Promoting your business is important, but it’s easy to feel stuck in a rut from time to time. Promotion can be costly and it can be hard to work out how to get your message heard – not to mention where best to spend your promotional budget to get optimum value for money. The key is to find ways of promoting your business that will be memorable and help your company’s marketing to stand out from the flood of messages that consumers are bombarded with every day. So, set aside costly brochures for a moment – though they can have a place – and check out these alternative ways of marketing your business.
Interesting promotional products
Promotional products work best when they’re either fun and memorable, or genuinely useful – or preferably both. Promotional products mean that every time the customer sees or uses it, they’re reminded of your business. Add something a little different and quirky and your company will really stand out. Try practical items such as lanyards or even the humble pen that will get a lot of use, or try something more out of the ordinary such as a lip balm, sunglasses, and a puzzle or even flip flops!
Membership cards
Membership cards work in two ways – they help to you get and keep loyal customers by showing people the benefits they stand to gain by spending money with you. And because they often get kept in a wallet or purse, they keep your business at the forefront of your customers’ minds. Anything that will get kept and looked at regularly is good promotion for you, meaning that items such as lanyards and membership cards can be a great way of promoting any business.
Sponsorship and events
Sponsoring, or even running, a local event gets your brand name known but it also goes further than that. By getting involved with a local event, especially a charity event, you can establish your business as caring about the local community. Getting out there and meeting local customers also helps them put a face to the name, taking your business from being just one of many in your town or city to being a friendly company spearheaded by a real person; someone they have talked to and can connect with.
Local leafleting
Depending on the type of business you run, local leafleting can be a simple but effective way of getting the attention of local customers. This is particularly effective for shops, restaurants, or local services. Make your leaflets memorable with unique offers, by including an inexpensive promotional item, or by opting for something a little bit different, such as hangers to hook over local door handles.
Flags and vehicles
A flag or banner can provide an eye-catching way of getting attention for your company. A flag can hang out of a window or be strung over your door, though do check first that placing them there fits the terms of your lease. Or why not try an advertising board driven around your local area, or a car emblazoned with your logo and message in eye catching colours?
Become an expert
Becoming an expert is a great way to promote your business as you can let your customers know that they can rely on you. After all, anyone can create a product, but not just anyone can provide your unique knowledge and expertise. Try creating an eBook or printed manual, running a blog with useful information and looking for opportunities to speak at events or trade shows. Getting your name known in this way is cost-effective and it raises your profile while demonstrating clearly how much value you have to offer.
When it comes to promoting your business, choosing more unusual ways of doing so can help you stand out from the crowd.