When building your communications strategy – in trying to reach your customers and potential customers – it is critical to consider “where” these people are, and the best [...]
Overview Providing your customers with printed and digital offers to “sweeten” the opportunity to visit your location and/or buy something. See also: Details Coupons, when done [...]
Overview When people aren’t coming to you, you may need to go to them! An attractive mailer – could be a postcard, letter, or package – with an appealing offer […]
Overview Outdoor advertising is a more traditional form of advertising / marketing. Think about all the advertisements you see walking through your neighborhood (on bus shelters) or driving your [...]
Overview Here, we’re talking about traditional print advertising opportunities. These can range from full-color, full-page ads to simple black and white classified ads. Details With so many [...]
Overview If your business is the new kid on the block, distributing fliers is an effective (and inexpensive) way to let people know you’re open for business! Within residential [...]
Overview As a small business owner, you’ve probably faced your own busy season(s). If you’re a retailer, this can be around the holidays. If you’re a restaurant or a bar, […]
Overview Getting to know concierge in the hotels around your location is a great way to drive traffic and build awareness. Visit area hotels and provide concierge staff with business […]
Overview To encourage visits and traffic to a slower part of the day, create special offers or events for that specific time of day. Details A daypart is a term […]
Overview Engage with your local community by hosting events that benefit a charity that you care about. Have fun, and do good! Details Here are some great examples of restaurants, […]
Overview Your store products and services represent an expertise. Share that expertise with existing and potential clients through customer seminars. Details When customers better understand the [...]
Overview Game nights are fun and easy ways to encourage your customers to socialize and come together as a community. Plus, they are the perfect opportunity for you to drive […]
Overview Most restaurants, wineries, cafes, bars and retail stores are looking for ways to drive traffic to their location. Hosting events is a great way to drive traffic by making […]
Overview Hosting in-store book clubs meetings is a great opportunity for you to expose your business to new customers and to integrate yourself as a part of the community. Details […]
Overview Hosting in-store music events featuring local musicians are a great way to connect with your community, make your location a destination and drive traffic. Ensure that the music style [...]
Overview Seasonal events and promotions are a great way to draw repeat customers like Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte. How can you get your customers excited about the change of seasons? [...]
Overview People love to try before they buy! That’s why sampling and tasting events are usually so successful. No matter your industry, hosting a tasting event at your location is […]
Overview Everyone loves trivia – where else can you put to use all those sports stats, pop culture tidbits or random science facts that you’ve held onto for all these […]
Overview Nintendo’s Wii Sports games have changed the way our society thinks of video games. Games like Wii Bowling and Tennis are highly interactive virtual versions of those real-life [...]
Overview The practice of offering your products or services at a reduced price either by offering a percentage off (save 20%) or flat amount (save $20). As a rule, we […]
How do you communicate with your customers when they aren’t in your store, restaurant or cafe? Do you blog? Tweet? Post on Facebook? All those formats are fine for snippets […]
Overview A great invitation is a key ingredient for your Friends & Family Event. Details We recommend printed invitations, although if you have access to email addresses for friends and […]
Overview Gift cards can generate significant revenue and profits. Plus, they are an easy way for your existing customers to refer new business your way! Details These days, many shoppers […]
Overview The ability for a customer to buy gift certificates and pre-loaded cards can be a substantial sales driver for retailers and restaurants. However, for many small businesses, gift cards [...]
Overview Is your business located in a shopping center, mall or other cozy community? If so, we bet you share your customers with restaurants, retail shops and other specialty stores. […]
Overview Sending a personalized letter to your local business neighbors about your Grand Opening event is an easy way to build awareness about your new location! See the New Store [...]
Overview Are you opening the newest location of an existing franchise or business in town? Details Congratulations! If you’re opening a second (or third, or fourth) location of an existing [...]
Overview There’s no better way to build awareness and excitement for your location’s Grand Opening or Grand Re-Opening than to host an in-store event for your friends, family and new [...]
Overview Providing a venue for local artists to showcase their works is a great way to not only enhance the environment of your location, but also to become a part […]
Overview In-Store Events are a great way to drive current and potential customers to your location for a festive occasion, sample your products and drive sales. Details Often, these events can [...]
Overview Host an anniversary party for the community to thank your customers AND build awareness with potential customers. Details A store anniversary party is a great excuse to host a […]
Overview When hosting an In-Store Artist Exhibit, it’s a great idea to ‘unveil’ the exhibit with with an Art Opening Event. This is a great way to turn your store […]
Overview Book readings aren’t just for book stores or libraries! Your retail shop or café would be the perfect location for intimate book readings. Connect with a local author and […]
Overview What better way to show your customers you care about them then by planning a Customer Appreciation Day in their honor? Details First things first… when should you host […]
Overview The holidays are the perfect time to say “thank you” to your customers and clients and celebrate! What better way to build community and drive traffic than to have […]
Overview Celebrate with customers on a regular basis with an in-store party. This is a great way to create excitement, drive traffic and change up the daily routine for your […]
Overview Hosting an in-store poetry reading is an easy way to create a connection with your local community. By working with a local school or university (do a little research […]
Overview Your store products (and services) represent an expertise. Share that expertise with existing and potential clients through in-store product seminars. Details When customers better [...]
