In the new marketing landscape sculpted by the events of 2020, senior living operators must decide which set of mice they’d like to be. It can be tempting to maintain the same methods of sales and marketing that previously yielded success in the hopes that everything will return to normal, and the proverbial cheese returns in the form of high occupancy rates and revenue numbers.

According to many experts, a dental practice should spend 10% to 12.5% of its revenue goal for the year on marketing. In lean times, this figure could seem daunting, and your first inclination might be to slash your marketing budget in an effort to fortify your finances. However, now is the best time to implement strong marketing spend

The senior living industry has always been built on genuine interpersonal connection – an element that has been hindered significantly for much of 2020. The year’s events have made the importance of this human connection more significant than ever, so how do senior living operators provide it with so many barriers to physical proximity?

It’s not an easy time for the senior living industry. New safety protocols, sensationalized headlines and a shrinking sales funnel can be difficult to manage, and when there are pressing priorities and reduced staff, marketing efforts can be put on the backburner. Marketing might seem like something to push aside, but as our senior living clients can attest, there is no better time for a highly focused marketing strategy. Fortunately, it needn’t be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Over the last 13 years, Big Buzz has provided those in the senior living industry with effective marketing tactics, research, strategy and consultation. In May of this year, Big Buzz partnered with SiteStaff to survey hundreds of senior living executives to gather common concerns, perceptions and opinions of how they were handling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic within their communities.

The last few months have taken a toll on teams across the nation, sparing few organizations and industries. As a business owner or organization leader, you have likely had to take a microscope to your expenses to determine where to cut costs in order to stay afloat. This can often mean cutting back on marketing, including reducing the size of your internal marketing team.

Big Buzz recently connected with Mark Wehde, Chair of the Mayo Clinic Division of Engineering. In his role, Wehde is involved in many of the moving parts within the operations of the Mayo Clinic, an ongoing collaborative partnership between its many teams, including clinical and research staff. He also works alongside innovative physicians to help them solve some of their most pressing problems.

Even now, when doors are shuttered, teams are halved, revenues look bleak, you rise. You rise each morning and ask, “How can I be of service today?” You dream today a new version of the American Dream: “What bold action can I take now to ensure my business is here tomorrow?”