As the world continues to push through the global pandemic, many professionals are struggling to keep their organizations alive and their employees on the payroll. Millions of Americans are doing their part to help stop the spread of the virus and are at home social distancing.
Are you stuck at home? Feeling the weight of this pandemic and want to help the community you live and work in? While there are many unknowns in today’s unprecedented situation, one thing is certain: people are in need of your help in the form of your time, resources, and skills. Companies across the globe have stepped up to give back, but as an analytics and digital advertising professional, there are many creative ways you can contribute to the community, too.
Create and Contribute Content
Share your knowledge and expertise on a topic via videos, articles, blog posts, and social media posts. For example, InfoTrust Digital Analytics Consultant Barb Kalicki recently kicked off an initiative intended to help small business owners and marketing teams. Working with her colleagues at InfoTrust, Barb launched a free marketing analytics resource center for small businesses. InfoTrust prides itself on not being a B2B (business-to-business) company, but rather an H2H (human-to-human) organization, and efforts from our team like this help highlight what’s possible in tough times.
Host a Virtual Meetup
Host virtual meetups centered around topics that excite you. These informal, info-sharing events provide networking opportunities or training on fundamental skills.
Let’s consider an example topic for a marketing analytics-focused meetup: Many retail companies have been forced to shift their sales strategy from brick-and-mortar stores to a fully online model. If this is an area of expertise for you—or you know someone who would be qualified to present on this topic—offer ideas on how to effectively make this shift.
To check out meetups frequented by many of our team members, click the links below:
- Web Analytics Wednesday Cincinnati
- Columbus Web Analytics Wednesday
- Chicago Web Analytics Meetup
- GDG Cloud Cincinnati Meetup
Help a Nonprofit
Seth Iiames, Associate Director of Integrated Marketing at the University of Dayton, recently said, “I think there are so many communities and nonprofits that need help organizing and acting on bits of data they have. I have used my skills to help an area food pantry (pre-COVID) organize and visualize data about utilization and donations.”
Reach out to local, national, and even global nonprofit organizations. Introduce yourself and offer your unique marketing analytics skills. Applying your professional expertise can go a long way to help a group not just survive, but thrive in this chaotic time.
At InfoTrust, many of our team members have put their energy towards the InfoTrust Foundation’s “Superheroes Wear Masks” initiative—a crowdsourcing campaign that is providing 3D-printed masks to healthcare workers on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.
It Doesn’t Have To Be Data Related!
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” — Aesop
While the tips above relate directly to your professional experience, you may be yearning to contribute in some other manner. Maybe you’re amazing at sewing and can learn to make masks for healthcare workers? Super funny? Start a YouTube channel to make people laugh. Consider making monetary donations (if you’re financially stable) to hospitals and clinics to help them purchase personal protective equipment (PPE). Support local food banks by donating food directly. If you’re healthy, donate blood at a local blood drive. The list goes on!
Consider your passions and the needs of your local community. Then, put in the work to help make your community a better place as we navigate through this unknown time.
Everyone has something to offer. How will you contribute?
