We are living in turbulent times, where we don’t know how to position ourselves against uncertainty in order to face it. We believe that if you pay attention to the signals, you can use this period to your business’s advantage.

Today, businesses are undergoing a transformation close to metamorphosis. While shareholders (perhaps even yourself!) are waiting for dividends, there has never been a better time to answer the question: how is my company truly helping the community?

Last week, I was invited to two online events: Podcast #8 with Florin Șomodi and WebTalks #3 by JCI Bucharest. We talked like friends, but seriously, about how the COVID-19 epidemic impacts our daily lives as people, but also as business owners. In the two webinars, I detailed how we can turn the crisis into an advantage, so that we maintain our productivity and positivity.

It was a great pleasure to talk about the most recent proprietary study conducted by the MKOR team, but also about how we reinvent ourselves and grow during a crisis, making full use of the team’s resources and diversified know-how. Below, I invite you to find out what I shared about the Impact of the Coronavirus Epidemic on Romanians, as well as about the newest tool for personalized marketing offered by MKOR: Microsurveys.

 

In discussion with Florin Șomodi: Romanian businesses in times of pandemic, pivoting business during a crisis, and the role of Microsurveys

Florin Șomodi is a Business Coach & Trainer and CEO of Vision 12, an MKOR expert partner and – most importantly – an old and good friend. In his podcast, I talked with Florin about the current business situation in Romania and announced the launch in the near future of the new MKOR study, about the Impact of the Coronavirus Epidemic on the Business Environment in Romania (if you want to access it, you can sign up for free here – no spam!).

Faced with the unprecedented changes caused by the new Coronavirus, pivoting is what can save a business, in times of crisis. It is unrealistic to imagine that we will return to what was, yet without knowing what the future will look like – the new normal. We try to imagine it, from isolation, and to adapt to the fact that everything has moved online, and our life is no longer the same.

According to our study on the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on daily life, 30% of Romanians started ordering online more often or even for the first time, with the start of the epidemic. With the launch of the second wave of the study, we will see the evolution of this indicator (if you want to access it, you can sign up for free here – no spam).

Before knowing what would follow, we planned to focus on real-time data this year. We find it relevant, important, even vital, for market data to be accessible in real-time. Now, when you need to make the decision, not in 1-2-3 months, after you contract research services and wait for data collection and analysis*.
*This is how we all work in the industry now, this is the truth.

Before I get tomatoes and eggs thrown at my window by the research community, I should clarify that the idea of “real-time data” only fits certain types of research – specifically, it is applicable for quantitative consumer studies or mystery shopping projects. But these are precisely the most frequent types of research.

For MKOR Microsurveys, we took the first step in February, when we started the pilot project. This is because we are preparing the launch of the newest service offered by MKOR, starting from figures and a case study with results: Microsurveys.

What is special about this service is that it starts from the research capabilities we have, but truly reveals a talent that until now we have only used internally: performance marketing.

Microsurveys clients will have access to real-time data about their customers and potential customers. From the pilot project, we know that approximately 8% of a site’s visitors become leads – and this just from the displayed invitation! The potential is significantly higher when you use the data for personalized marketing.

I invite you to watch Florin’s podcast to find out more information about the importance of pivoting in business during this period, but also about how Microsurveys can help you in your marketing strategy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fklXOvkbs8&t=691s

 

MKOR at WebTalks #3 by JCI Bucharest: The impact of COVID-19 on Romanians and the importance of market research in times of crisis

JCI Bucharest is an organization of young active citizens that is very close to my heart. Even if I no longer manage to be with the organization as a volunteer, I take great pleasure in talking to these effervescent people, set on doing great things.

They aimed to move online what they were already doing for the business community around the organization: providing advice and guidance for entrepreneurs at the beginning of their journey, but not only.

Thus, the WebTalks concept was born, a series of instructive and applied webinars (you can find the next ones by following the JCI Bucharest page).

At WebTalks #3, we discussed the latest MKOR study and gave premiere data on how this crisis is seen in the business environment (information in the video).

The consumer study was conducted at the end of March and illustrates the effects of the Coronavirus epidemic on our lives, at a behavioral and perceptual level. The second wave of research, soon to be launched, will present an evolution of these indicators (sign up for the newsletter to receive all our studies for free as soon as we publish them).

 

How are you running your business in these times?

The moments we are going through are an opportunity for change. If you have been active offline and find yourself forced to make the transition to online, the MKOR team of consultants and specialists can be by your side during this period of change.

Whether you want to understand the market you want to enter, need consultancy to make the transfer to online, or simply want to improve your digital performance, give us a sign! MKOR’s multidisciplinary team of experts and consultants can help you achieve your transformation goals.

Let’s have a virtual coffee and talk about how we can help you grow!