Hot Summer Marketing Tips For Small Businesses

It already seems like summer in many parts of the country and owners of small businesses should have their sights set on the warmest season of the year. Summer offers plenty of marketing opportunities for any type of business. Many entrepreneurs find their customer base dwindling during summer as customers take beach vacations. Here are some ways they can keep business booming.

Summer festivals, fairs, and carnivals are great opportunities for small business owners to develop their brand and promote the company to prospective customers. A review of city websites, community newspapers and flyers, and visit to the local Chamber of Commerce will identify opportunities suitable for the business to participate in, sponsor, or both. Some well-placed advertising and a vendor booth should add new customers to the roster.

Warm weather provides the chance to take customers out for lunch, fishing, or a round of golf. A ticket to a sporting event or show is tax-deductible if the outing is designed for promotional purposes. Vendors and business partners should be given an equal amount of quality time. Send them greeting cards with an invitation for a day on the greens or a nice lunch in the sunshine.

Many companies go festive with their website during the winter season. Giving the site a summer refreshing will catch many visitors off-guard in a good way. Site designers should use bright colors and update images to reflect the season. Redesigning corporate greeting cards, business cards, and letterhead for use during summer creates a consistent theme.

A summer contest will get everyone involved and represents advertising in itself. Entrepreneurs and staff can brainstorm summer-themed contest ideas. Prizes should tie into the contest theme and encourage repeat business. For example, a landscaping company could run a contest for the worst yard, with the winner receiving a free landscaping overhaul.