A little over a year ago, Peloton ran “the ad.” Most people know what you mean when you mention it — the ad where a wife receives an exercise bike for Christmas from her husband and keeps a video diary (aka cry for help) of her efforts, looking a bit afraid and nervous despite already appearing to be in great shape. Most people also know the heat that Peloton took in the press, social media and the stock market.

2020 has been a year of massive disruption. We’ve seen our routines changed beyond our control and formed new habits ourselves, too. Marketers have had to keep up with fluid changes in consumer behavior, leading to innovative new techniques and technologies. Here are some things that are important to understand about trends in consumer behavior and the implications for digital marketing tactics in 2020:

While in-person events may be off the menu for now, it’s important to maintain relationships with your audience in creative ways. More than ever, people are seeking meaningful connection with others. Virtual events present unique opportunities for safely interacting and reconnecting during a time when we can’t gather in large groups.

Getting different perspectives is one of the coolest things about working with the folks at Reuben Rink. Everybody brings their own ideas and tastes to the table (albeit virtually, at the moment). Sure, it makes it tricky to agree on what to fill the growler with at City Beverage, but it makes the work interesting and better.

Getting your brand noticed is all about breaking through the clutter to arrive at messaging and positioning that is unique, memorable, and compelling. During the current pandemic, there are many brands – large and small – who have lost sight of this at a critical time. You may have noticed that so many ads look and sound remarkably the same right now. In fact, it’s difficult to tell them apart. If you’re not quite sure what I’m referring to, all you need to do is check out this video mashup, care of YouTube’s Microsoft Sam.

The current disruption in all our daily routines reminded me of a TED Radio Hour episode released almost a year ago. I caught a rebroadcast of it in late February and it turned out to be quite timely. The episode is called “Jumpstarting Creativity” – and the whole episode is worth a listen – but the first segment is what got my attention as especially relevant to our current stay-at-home situation.