How the Zombie Apocalypse Can Teach Us Crisis Marketing

written by

Jim Mucci

posted on

June 5, 2024

crisis marketing lessons learned

Think about zombies coming to town. Just like when bad things happen to your business, you need to change how you talk to people – and fast! Be honest with people. Tell them what's going on. Talk to them where they are, like on Facebook or in person. Find helpers in your town who people trust. Let them share your safety tips. Share tips that help people, not just ads. Be kind and care about what others need. Work with your team and be ready to change plans fast. The same ways we would stay safe from zombies are the same ways we can handle tough times in business today.

Key Takeaways

When hard times come, you need good friends nearby – just like when zombies show up, you want people you trust.

Tell others what's going on, and say it often. Use phones, email, and social media. Think of it like yelling "Watch out!" when you see zombies coming.

Things can change fast in a crisis. You need to be ready to try new ways to fix problems, like finding a new home when zombies take over your old one.

Get help from people who know how to do different things. Some are good at fixing stuff, others at finding food. Just like a team of survivors, everyone has a job to do.

Always tell the truth, even when it's hard. Share your real stories with others. People will trust you more, and trust keeps everyone safer.

The Power of Survival Mindset

survival through mental resilience

When things get tough, having a strong mind helps us keep going. It's not just about making it through – it's about growing stronger and finding new ways to do things better.

Think of yourself as a tree in a storm. The tree bends but doesn't break. You can do the same. Look at what you do well and stick to the basics.

Try new things, but keep your eye on what matters most. Make a plan and talk to others about it. You don't have to face hard times alone.

Work with your friends, helpers, and others who care. When we help each other, we all grow stronger. This makes it easier to not just live through hard times, but to do well.

Engaging Your Community Under Pressure

When times get tough, we need our community more than ever. Talk to people on social media in a real way. Use special tags that help people find and join your talks. Be there to listen and talk back.

Team up with people your community trusts. They can help tell your story and stand up for you when others say bad things. Pick helpers who really care about what you do.

Share true stories about how you help others. Don't try to sell stuff all the time. Watch how people feel and change what you say if they're upset. Be open and honest. Show that you really care. This helps people trust you when things are hard.

When you're clear and kind with people, they'll stick with you through good and bad times.

Digital Strategy During Chaos

navigating uncertainty with innovation

When things get hard, having friends who care makes a big difference online. You can stay strong by talking to people in many ways while being kind and real.

Post helpful things on social media most of the time. Share tips and good news more than ads. Send emails to let people know what's going on.

Watch how people feel about your brand and make changes if needed. Use smart tools to answer simple questions so your team can help with bigger issues.

Mix up how you share news. Some people like videos, some like to read stories, and others want quick updates.

Keep track of what works best and fix things that don't work well.

Building Trust Through Crisis

When bad things happen, you need people to trust you. It helps to plan ahead and tell the truth. Think about what could go wrong before it does.

Be real with people. Tell them what's going on, even when things are hard. Talk to people in many ways – like on the phone, in email, or on social media.

Listen to what people say and how they feel.

After the hard times pass, look at what you did right and wrong. Use what you learn to do better next time. The more you show people they can trust you, the stronger your bonds will be.

Brand Authenticity Under Fire

brand integrity in crisis

When your brand is in trouble, being real is your best friend. Tell people the truth right away. Show them what you'll do to fix things. Don't use big words or try to blame others.

Do what you say matches what your brand stands for. When you make a mistake, say sorry fast and fix it. Your fans want to help you do better. They care about your brand too.

Stay true to what you promise. Keep talking to people in a clear way. When you're real with people, they'll stick with you even when times are hard.

Influencer Impact in Emergencies

In hard times, we need help from people others trust.

When our neighbors and local leaders share important safety news, more people listen and take action.

Having trusted voices ready to help during emergencies means we can spread key safety messages faster.

These helpers know their local areas well and can talk to different groups in ways that make sense to them.

