Strategic communicators have long known that one size does not fit all when it comes to reaching consumers.
Local preferences, taste and culture factor into the strategy to inform and engage.
This need to tailor messages is even more pronounced during the pandemic, given the vast differences city by city, state by state and country by country in the extent of the outbreak and measures to mitigate that have changed everyday life.
For example, businesses have opened up in parts of China while they remain in lockdown in New York and elsewhere.
“Companies were already struggling to keep up with changing consumer behaviors before the pandemic,” says Andrew Cosgrove, EY Global Consumer Knowledge Leader and Lead Analyst. “Now it’s even more critical for companies to anticipate how consumers will change and respond to specific segment needs.”
As some retail was beginning to unlock doors in the United States, only one-third of American adults surveyed April 20 said that they will feel safe shopping in a mall after stores reopen, according to a study by retail predictive analytics company First Insight Inc.
And in unprecedented times, it’s especially vital to take a frequent read of customers’ intent, even fears to remain relevant.
There are lessons to be learned even at this relatively early stage of the pandemic timeline.
Starbucks is one of the companies to watch given its global footprint. It was one of the first large corporations to experience the pandemic given its presence in China. But it is also one of the first to have experienced the days coming out of it and provides some lessons in pacing communications.
“Since the beginning of this global crisis, Starbucks has made decisions that prioritize the well-being of our partners and customers, support health and government officials, and responsibly serve our communities,” Kevin Johnson, Starbucks President and CEO, said on April 28. “This principled approach is showing steady business improvement in China where today, substantially all existing Starbucks stores have reopened with modified operations, new store locations are being added and customer engagement continues to grow with each passing week.
“We are leveraging our experience in China to inform our actions in other markets, including the U.S., where we are now entering the ‘monitor and adapt’ phase to reopen many more stores with best-in-class safety protocols.”
While Starbucks aims to have its lattes taste the same in different parts of the world, it knows that it has to make business operations and marketing adjustments on the local level. It is making decisions store by store.
Johnson said that Starbucks will advance its competitive position “through continued improvements in our digital capabilities and innovative store formats.” Utilizing a regional adaptability model, business goals are aligned with consumer intent. Starbucks also communicates their preventative measures to address how they’re meeting their patrons’ needs.
As Starbucks knows, one of the biggest questions for marketers is how and when to proceed. Messaging needs to be sensitive to the times, not tone-deaf.
It wasn’t until the beginning of May that Starbucks brought advertising back to the U.S. Ads were to include a variety of messages, including spring beverages, Double Star days for loyalty program members, Happy Hour deals and reminders about its app, ordering ahead and delivery.
Starbucks wasn’t the only company to revise its playbook as the pandemic took hold. Understandably, marketers took pause in March when the scope of COVID-19 was within focus. According to eMarketer:
How this will play out in May and thereafter is a big unknown. But what is clear is that decision making is more complex and definitely more local. Knowing how consumers feel in the moment – and crafting messaging that is appropriate – is essential.
When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience.
Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Cookie Statement
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
Cookie details
Cookie Subgroup | Cookies | Cookies used |
---|---|---|
eu5.mm.sdi.sinch.com | ASP.NET_SessionId | First Party |
community.sinch.com | AWSALB , LiSESSIONID | First Party |
appengage.sinch.com | dd_cookie_test_ | First Party |
tickets.sinch.com | atlassian.xsrf.token , JSESSIONID | First Party |
cockpit2.sinch.com | SESSION | First Party |
engage.sinch.com | instapage-variant-xxxxxxxx | First Party |
dashboard.sinch.com | cookietest | First Party |
brand.sinch.com | PHPSESSID , AWSALBCORS | First Party |
sinch.com | __cf_bm , OptanonConsent , TEST_AMCV_COOKIE_WRITE , OptanonAlertBoxClosed , onesaasCookieSettings, QueryString, functional-cookies, performance-cookies, targeting-cookies, social-cookies lastExternalReferrer, lastExternalReferrertime, cookies, receive-cookie-deprecation _gdvisitor, _gd_session, _gcl_au, _fbp, _an_uid, _utm_zzses, lpv | First Party |
mediabrief.com | __cf_bm | Third Party |
recaptcha.net | _GRECAPTCHA | Third Party |
cision.com | __cf_bm | Third Party |
techtarget.com | __cf_bm | Third Party |
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.
