Post pandemic plan: Why market and brand research are so important

During the pandemic, agency’s brands should continue to advertise, but the way in which they communicate must be addressed given the significant change in life as we know it. Use this time to analyse your agency and potential customers by utilising data that is already at your fingertips.

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Life for every person has changed significantly due to COVID-19, which has led to changes in the way customers are interacting, purchasing from businesses and gaining information.

The saying “if you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got” does not apply anymore. Businesses can no longer continue to work the way they always have done, but instead, will need to make changes. In order to hit the ground running once restrictions on social distances loosen, agencies will need to investigate changes and how their business can adapt to fit.

Brands

Brands are not defined just by their products or services but consist of much more. A brand has its own personality, mission, goals, ethos, and even its own humour.

Agencies should spend time understanding how its communications and messaging alter brand perception by focussing on these three main points:

  1. Understanding the competitive market
  2. Understanding the consumer market
  3. Having a willingness to change

The wider market

Market research (or marketing research) uses different techniques to gather information to better understand a company’s target market. Businesses use the information gathered to design better products, improve user experiences, and create marketing messages to attract quality leads and improves conversion rates.

Researching the market

One way for agency’s to get great insights into their customers or potential customers is to study websites, research or case studies that their competitors have published.

Agencies should research the competitive market where they plan on doing business and ask themselves questions like:

  • Who are the big players?
  • What do they bring to the table?
  • What unique opportunities are open for you to snatch up?
  • What threats exist that could impede your path to success?
  • What benefits can you offer that competitors aren’t already offering or aren’t offering well?

Researching consumers

Agency’s need to research existing customers within the market and potential customers.

  • Who are they?
  • What do they want from brands in that market? 
  • What are they not getting that they want and need?
  • How do they feel about existing brands in the market?
  • What type of pricing, features and benefits do they want?

The main question a business should need to answer is, who is my target audience and what do they want from me?

Survey your current customers

In light of lockdown and being unable to have face-to-face contact with your customers, surveys are the perfect answer to gain insight. Your customers have purchased your service and are relatively accessible to you and by asking them questions, it will not only provide insight into their decision-making process, but it will also be a great opportunity to gather content for a case study.

This will identify common interests, information sources and challenges and will help better inform future blogs, social media content and future communication with both ongoing and potential customers.

Study your web analytics

With the times we’re faced with, the online world has never been so highly regarded, it’s the tool that we need in order to function right now. Website analytics provide insights and data that can be used to create a better user experience for website visitors.

There’s a ton of data accessible to businesses through web analytics, but are they being used to learn more about buyers and others with shared values and interests? Businesses should ask themselves questions such as:

  • What are the patterns of visitor behaviour?
  • Where do they come from?
  • What keywords did they use to find you?
  • Where do they go while on the site?
  • How long do they stay?
  • What content formats are most popular?
  • Do these patterns tell you anything about where your customers are in their buying process, or what content is most effective at the different stages of their buying process?

Understanding customer behaviour is key to optimizing a website for key conversion metrics, so use this information to improve your website and landing pages to attract interested potential customers.

PROPERTYMARK POST PANDEMIC PLAN

Propertymark’s Post Pandemic Plan articles support agents with their preparations to emerge from the Coronavirus lockdown and prepare them to maximise market potential, add value, and underpin their business.

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28 May 2020
Post pandemic plan: Managing annual leave

With businesses in England looking to reopen, and those in other parts of the UK still under lockdown, agency managers may struggle to balance the annual leave needs of staff with keeping the business running both now and when offices are reopened.

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21 May 2020
Post pandemic plan: What agents should consider if a second #StayAtHome occurs

Given the uncertain times ahead, agents should consider revitalising their agency and continue adapting to reap the benefits if a second stay at home measure may be on the cards.

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19 May 2020
Post pandemic plan: Transitioning staff back into the workplace safely

As the Secretary of State announced the lifting of restrictions on the property industry last week, agencies have been considering options around returning their staff.

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14 May 2020
Post pandemic plan: Agents must be clear communicators to confront virus fears

With the property market now open for business in England, agents may find themselves dealing with not only buyers eager to get out there and find a property but vendors who are wary of inviting people into their home.

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12 May 2020
Post pandemic plan: The current power of social media

Social media has always been a vital component for an agency, but given the current times we are faced with, agents should be using these tools to their advantage and looking at their channels as an opportunity to online network.

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06 May 2020
Post pandemic plan: preparing your office

The timescales are uncertain but, at some point soon, offices and businesses will be allowed to reopen, and people will go back to work. Getting your office prepared is something you can work towards now, whilst still in lockdown.

PPP white coat.jpg
01 May 2020
Post pandemic plan: Why market and brand research are so important

During the pandemic, agency’s brands should continue to advertise, but the way in which they communicate must be addressed given the significant change in life as we know it. Use this time to analyse your agency and potential customers by utilising data that is already at your fingertips.

PPP blue tie.jpg
27 Apr 2020
Post Pandemic Plan: Do you know what it costs to market a property?

During the lockdown period, many agents with furloughed staff have experienced the roles and responsibilities carried out by staff right across the company. This has provided an opportunity to reassess the business and appraise a wide number of processes.

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24 Apr 2020
Post Pandemic Plan: Marketing planning to stand your business in good stead

In light of the pandemic, speaking with your clients, marketing your business in the correct light and having the right approach when having conversations has never been so important. Keep your business at the forefront of the ongoing change with some expert advice.

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24 Apr 2020
Post Pandemic Plan: Socially distanced viewings

Even when the lockdown is lifted, it is unlikely that life will immediately return to the way it was previously. Agents will be wondering what they can do to provide viewings to service vendors and kick start their business.

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