Simple Summer Marketing Ideas

By Amy Hancock

Staff are on holidays and your customers and spending more time out at the cottage than in your place of business.  Sometimes business can slow down in the dog days of summer.   You already have your summer marketing plan in place.  Here are some ideas to spruce it up a bit, expand your network, and maybe get a few new customers through your doors.

• Run a summer contest. Give away free stuff!  Post a buy-one-get-one-free coupon on your Facebook, Twitter and website.  Customers can print it off and redeem it at your store.
• Volunteer in the community.  Summer brings many special events and festivals.  Sign your company up to run a concession stand at a fundraiser run or sponsor an outdoor music festival.  Get your brand out there and meet the community.
• Start or join a Meet Up group.  As small business owners we get caught up in the old-school way of networking.  We attend chamber meetings or business networking groups.  Why not create a group based on your hobby or interest and let business leads become a by-product?  Mention in your profile that you are a business owner, but keep the group focused on the hobby, not on sales.  Leads will come in naturally!