Ah, sweet summertime. While most of us enjoy it, it can be a trying time for small business owners. Customers can often be busy with things like vacations, home improvements and spending time with the kids. While customers are focused on other priorities, that can sometimes lead to a dip in business.
The good news, however, is with summer right around the corner, now is an ideal time for small business owners to think about ways to use these few months to grow their business. We've compiled a few solid marketing ideas to try out to keep you and your customers happy. Planning ahead and using some of these tips could be the key to staying afloat and keeping business booming over the summer months.
Embrace the season
Show off your festive side by incorporating summer themes into your online advertisements and newsletters. Use these ads to promote special summer deals or limited-time seasonal items that your customers may not be aware of. Better yet, take a look at special holidays and month-long events for promotional ideas that could set your business apart from competitors. Customers will love the special deals and savings, and you'll love all the new business that comes with it.
Get involved
What better way to spread the word about your business than to get out in your community and lend a hand? By volunteering at a local event, organizing a fundraiser or even setting up a booth at a local fair, you are simultaneously getting involved in your community and getting your business’ name out there. These are all great ways to not only meet new potential clients, but also to show your customers that your business cares about the community. So get out your branded balloons, pens, t-shirts or other trinkets and hand them out at parades, farmers' markets, arts and craft fairs and other community events.
Say cheese
What better way to capture your business interacting with smiling, happy customers than in the summer? Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest are the perfect places to show off your company's fun and interesting photos. Take it a step further and encourage your customers to snap their own photos and post them to your page. You could even create your own hashtag to market your business even further. The possibilities are endless with this one, and it's an idea that can really help your business take off. To put it simply, if you show potential clients that you and your customers are having fun, then they will want in on it, too.
Update summer hours
One of the most important things that your small business needs to do before the summer months is to update its online directory listings with any seasonal hours. Nothing makes a customer angrier than pulling up to a business and seeing it closed after looking up the hours of operation online. Eliminate any issues by updating your hours on your website, as well as all online directories that your business is listed on.
Final thoughts
Summer is already underway, so don't wait any longer to start marketing your business for the season. If done right, summer marketing can be a great way to overcome a slight dip in traffic. Use these tips to your advantage or even brainstorm new ones of your own, and remember, a little creativity goes a long way. The most important thing to know is no matter what industry you are in, you can always find ways to market yourself during the summer months. We hope these tips will help send you quickly on your way to summer success!