If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
Cookie details
Cookie Subgroup | Cookies | Cookies used |
---|---|---|
community.sinch.com | ValueSurveyVisitorCount | First Party |
buzz.sinch.com | instap-spid.8069 , instap-spses.8069 | First Party |
appengage.sinch.com | _dd_s | First Party |
sinch.com | AMP_TLDTEST , rl_page_init_referrer , rl_trait , _vis_opt_s , __q_state_dp56h9oqwhna9CoL , cb_user_id , __hstc , rl_anonymous_id , rl_user_id , initialTrafficSource , _vwo_uuid , _vwo_uuid_v2 , rl_page_init_referring_domain , _hjIncludedInSessionSample_xxx , apt.uid , __hssrc , test_rudder_cookie , cb%3Atest , __hssc , rl_group_trait , _hjAbsoluteSessionInProgress , _vwo_referrer , _vwo_sn , _vis_opt_test_cookie , _hjFirstSeen , _hjTLDTest , _hjSession_xxxxxx , s_sq , _vwo_ds , rl_group_id , _vis_opt_exp_n_combi , s_cc , _gclxxxx , cb_anonymous_id , cb_group_id , apt.sid , rl_session , _uetvid , AMP_899c7e29a9 , _hjSessionUser_xxxxxx | First Party |
brand.sinch.com | AMP_TEST | First Party |
engage.sinch.com | no-cache , instap-spses.85bb , instap-spid.85bb | First Party |
www.sinch.com | d-a8e6 , s-9da4 | First Party |
nr-data.net | JSESSIONID | Third Party |
sinch-en.newsroom.cision.com | _ga, _gid | Third Party |
sinch.in | _ga_xxxxxxxxxx, _gat_UA-XXXXXX-X, _gid, _ga | Third Party |
terminus.services | terminustb | Third Party |
g.fastcdn.co | instap-spses.85bb | Third Party |
hello.learn.mailjet.com | pardot, visitor_id, visitor_id##### | Third Party |
www.googletagmanager.com | userId | Third Party |
hello.learn.mailgun.com | visitor_id#####, visitor_id | Third Party |
dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com | _vwo_ssm | Third Party |
box.com | box_visitor_id | Third Party |
app.box.com | z, cn | Third Party |
sinch-tfn.paperform.co | laravel_session | Third Party |
go.sinch.in | visitor_id#####, visitor_id | Third Party |
Qualified | __q_local_form_debug | Third party |
Rudderstack | rudder.inProgress, rudder.3156dd1f-7029-4600-ae54-baf147d9af20.queue, rudder.3156dd1f-7029-4600-ae54-baf147d9af20.ack, rudder.3156dd1f-7029-4600-ae54-baf147d9af20.reclaimStart, rudder.3156dd1f-7029-4600-ae54-baf147d9af20.reclaimEnd, | Third party |
6sense | _6senseCompanyDetauls, _6signalTTL | Third party |
Appcues | apc_local_id, apc_user | Third party |
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device.
If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Cookie details
Cookie Subgroup | Cookies | Cookies used |
---|---|---|
investors.sinch.com | visitor_id | First Party |
community.sinch.com | VISITOR_BEACON , LithiumVisitor | First Party |
sinch.com | _uetsid , ajs_user_id , _gcl_aw , ajs_group_id , AMCV_ , __utmzzses , _fbp , _gcl_au , AMCVS_ | First Party |
go.latam.sinch.com | visitor_id##### , pardot | First Party |
linkedin.com | li_gc, bcookie, lidc, AnalyticsSyncHistory, UserMatchHistory, li_sugr | Third Party |
pi.pardot.com | lpv151751, pardot | Third Party |
hsforms.com | _cfuvid | Third Party |
google.com | CONSENT | Third Party |
sinch.in | _gclxxxx, _gcl_au | Third Party |
www.linkedin.com | bscookie | Third Party |
bing.com | MUID, MSPTC | Third Party |
www.facebook.com | Third Party | |
hello.learn.mailgun.com | pardot | Third Party |
www.youtube.com | TESTCOOKIESENABLED | Third Party |
dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com | uuid | Third Party |
g2crowd.com | __cf_bm | Third Party |
pardot.com | visitor_id#####, visitor_id | Third Party |
tracking.g2crowd.com | _session_id | Third Party |
hubspot.com | __cf_bm, _cfuvid | Third Party |
doubleclick.net | test_cookie, IDE | Third Party |
youtube.com | CONSENT, VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATA, VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | Third Party |
go.sinch.in | pardot | Third Party |
liadm.com | lidid | Third Party |
www.google.com | _GRECAPTCHA | Third Party |
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Cookie details
Cookie Subgroup | Cookies | Cookies used |
---|---|---|
portal.sinch.com | pnctest | First Party |
partner.appengage.sinch.com | _dd_s | First Party |
investors.sinch.com | First Party | |
community.sinch.com | LithiumUserInfo , LithiumUserSecure | First Party |
tickets.sinch.com | selectedidp | First Party |
engage.sinch.com | ln_or | First Party |
cockpit2.sinch.com | CSRF-TOKEN , NG_TRANSLATE_LANG_KEY | First Party |
sinch.com | apt.temp-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx , hubspotutk , ajs%3Acookies , cf_clearance , ajs%3Atest , __tld__ , __q_domainTest , pfjs%3Acookies , ajs_anonymous_id | First Party |
auth.appengage.sinch.com | AUTH_SESSION_ID , KEYCLOAK_3P_COOKIE , KEYCLOAK_3P_COOKIE_SAMESITE , KC_RESTART , AUTH_SESSION_ID_LEGACY | First Party |
www.recaptcha.net | _GRECAPTCHA | Third Party |
boxcdn.net | __cf_bm | Third Party |
d2oeshgsx64tgz.cloudfront.net | cookietest | Third Party |
sinch-np.paperform.co | XSRF-TOKEN, laravel_session | Third Party |
vimeo.com | __cf_bm, vuid | Third Party |
sinch-ca-sc.paperform.co | XSRF-TOKEN, laravel_session | Third Party |
box.com | site_preference | Third Party |
app.box.com | bv | Third Party |
sinch-tfn.paperform.co | XSRF-TOKEN | Third Party |
cision.com | cf_clearance | Third Party |
These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
Cookie details
Cookie Subgroup | Cookies | Cookies used |
---|---|---|
community.sinch.com | ln_or | First Party |
sinch.in | _fbp | Third Party |
youtube-nocookie.com | CONSENT | Third Party |
youtube.com | YSC | Third Party |