What Should You Do With Your Marketing When a Public Figure Dies?

The death of a public figure - whether a world leader, beloved artist, or cultural icon - is more than news. It can shape national mood, stir powerful emotions, and shift the collective attention of your audience overnight.

When Queen Elizabeth II passed, it wasn’t just a moment of grief - it was a moment of pause. And moments like these will happen again.

If you're unsure how to navigate your marketing during times of public mourning or global events, you're not alone. Here are practical, respectful ways to approach your content without losing sight of your business or your audience's emotional reality.

👉 Review and Pause Your Content

If anything in your scheduled content feels tone-deaf or insensitive, hit pause.
Ask yourself: would this post feel jarring or out of place right now?

👉 Read the Room

Scroll your feed. Watch how your audience is responding.
Your community’s emotions should inform your next steps.

👉 Rethink Launches and Promotions

Planned launches, webinars, or high-energy promotions may need to be postponed or softened.
Selling isn’t wrong - but ignoring the emotional climate is.

👉 Soften Your Copy

You don’t have to stop marketing - but you may need to adjust your tone.
Empathy over urgency. Respect over routine.

👉 Avoid Clickbait or Opportunism

Resist the temptation to chase engagement during sensitive moments.
Genuine acknowledgment carries far more weight than performative posts.

👉 Stay Updated on Developments

Monitor the news for key dates like funerals or national events.
Adjust your strategy accordingly - this is not the time for “set it and forget it” marketing.

👉 Keep Showing Up - Thoughtfully

Business doesn’t stop, and neither does life.
Your audience still needs your expertise, your products, your services - but they’ll appreciate a version of you that acknowledges the moment with care.

👉 Trust Your Judgment

At the end of the day, trust your instincts.
Do what feels right for you, your brand, your team, and your audience.

A Final Thought

Moments of collective mourning are reminders of our shared humanity.
Your marketing can reflect that - without sacrificing your voice or your vision.

When in doubt, lead with respect, move with empathy, and remember: business built on awareness builds trust that lasts.