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Edelman’s latest Trust Barometer Special Report of consumers in Canada highlights takeaways for brands during and after the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Article by Paul Briggs | eMarketer
The actions of brands during a crisis can make or break long-term relationships with consumers, according to the “2020 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust and the Coronavirus.”
Nearly three-quarters (71%) of consumer respondents in Canada said brands that prioritized profits over people would lose their trust forever. Similarly, almost two-thirds (65%) agreed that how well a brand responds in a crisis will have a huge impact on their likelihood of buying that brand in the future. More than a quarter (26%) said they started using a new brand based on its actions during COVID-19.
Other key findings from the Edelman trust study included:
- 93% of respondents in Canada expected brands to partner with government and relief agencies to address the crisis.
- 89% wanted to hear how brands support and protect their employees and customers.
- 91% believed that brands should shift to producing products that help meet current challenges.
Where feasible, brands are retooling to make goods that are in high demand during the pandemic. This includes distilleries across the country that are making hand sanitizers and textile manufacturers that are producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.
“A help message is not wrong, but it’s better backed up with evidence of the assistance you are providing,” Rideout said. “Is what you’re doing essential? Essential over assistance, at least right now in this phase that we’re in, will pay dividends later on.”