They share facts in clear, simple words that everyone can understand.

Rapid Information Distribution Networks

When bad things happen, we need to tell people quickly and clearly. Think of it like sending important news to all your friends at once. We want everyone to get the message and understand it right away.

We use special tools to send these messages. These tools work like a big phone tree, but much faster. They help us:

  • Send messages to lots of people at once
  • Make sure the messages are safe
  • Get news to the right places

To help everyone in a crisis, we need tools that work when many people use them at the same time. We also want to reach people on their phones, computers, and TVs. This way, no one misses important news.

We can also send news to specific areas, like your town or street. This helps people know what's happening near them.

We always have backup plans too, so messages keep flowing even if something breaks.

Building Trust Through Leaders

People trust leaders they know and see often. When times are hard, we need real leaders who tell the truth. Working with local leaders helps get the right news to more people.

Leaders who care about their community can help during tough times. They talk to people in a way that makes sense. They answer questions fast and tell things like they are. When these trusted leaders share news, people listen and feel better about what's going on.

Good leaders help stop wrong facts from spreading. They make things clear when people are scared or worried. Having these honest voices on your team helps get the truth out to everyone who needs it.

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Influencer Emergency Response Teams

When a big emergency happens, people we trust on social media help keep us safe. These helpers share important news and work with rescue teams.

They watch social media all day to spot dangers fast. They make pictures and videos that help us learn what to do. They also work with fire fighters and police to get help where it's needed most.

These social media helpers make learning about safety fun. They tell stories that stick with us, like when the CDC talked about getting ready for zombies! This helps more people pay attention and learn how to stay safe.

When you follow these helpers online, you join a big family of people who want to keep each other safe. You get important news fast, and you help others by sharing what you learn.

What They Do How It Helps
Watch Social Media Find problems fast
Make Safety Posts Help people learn
Work With Helpers Get help to people

Content That Connects

engaging and relatable content

We need to share helpful info when times are tough. Think of the CDC's fun zombie story – it made people want to learn about staying safe in big problems.

When you talk to people online, be kind and helpful most of the time. Share tips and good news 8 times out of 10. The other 2 times, you can tell them about what you sell.

Let others share their stories too. This makes everyone feel like part of a team. Talk to people on social media right away when things happen. Send emails that help calm fears. Tell people what to do next.

Be real. Be honest. Show you care about what matters to people. Change how you talk when things change. The best way to connect is to be true to who you are.

Value Before Promotion

When times get tough, it's better to show people why they can trust you instead of just giving them deals. Think about what really matters to your customers.

Here's what works best:

What To Do Why It Helps
Keep Prices Fair Stay special
Show Quality Make things that last
Help Others Do good things
Be Online Talk to people online
Build Trust Keep talking to customers

When you keep your prices steady, people trust you more. Studies show that brands who don't cut prices do better in the long run. They get back on their feet nine times faster!

Instead of cutting prices, show people why your product is worth it. Give them good reasons to stay with you. This helps them like your brand more and stick with you longer.

Adapting Through Challenging Times

resilience in difficult circumstances

When times get tough, we need to change how we work. This helps us stay strong and keep our friends and customers close.

We need to talk to people in a way that shows we care and understand what they're going through.

Pick a team of people who can help when big problems come up. Use things like Facebook and email to talk to people who care about your work.

Tell true stories about your business that show the real people behind it. Watch how people react to what you say and do.

In hard times, we do more than just sell things. We build trust by being there for our community.

We show we care by sharing kind words and helpful ideas.

Conclusion

Think of your business like someone trying to stay safe during a zombie attack. You need to be quick and smart, just like they do. When times get tough, be real with people. Talk to them like friends. Help them solve problems. Share good ideas that make their lives better. Just like survivors work together to stay strong, your business needs to work with people and earn their trust. When scary times come, you can do more than just survive – you can grow and get better.

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