Marketing in a pandemic…how the heck do you do that?? A lot of us in the marketing world – including yours truly – have given this question quite a bit of thought since the start of the novel coronavirus. It’s been a crazy, frightening and ever-changing situation that seems to still be evolving more than half a year since it began. With many Americans cutting down their spending at this time, every blog post, advertisement or social media post might make you feel like Prince John and The Sheriff of Nottingham – the infamous villains in Robin Hood who regularly take advantage of the people of Nottinghamshire. In reality, all you really want to do is get the word out in a way that’s ethical, responsible and connects your product or service to people who feel it will make their life better. So, how do you responsibly go about marketing in a pandemic? click read more below...

After a soft start in January, headwinds persisted for many brands in February. Retailers faced a challenging environment as consumer confidence continued to decline amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding tariffs and the U.S. economy. Overall, sessions rose by 2.32%, but conversion challenges remained, with orders down -9.05% and demand falling -7.6% compared to February 2024. Apparel, outdoor, and specialty brands struggled, while home retailers saw gains in orders and sales. Brands of all sizes are feeling the impact of slowing consumer demand. Consumer confidence is at its lowest level since June 2024, and economic uncertainty is likely to continue. Brands that adjust pricing strategies, strengthen customer engagement, and highlight value will be better equipped to navigate uncertainty and capture opportunities in the coming months.

Email teams may be on the spot--along with everyone else--if ecommerce campaigns lead to fraudulent transactions that hit the bottom line. The LexisNexis Fraud Multiplier estimates that for every $1 lost to fraudulent transactions, U.S. merchants lose an average of $3.75—a 19.8% increase since 2019. Canadian firms lost $3.19, an 11% rise from the $2.87 seen in early 2020. And those apparently are firms with some protections in place.