It’s always been important for brands to establish the right rapport with consumers, but the COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the challenge substantially, given its widespread ramifications around the globe. That said, we know that brands can’t afford to go silent during a crisis. The cost later on is too high. Context and sentiment are critical, and when it comes to today’s consumers, empathy, trust, health and safety will matter most to consumers for the foreseeable future.

These pillars will be important guides for brands and marketers as they shift their engagement strategies as COVID-19 fatigue sets in with consumers. Importantly, life is not returning to normal, but some aspects of pre-COVID life are coming back online after being forced to close for the better part of the spring. Face masks, working from home, social distancing and businesses operating at partial capacity remain constant reminders of our new world, and consumers see it with different eyes than before the global health crisis arrived.

In addition to affecting consumer behaviours, this pandemic has affected consumer mindsets and perceptions. Across Europe, a recent Nielsen-VisualDNA study, which surveyed people across multiple nations affected by COVID-19 before and during lockdown, found that consumers are feeling more empathetic and altruistic than they were pre-lockdown. To assess consumers’ mindsets, respondents were shown a selection of images depicting various degrees  of agreeableness. The study found that compared with pre-lockdown, consumers’ perceptions are now leaning toward being more open, trusting and approaching the world with open arms.

“Our analysis highlights a notable shift in the perception of how people treat one another pre vs. during lockdown. When the respondents were asked, ‘How do you think people treat others?’ as they were shown images of various human behaviors, the results showed an increase in those selecting images relating to empathy and altruism during lockdown,” said Samara Meade, Head of Media, Nielsen Marketing Cloud U.K. While the findings identified a sway toward more agreeable sensibilities across Germany, France and the U.K., the most significant uplift occurred in France (+17%). “The results correlate with the rise in compassion we’ve witnessed among consumers throughout Europe, including interest in care for the vulnerable, increased interest in charity work and praise for the health care systems.” explained Meade.

Despite the importance of advertising during a crisis, many brands pulled back during the height of shelter-in-place lockdowns. TV ad volume in the U.K. and Italy declined 3% and 5%, respectively, between January and March. In stark contrast, ad volume in India skyrocketed 13% during the first week of lockdown. But increasing ad volume doesn’t automatically mean revenue will follow suit. For example, consumers in Europe would likely view increased travel, health and holiday advertising as tone deaf and way off the mark.

Careful marketing requires tastefully balancing brand messaging with current social sentiment and market conditions. In some circumstances, it involves abandoning brand messaging altogether. Not sure where the line is? Consider this: Overall media consumption skyrocketed while global consumers were living in quarantined situations, suggesting a prime opportunity to bombard them with increased digital ad campaigns. Perhaps, but only if the campaigns and messages took into account that the lockdowns inspired feelings of isolation and loneliness. For example, findings from the Nielsen-VisualDNA survey found that, during the lockdown, there was a significant increase in U.K. respondents who felt uncomfortable spending the day on their own. So despite the high engagement levels, marketers always need to be precise with their messaging and tone.

As businesses around the world reopen, many consumers will cling to the mindsets they developed over the past few months. Marketers will need to approach them with this in mind, given that the world will be fighting the novel coronavirus until a vaccine or other remedy is developed. The keys to success for the foreseeable future will center on empathy, authenticity and putting the consumer at the center of the equation unlike never before.