Do you have a summer marketing plan?

Here are some business tips to give your business a boost as your clients spent more of their time outdoors.

Get clear, visible signage and window graphics. Having well-designed and printed signage along with appealing window graphics is vital to helping your business pop visually to those who are passing by. If you don’t have a sign or window graphics, you are making it that much harder for customers to find you. Having professional signage will increase your likelihood of walk-in traffic and also shows that you are a professional business with a clear sense of who you are.

Social media travel photo contest. A survey conducted by AAA found that 35 percent of Americans plan to take a vacation of 50 miles or more from home. That means now is the perfect time to hold a travel photo contest to promote brand engagement and increase your social media following. All you have to do to hold your own contest is invent a memorable hashtag for your social media platform of choice. Get consumers to submit their best travel photos using the hashtag.

Or, ask consumers to snap photos of themselves putting your product to use on vacation. You can award the most liked or shared entry with cash, product swag or tickets to a summer event.

Attend local events. Some of the most anticipated events of the season are taking place c. Find a local event close to you that is expected to garner a sizable crowd. On the event date, use a flyer template to hand out flyers or arrange to set up a booth for your product or service.

The key to this summer marketing idea is to select an event that aligns with your business niche. For example, if you run a catering business, a local food festival is an ideal venue to promote your gourmet creations. Full-color custom branded banners, table covers, and canopies are your friend! If you are going to be outside at a local festival, street fair, or any number of summer events, you will need to stand out from the crowd. Make sure your space is dressed to impress with full-color banners and table covers. Also, go big and bold with a branded canopy and your business is sure to be seen.

Give away summer themed promotional items. When people are attending outdoor events, they are going to be walking around and looking for reasons to visit your booth or display area. What better way to entice them and also promote your business by offering them promotional products that are fun for them to get their hands on and are perfect for them to use. Suggestions include branded drawstring bags that are lightweight and easy to carry, Koozies™, custom branded hats, visors, or sunglasses for keeping them cool in the sun, branded sun tan lotion to keep them safe, water bottles for hydration and fun items such as Frisbees and fidget spinners.

Host a summer event.

Put your brand or business out there by participating in a summer event. Since school is out for the season, there are more opportunities to connect with your customers. Whether you’re hosting a flower arrangement workshop or partaking in an annual summer fair, putting your business out there is crucial to creating brand awareness. It’s also a chance to form a better relationship with your target audience. Many non-profits run their annual donation drives in the summer. This give you a great opportunity to partner up and give your brand more exposure.

Contact Calliope Concepts for assistance in making the most of your summer marketing opportunities.