Overview One of our favorite ways to generate ideas for blogging, promotions or special events is to reference our Marketing Holiday Calendar. The holidays to “celebrate” range from [...]
Overview Black Friday occurs every year on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, and is often regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Most retailers open […]
Overview Christmas is a widely-observed holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated (generally) on December 25 by millions of people around the world. Christmas is a civil holiday [...]
Overview Valentine’s Day is observed each year on February 14. Across the United States and all over the world, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones on Valentine’s […]
Overview A Calendar Listing is an announcement of an event to media (newspapers, online, tv, radio) that publish event listings and community calendars for their readers / viewers / listeners. [...]
Overview A Media Advisory is an announcement about an event that media are invited to attend. Use a Media Advisory to alert local media about your upcoming event or grand […]
Overview A Press Release is a document or “pitch letter” sent to the media to announce a grand opening, product launch, event or story about your business. Reporters and journalists [...]
Overview Restaurants that offer catering, delivery or take-out services often have menus by the register for patrons to take on their way home (or, at least they should!). Retail shops, […]
Overview If your restaurant, café, spa or retail shop is located in a downtown area, or near various large office buildings, this is a great marketing activity for you. Many […]
Overview If you’ve ever been the “low guy on the totem pole” at a new job, chances are you’ve been designated the one to run out and pick up coffees, […]
Overview Offer complimentary products, services, or specials for employees, at targeted companies within your Trade Area, who show their work identification (badge, business card) to your store [...]
Overview Establish your location as a post-event destination in the evening to drive additional traffic. Details Encourage customers to visit your location after the local theater or movies. [...]
Overview Hosting private events for your customers can be a great way to increase revenue and add a new “service” to your portfolio. It can also set you apart from […]
Overview Radio station on-air personalities love to get free product and service samples! So reach out to them and give them what they want! You could create fans and get […]
Overview A radio station broadcast on-site at your location is a great away to build awareness and drive traffic and trial of your products. This is a great activity for new […]
Overview Local radio stations are a great way to get the word out about your location and your offerings. There are tons of opportunities for radio station promotions…from on-air give-aways [...]
Overview Partnering with local schools is a great way to integrate your business into your local community and be part of what’s important to your customers. Schools and school programs […]
Overview Do you change your menu from season to season? While a complete menu overhaul may be too daunting for your small business, making small changes to your appetizers, desserts […]
Overview Back to school shopping, conveniently coupled with tax-free shopping weekends in several states, make August and September the second most profitable shopping months of the year for many [...]
Overview For some people, nothing says Fall like a Sunday on the couch watching football. And for most of those people, football is best paired with pizza, wings, and other […]
Overview Does your business display special merchandise or offer new menu items or products for the holiday season? Or, do you deck your store out with holiday lights and decorations? […]
Overview Adding a seasonal menu item to your offerings is an easy way to create excitement about the changing of the seasons, and could drive traffic and trial to your […]
Overview A-Frame Signs are great attention-grabbing signs to use outside or inside your business to drive awareness and traffic with special messages and promotions. Details A-Frame Sign Types [...]
Overview Banners are signs that can be displayed outside of your location or inside your location to build awareness of promotions or events. Details There are many different types of […]
Overview Coming Soon signage is a great way to build awareness and excitement for your store opening or re-opening. “Coming Soon” Banner “Now Open” Banner “Grand [...]
Overview This is signage on major roadways made by the Department of Transportation to show what’s coming up at the next exit. If your location is near a major highway, […]
Overview Sidewalk chalk art is an inexpensive and colorful way to advertise your business’ new menu items, or new products or services to those in your neighborhood. Important: Before [...]
Overview Social Media is a marketing activity that supports the strategy of creating word of mouth. It uses online tools (like blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) to help spread the word […]
Overview Did you know? A social media post that includes a picture receives 120-180% more engagement from fans than a text-based post. To ensure you take photos that are worthy […]
Overview Facebook is the most-used social network in the world. Did you know that over one billion people like and comment an average of 3.2 million times every day? When […]
Overview We spend a lot of time convincing our clients *not* to follow their social media marketing urges. Why? Because most often, they’re reacting to the social media bullies making them [...]
Overview Twitter is an information network that instantly connects users with the latest stories, ideas and news that other users find interesting. Users share short bursts of information through [...]
Overview If your business is located near (or on) a college campus, hosting student-centric events throughout the school year is a great way to drive traffic to your location, and […]
Overview Are you thinking about opening a new restaurant? Or, are you in the process of planning the grand opening of your new restaurant concept? If so, we’re sure you’ve […]
