With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus causing a lockdown in Italy, many businesses Alteredu work with have had no choice but to work from home, postpone work or shut down services, this includes the project for Caseificio Presila. In times of great uncertainty, developing new strategies is crucial! We need to look into what can still be accomplished despite lockdown and how to not disappear during lockdown.
Such work includes Alteredu's own promotional projects. The company needed new banners for cover pictures to be used in various social media pages or the website itself. It needed to follow a similar style to the re-design of the course posters I previously did however as it was for a landscape cover, it couldn't be a repeated design. With my line-manager and working with our associates based in Roma/Rome, we discuss ideas for the appearance of the posters and I developed them. With discussion, we made changes to ensure we develop a design we can unanimously agree upon. The design of the dark blue text banner, the logo and the light blue shape on the right was repeated 8 times for a variety of courses including: building, teaching, finance, business and management.
In regards to my work being implemented into Alteredu's online platforms, the work for the poster redesign is now live on Alteredu's Twitter page and is due to be live on all of Alteredu's platforms where necessary. It also helps the company to keep engaged with the customers, ensuring they have not been forgotten about during such uncertainty. Whilst the company may not be able to sell many personal courses, the power of the internet and social media has allowed companies to become more adaptable in continuing work however best they can. With the same strategy used to keep engaged with customers and followers, why not apply the same to Caseificio Presila where possible?
My line-manager had similar thoughts on how Caseificio Presila can continue engagement during lockdown. It will of course mean a change of approach and developing a new strategy, but in these times of great restriction, it is the most adaptable companies that will have the most profitable benefits. Whilst Caseificio Presila cannot sell products, it can still offer care for customers and give people something to look forward to once lockdown is finished! A new marketing strategy that companies all over the globe who are experiencing lockdown are doing is offer messages of solidarity and in the case of Italy, union and nationalism is encouraged. New offers can also be a major pull factor for when Caseficio Presila can finally re-open. My line-manager and I thought of competitions via social media for prizes to use later and new special discounts to use in store once the store reopens as example ideas.
The most important element is to grow the social media presence and stay active on it. With this a relaunch Facebook page is in progress. Other social media platforms are being planned for later, but the priority right now is Facebook as it is Caseficio Presila's first and only social media platform. Once finalised and uploaded, we can commence the new marketing strategy to ensure Caseificio Presila continues an active presence and retains interest from people.
Despite the major inconvenience of the novel coronavirus outbreak, what is most important is that people stay safe and keep others safe in the best way they can. Whilst we all must adapt to a drastic change of lifestyle, it doesn't mean we need to stop entirely. Alteredu can show it will continue the best it can despite the circumstances and so will I.