New Creative Ways to Promote Your Business

Getting the word out about your business in a sea of other brands can be as daunting as climbing Mt. Everest. You wouldn’t attempt a trek up the deadly mountain without preparation and a guide to see you to the top. Finding creative ways to promote your business is the same way. You have to plan and seek out knowledge from those who’ve gone before and know the way.

Finding a marketing mentor should be your first step to more unique promotional strategies. A successful entrepreneur or a marketing guru can guide you toward greater success and higher conversions from your efforts. 

What Are the Three C’s of Marketing Strategy?

Planning a marketing strategy ensures you hit all the crucial steps to finding success with your promotions. While not everything will be as successful, all efforts should have some type of return on investment (ROI). The three C’s of marketing state you should focus on:

• Company
• Customers
• Competitors

Successful campaigns consider all three aspects of marketing. Advertising must encompass the personality of the company and what is best for its growth. At the same time, customers and their preferences should factor into the equation or efforts will fall flat. Finally, pay attention to competitors. What deals do they offer? Why would someone choose them over your brand and how can you change that?

The three Cs are at the core of everything you do and how much ROI you see from a marketing campaign. 

Unique Creative Ways to Promote Your Business

Nearly every company in existence does a few things. They advertise to their target audience, reach out to current customers and try to attract new clients. However, outside of a traditional billboard ad or radio slot, what are some things you can do to promote your business that are unique and inexpensive?

1. Start a Blog

Statista estimates around 26% of those who read blogs are 30 to 49 years old. Another 21% fall between 18 and 29. With the majority of traffic from those under 50, knowing what current trends are and speaking to them through your industry could make a huge difference. Think about some of the articles you’ve read in the past. Perhaps you loved a piece about how running a small business is similar to being Gossip Girl. 

Your small business can benefit in numerous ways from a blog. Not only will excellent and relevant material increase SEO but you’ll have material to share on social media platforms. 

2. Take Social Media by Storm

Social media is still arguably one of the fastest and most inexpensive ways to reach a target audience. Whether you post on a business page, engage in groups related to your industry or pay for advertising, you can reach a lot of people for little time and money.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/kingdomstrollers

Consider what your audience cares about. What are their pain points and how can you solve them? One example is Kingdom Strollers’ Facebook page. They know that parents spend a lot of money when they take their kids to Disney. Those kids get tired of all the walking. To keep the experience magical, a stroller comes in handy, so they remind parents of this handy fact. 

3. Entertain the Masses

Online videos are quite popular. People don’t have to think to absorb information and it’s another creative way to promote your business without spending a lot of money. Some people choose to participate in live streams, teaching something about the industry or product. Others create longer videos on how to use a service.

No matter what tone and content you create, make sure it is engaging and relevant. If you run a small daycare, a video on how to get your toddler to nap is pertinent but one on how to make a new cocktail would be off-topic. 

If you choose one platform for your promotional videos, go to YouTube. With more than two billion active users, it is a place where you can reach new leads. Make sure you optimize your videos as you would any other content, share them and get some buzz going. 

4. Stream a Podcast

People who listen to podcasts are seeking knowledge. If you are in an industry where your audience might be interested in learning something in-depth about your brand or products, go ahead and start a related podcast.

For example, if you sell mystery party games, start a true crime or mystery story hour show. Think about what else your audience enjoys and you’ll be more likely to hit on a topic they’ll appreciate. Study other podcasts currently available to ensure your idea is fresh and not just a repeat of what others are doing. 

5. Be a Guest

Perhaps you don’t have time to create an entire podcast or show for your small business. After all, you’re trying to grow your brand and that takes all your time. What you can do is be a guest on someone else’s show. Podcasters and YouTubers are frequently seeking someone to come on and talk about their expertise. A slot is free promotion for you to an audience you’ve not spoken to before.

You can also appear on local television and radio stations to appropriate audiences who might be interested in your products and services. 

6. Get Friends and Family Involved

Ask friends and family to share posts and tell others about your business. The more people you can get talking about what you do, the more you’ll reach. Reward current customers with loyalty points when they refer a new customer who buys something. 

If you’re on a limited budget, getting some word-of-mouth marketing going saves you time and money. You’ll begin building name recognition, which you can expand from there by rewarding those who sign up for your newsletter or tell others about what you do and why they love your brand. 

Find Your Own Twist

You might think that there’s nothing new in marketing. Every type of ad and promotion someone has tried somewhere. While there is a glimmer of truth to the idea that someone somewhere has already tried it, you can give any promotional strategy your own twist by infusing it with your brand personality and tapping into modern culture.

If people are buzzing about a topic, how can you tap into the idea and find creative ways to promote your business? For example, many of your customers are science fiction fans. A new episode of Star Wars releases, so you throw a Star Wars digital party with a discount on certain products. Bonus discounts if they dress up like their favorite Star Wars character and post a photo on social media with a particular hashtag that ties back to your brand.

Look for ways to do something new and fresh while still sticking with the tried and true techniques that have excellent ROI. When you put a little planning into marketing, you’ll find success and mark your brand as cutting edge.