4 Tips to Market Yourself During Quarantine

“It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts” (St. Teresa of Calcutta).

When the world came to a screeching halt with the coronavirus, many of us, myself included, were completely caught off guard. Personally, I hit the pause button on everything and reassessed what my family and I needed to get through these next few weeks (well ... months).

As I started to come out of panic mode, I began implementing new routines and structures for this new norm we were facing. They included reviewing areas of my work that I needed to retune, change, or completely eliminate.

Marketing became important, but it was also changing. Anyone who is graduating and looking for work, changing his or her career, or making big life changes in general has probably experienced this fact firsthand. If you’re one of these people, here are a few tips to help you market yourself during this unique time of social distancing, in hopes of landing your next dream job or client:

1. Dust off Your Digital Presence

Social media is booming right now. By the end of March, TikTok had the highest number of downloads in a quarter of any app, ever. I'm not necessarily saying that now is the time to start creating TikTok videos to market yourself professionally, but I am saying that now is the time to lean into your online presence.

More and more companies are using LinkedIn to find employees and freelancers. While it may not be your preferred social platform, it’s a great tool to make contacts, store your resume and share the kind of work you’re looking for. Maybe you haven’t updated your page in a while; now is a great time to make some changes and freshen up your contacts.

Does your work require a website? Do you need a place to store a portfolio of your work? Take this time to learn a new web platform. Wix.com, Squarespace, and Wordpress, among others, have tools and different levels of help depending on your expertise. Even if you start with only a portfolio and a “Contact Me” page, you’ll have somewhere to send prospective clients or hiring managers when they come looking.

2. Networking Can Happen Remotely

By now, we all know that events will be canceled for a while. Even when they resume, they will probably look very different, as attendee numbers will likely be limited and people will be (understandably) cautious about being in large crowds.

Start looking around for virtual networking opportunities. There are entrepreneur, leadership, and innovator groups popping up all over major cities, especially for women. Many host workshops and speaker series. Look around in your area, and hop on a virtual networking group call. It may feel weird not knowing anyone, but it’s a great place to start.

Virtual events can offer a great opportunity to level up and meet new people while staying in the comfort of your own home. With virtual events, there is also less pressure to stay for the entirety of an event or make small talk with every single person. It can be a great opportunity to meet new people, network, and put your name and talents out there.

3. Keep in Touch

Many of us came to a screeching halt when COVID-19 hit, and many companies did, too. Maybe you were turned down for a position or a freelance opportunity because the company had to step back or put a pause on hiring. Don’t write off that opportunity just yet.

Show you’re a “go-getter” by sending an occasional email to that hiring manager or client. Make sure they know what skills you offer so you are on their mind when they are ready to hire again.

It’s also a great time to dust off your personal contacts list. Reach out to former professors, colleagues, or friends you haven’t spoken to in awhile. Use this time to genuinely check in on them and see how they are keeping busy during quarantine. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.

Keeping in touch with others is a dying art, but this kind of rapport can mean the difference between landing a client and missing out on an opportunity.

4. Expand Your Skills

It's not too late to add a new skill to your resume. Whether it’s learning to code, learning how to use that Canon camera you received for Christmas, or finally figuring out how to master creating a website, now is a great time to start.

There can be a lot of pressure to stay productive during quarantine.If you don’t finish, don’t be too hard on yourself. Even just starting to learn something new can be beneficial. In interviews, you’ll be able to demonstrate that you took the initiative to learn a new skill, which shows determination and self-motivation.

As we move into another week of social distancing, or start to slowly open life back up, lean into the things you have energy for, and leave the rest behind. If you are only able to do minimal marketing for the time being, that’s OK. Just know that even a little can go a long way in building relationships and investing in yourself.

Annie Schunior is a copy writer and communications specialist working for the Catholic Church in the city of Detroit. In addition, she does consulting for non-profits and online ministries as well as some freelance writing. Most days, Annie can be found with coffee in hand, toting around her 2 year old son or exploring the beautiful city of Detroit with her family. You can follow her on Instagram at @annie_schuns.