The U.S. government has given tax payers until July 15 to file and pay 2019 income taxes. Major Tax Marketing efforts therefore have been extended for 90 days. We asked John Sandoval, Senior Brand and Latino Marketing Manager at TurboTax owner Intuit, (and a Portada Council System member) about how he has adapted TurboTax marketing to the new social distancing environment.
Sandoval tells Portada that TurboTax’s biggest priority is maintaining taxpayers informed on how the current landscape can impact their filing situation. “Government economic incentives like the recently passed stimulus also has had an impact on millions of Americans, who may not have all the information available to fully understand how they could benefit or what it means to them.”
TurboTax was recently featured in Google-Youtube ads leaderboard as one of the 12 most-watched ads that encouraged consumers to stay at home. These brands adapted their message to help flatten the curve and fight the spread of COVID-19 across the U.S. The 12 ads on the platform’s list have generated more than 32 million views. The English-language ads were created by Wieden & Kennedy and media was planned and bought by both Camelot and Wieden and Kennedy.
Latest Tax-Marketing Initiative: Stay Home PSA Ads
Sandoval feels proud of this communication initiative and particularly about the fact that it was aired and communicated in Spanish supporting Turbo Tax multicultural marketing initiatives (see ad below).
Sandoval adds that wile he has “seen some great companies run ads addressing the current situation on English-language TV, many of them have not complemented their efforts in Spanish-language TV.” “Our efforts speak to our commitment to the Latino consumer segment. In addition, we have a robust content strategy that provides in-language relevant information to all Spanish speaking customers, so they are up to date with all recent tax changes.” “Knowing that our consumers are doing so many things for the first time at home due to the current environment, we wanted to empower the community that “doing taxes” could be one of them.”
New Approach to Day-To-Day Tax Marketing
Sandoval tells Portada that his approach to day-to-day marketing has changed over the last few months. “What we have learned during the current health crisis is that consumers expect brands to tap into their humanitarian side and give back to consumers in this unprecedented time. It has been very uplifting to see companies like Zoom donating video communication services to schools so that children can continue learning; or Gap pivoting its resources so that their factories can focus on producing surgical masks as opposed to clothes; or Anheuser-Busch making hand sanitizer alongside their beer.”
What we have learned during the current health crisis is that consumers expect brands to tap into their humanitarian side.
Messaging in Times of Social Distancing…
“Our messaging has always been connected to offering the ability to file at your convenience, while leveraging the expertise of our credentialed bilingual CPA’s and Enrolled Agents to file with confidence. During social distancing, this message has become more relevant than ever before. Many consumers will have to file their own taxes this year for the first time ever, and others will still need the support and guidance of tax experts, ” Sandoval asserts.
It has been very uplifting to see companies like Zoom donating video communication services to schools; or Gap pivoting its resources so that their factories can focus on producing surgical masks as opposed to clothes; or Anheuser-Busch making hand sanitizer alongside their beer.
with Changing Patterns in Media Consumption.
“Media consumption is also shifting given the change in consumers’ daily routines, cancellation of live events, and greater need than ever before to stay connected to one another”, Sandoval claims. “At Intuit, we are constantly evaluating the different channels we use to communicate with consumers. Having real-time data allows us to be nimble and adjust our strategy and message to ensure we are being a valuable partner and a resource to all Americans, while being sensitive to the current situation we are all living. For example, with many Americans turning to linear TV news more frequently and for longer duration to stay abreast of the constant changing environment we’ve made sure our properties flex to meet our customers where they are.
With many Americans turning to linear TV news more frequently and for longer duration to stay abreast of the constant changing environment we’ve made sure our properties flex to meet our customers where they are.
