If you’re a small business owner or an entrepreneur (or both!) you’ve probably experienced the dreaded “summer slowdown.” This season might be a little quieter for most business owners, but you don’t have to slow down your marketing efforts.
Have Some Fun With Your Summer Marketing Efforts
Firstly, I have to tell you to embrace the slower times during the summer months (you know how I feel about self-care!). Breathe. Rest. Plan a day at the beach or just get out of town for the day! Secondly, yes, of course, I understand that when you’re a business owner you are never fully “off the clock”.
Summer provides some unique opportunities to up your marketing game. People are generally in a better mood, tourists flood in, and parks, patios, and public spaces are usually crowded. This is the time to think outside the box, get out of your comfort zone, even try something you’ve never done before to promote your company.
Let’s take a look at some fun, summer-inspired ways you can ramp up your marketing efforts (maybe even try something new) during the summer months.
Try Something New
Don’t be afraid to try a one-off, something totally different. It’s easy to get caught in the same old – same old when it comes to your marketing efforts. Instead, use the warmer weather to shake it up a bit.
Invest (modestly) in some branded summer swag as giveaways. Frisbees, balls for the kids, even a day where everyone gets a balloon when they pop in.
Depending on your service/brand, try setting up a pop-up shop at a local event, a community fair, parade or festival.
Throw together a networking event! Rent a patio at your neighbourhood bar or restaurant and invite clients (past and present) and people from your network to come out and get to know each other better. Have business cards on hand, some nibbles, and maybe a drink ticket or two.
Even better – partner up with another small business owner in a similar but non-competing industry and share the wealth of all of your connections (as well as the cost of the event!).
Use Social Media to Your Advantage
Kill two birds with one stone: support a worthy cause to help raise your profile, and then advertise online that a certain percentage of sales on a certain day or week, let’s say, will be donated.
Run a summer-themed contest. Best summery pics on Instagram, craziest vacation Facebook Live event or Instagram Story. And of course, there’s always the classic “tweet us (using/eating/wearing) our product for a chance to win!” Make sure you add a memorable hashtag and consider incentivizing sharing.
Network, Network, Network
Depending on your business model, and whether or not you have a bricks and mortar outlet, there are myriad ways you can throw caution to the wind and have some fun with your summer marketing efforts. This barely scratches the surface!
Whatever you do, take advantage of this somewhat slower time, fabulous weather and people’s good moods and network, network, network. Connect with old clients again or set up a coffee date with someone in your industry you’re connected to tangentially.
You can even consider researching possible partnerships that will allow you to add to your service offerings – perhaps a great video-production company, or a graphic designer.
Enjoy the Summer While it Lasts
It takes forever to get here (or so it feels) and then is over in the blink of an eye. So, whatever you do, make sure your summer marketing efforts are as fun as possible, for yourself as well as your clients and/or customers!
What are your thoughts? Have you tried anything different marketing-wise during the summer months? I would love to hear your suggestions!
