Looking for fun and unusual ways to support and promote your small business? Here are a few out-of-the-ordinary ways to market your business to the community.
If you want to stand out among the businesses in your community, make sure you get noticed. While traditional marketing methods remain effective and should be part of your advertising efforts, their expenses can really add up over time. Supplement your usual newspaper ads, digital marketing, and radio spots with the following unconventional marketing hacks for small businesses that cost next to nothing. Innovative strategies surprise and delight current and potential customers, making sure they remember you.
Leverage User-Generated Content
Word of mouth and personal opinions carry weight, especially at the local level. If you have satisfied customers, ask them to share their opinions and experiences online. User-generated content—reviews, posts, ratings, and more—builds trust and informs other people about your products and services.
Create hashtags for customers to use when they mention you on Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms. Encourage them to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook, and similar sites and to use star ratings wherever possible. You can also stimulate online buzz through contests, giveaways, and other rewards.
Be the Perfect Host
Leave the desk or counter and get out into the community—or bring the community to you! Host events that gather people together, like fun runs, workshops, talks, demonstrations, outings, and other community or charitable events. People can get to know you as the person behind the business, which builds goodwill, fosters relationships, and allows for better networking. Special events also attract the media, which frequently means free publicity, amplifying your brand even more.
Fly Flags Freely
Signage like billboards and posters are powerful, but they tend to be a bit static and fail to draw attention in a busy environment. Try custom flags instead. Flags are lightweight, easy to transport and set up, and diverse in sizes, shapes, colors, and designs that catch the eye and even the ear as they flap proudly in the breeze. For instance, there are many creative uses for custom feather flags that are sure to encourage foot traffic toward your door, booth, pop-up, or wherever you’ve set up shop. Flags are a low-budget alternative to signage that you can place and replace as necessary, increasing brand visibility and sales.
Collaborate!
How many of your fellow local businesses touch on what you do without being actual competitors? Look around and seek partnerships. If you share a similar target audience, agree to send customers each other’s way when possible. Hold simultaneous promotions and events, or bundle products and services together to create new growth opportunities benefiting both you and your customers.
Those are just four unconventional marketing hacks for small businesses. Institute these tips today to bring in new customers, solidify relationships with old ones, and watch your business thrive!