10 Summer Marketing Ideas for Your Small Business

Last Updated on October 3, 2020

Are you looking for new, fun, unique, and creative ways to market your small or micro business this summer? Try the following ten summer-marketing ideas.

1. Create a partner package

Partner with non-competing businesses that share the same target audience to develop a winning package for everyone.  A restaurant, theater and hotelier could partner together to create a romantic couples’ weekend package, for example. Each company would market and sell the package, and all three would split the proceeds.

2. Take control of your SEO

If your small business isn’t online, then it should be, with the trend for online purchases set to continue, it’s important to be present online, more specifically on search engines like Google.

Search engine optimization or SEO is the method of ensuring your website ranks on the search engines for certain keywords relevant to your industry. It may sound complicated, but it really isn’t, all you need are the best SEO tools and your small business will be getting web traffic and more sales in no time at all.

3. Engage with your Leads

Do you engage well with prospects that call your business? Great customer service and executing that sale are difficult for many, but its a crucial part of any successful business. That’s why it’s a good idea to sharpen your team’s language, but if you don’t have the time you could always consider outsourcing lead re-0engagement with a telephone answering service.

4. Sidewalk misters

When it gets hot, shoppers can be miserable. Venture into busy shopping districts armed with a backpack/spray nozzle water mister, and offer to cool off passersby. Make sure your outfit is branded, and you have brochures or flyers to distribute.

5. Stickers

Summer is perfect for outdoor marketing, and stickers are perfect for crafting fun and unique ways to reach your target customer base. Locate outdoor areas in which your stickers can interact with the environment to help your brand get noticed.

6. Festival contests

Rent booth space at popular festivals your customers attend, then run a contest that collects contact information in return for a chance to win a prize. Follow up with customers once the festival is over.

7. Hot spot banners

Identify summer hot spots in your town: beaches, pools, attractions, high-traffic areas, etc., then strategically place large-format vinyl banners well within view. You’ll be able to maximize your exposure with minimal investment.

8. Hot weather promotional items

Coolie cups, fans, water bottles, and other promotional items are perfect for summer marketing. Give them away to anyone who enters your location on hot days.

9. Temperature-related discounts

Launch a fun campaign that gets customers to your location during the dog days of summer by offering a discount based on how high the temperature climbs. You’ll be able to land sales on days when customers would otherwise stay indoors. Of course, make sure your location is air-conditioned to keep them inside longer.

10. Go to lunch

Take your best customers out to lunch during the summer to reinforce your business relationship, foster customer loyalty, and glean information that can improve your company and customer satisfaction. Your customers will appreciate the gesture.

11. Community service

Organize a litter pick-up day and invite the community to pitch in. Recruit volunteers and let the media know what you’re planning to do.  You’ll get great PR for a great cause.

12. Have fun with holidays

The summer has plenty of wacky holidays that present opportunities for fun and unique marketing. For example, June is candy month, July is National Anti-Boredom Month, and August is National Golf Month. Think you can roll one of those into an attention-getting marketing campaign?

What other creative summer marketing ideas do you have? Share them in the comments!

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