Whether you’re a marketing aficionado or have simply been forced in a marketing role, you’ve likely experienced your fair share of idea droughts. There are few things more frustrating than feeling like you’re at a dead end with new and creative marketing ideas. Regardless of whether business is booming or not, there’s no such thing as having too much marketing power. So, what’s next? How can you get the ball rolling on fresh marketing campaigns?
If you’re on the hunt for ways to refresh and diversify your marketing efforts, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite and most creative ways to begin boosting your business’ visibility.
Commission a mural
Restaurant and retail business owners understand the importance of visuals, especially within the digital age where every smartphone owner is on the hunt for an Instagram-worthy picture. Street art is no longer reserved for rogue graffiti artists—today it’s a powerful way for creative marketers to challenge tired tactics and advertise in unexpected spaces.
By creating eye-catching, photographic mural images, you effectively create an imprinted image of your brand and company within your community. And when photo-takers post on their favorite social media platforms and tag you, you’ll capture some free marketing efforts via photo-sharing efforts.
Invest in SEO
If you’re at all in-tune with the latest in the marketing world, you’ve likely heard the term “SEO” being thrown around. Short for Search Engine Optimization, SEO is the process of increasing search engine visibility. A brand that employs good SEO tactics will appear on the first page of Google for their most relevant keywords. Tackling your company’s Google rankings can be pretty difficult without any formal training or SEO experience.
Outsourcing your SEO needs to a local company with valuable know-how is a wonderful idea. Whether you’re in talks with a San Diego SEO company or an affluent New York marketing agency, be sure to consider your budget first as this service can be considerably pricy.
Make merch
If your company has a catchy slogan, like Apple’s “Think Different”, or McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It”, you might consider slapping it onto a cotton t-shirt or a baseball cap. Loyal customers and fans of your business will adore having the ability to represent their favorite brands, and you’ll capture some free exposure when they wear it!
Learn the ropes of contest marketing
Contest marketing is a genius avenue to pursue to give both loyal shoppers and new customers an interactive way to engage with your company. These are exceptionally useful when rolling out new products or during holiday seasons. Contest marketing is effective in boosting your social media following and engagement as well. There are thousands of ways to create a contest marketing campaign unique to your business, so do your fair share of research and planning before taking to the public.
Not sure where to begin? Look into these exciting contest marketing campaign ideas:
- Caption contests
- Photo contests
- Video contests
- Email sweepstakes
Create an Instagram profile
Instagram marketing has evolved into one of the most popular ways companies and brands use to create meaningful connections with their target audiences. Not only is Instagram marketing an excellent way to grow online popularity, recruit employees, and engage with customers, but it’s also a wonderful opportunity for companies to fine-tune their branding and image.
Because Instagram is so visual and picture-based, it’s a great starting place to give clients and potential leads an idea of your company’s vibe.
Refine your newsletters
Newsletters seem like age-old marketing tactics that are essentially designed to shove promotional junk down readers’ throats, but if you tackle it right, a user-friendly newsletter can increase brand awareness, promote customer loyalty, and improve overall engagement. A monthly newsletter is a great place to start if you don’t already have one in place.
We recommend keeping the content of your newsletter 90% educational and 10% promotional. No reader wants to feel that you’re only after their money by pushing products, but readers do want to gain knowledge and interact with interesting content that organically draws them in. Find that fine balance, and you’ve got an easy monthly marketing tactic at your disposal.
With these clever and creative marketing campaigns under your belt, your need for a million-dollar idea is perfectly satiated. Let us know your favorite down in the comments below!
