
Seven marketing strategies for an uncertain economy
In a crisis, it can be difficult to focus on the future, but for long-term success, organizations shouldn’t lose sight of their goals. Discussing optimizing your creative, shifting resources, and the dangers of “going dark”, this article covers 7 statistically-supported strategies to keep your focus on the long-term impact of your marketing efforts.
March 23, 2020
COVID-19: Tracking the impact on FMCG, retail, and media
COVID-19 has forced consumers to dramatically change their purchasing behavior. Nielsen, a reliable arbiter of truth as always, provides a regularly updated report on what these changes look like and how brands and retailers can address and adapt to them.
Continuously updated
EVA 'We Stick Together by Staying Apart'
KANTAR, a consulting company who “specialists in understanding human growth”, used EVA, a “ unique image analytics platform” to look at self-isolation. They discovered people's needs and approaches when self-isolating and discovered how brands can play an appropriate role in this new normal. The published report shows 6 core themes emerge along with recommendations for how brands can produce relevant content.
No publish date, reposted by Major Tom March 24, 2020
There are many opportunities for well-positioned businesses to succeed, but you need to act now to make the most of your situation. Business Insider gives their scoop on the impact of COVID-19 on the health, telecom, eCommerce, digital media, fintech and banking industries. If you fall into one of these industries, take a read - it could help you to make crucial adjustments.
March 13, 2020