You know that you have to market your business, but sometimes it can be difficult to get excited about the idea when you see that so many companies are doing the exact same thing. You want to be different because your company is difference, you want to look at new ways of reaching your potential customers without reverting to the same old tactics. The good news is that you can. The better news is that if you do it properly, you’ll be handsomely rewarded, too.
Saying Goodbye To Traditional Methods
If you want to have a marketing campaign that stands out from what others doing, then, well, you’re going to have do things differently. This means not doing what’s worked in the past. And this is just as well, because traditional marketing tactics are becoming increasingly obsolete for an audience that is getting smarter and more resistant to obvious advertisements. Television advertisements are still effective, but they cost a lot – and the general shift away from television to online may soon put an end to them anyway. What is on its last legs are banner adverts, which are mostly ignored and will probably be all but gone within a few years anyway.
Getting in with the Media
If you’re a freshly launched company or have another newsworthy angle (new product/anniversary of your opening), then it could be a good idea to get in touch with local media and see if they want to cover your story for their publication. Newspapers and local news channels are always eager for stories, and your activity might be just what they’re looking for – and in return, you’ll be given a free platform to get your company name out there.
The New Word of Mouth
You don’t want to tell people how good your product or service is directly; you want the people they trust to tell them how good your product or service is. How do you do this? By partnering with an influencer marketing agency and have a person of trust promote your business themselves. It’s a bit like word of mouth advertising, but more controllable – and with longer lasting benefits. The impact in terms of increased revenue might not be immediate, but it will eventually come as your company will already have been established as one to trust.
Out on the Streets
Your marketing strategies don’t have to always take place online, and they don’t always have to be just about hard work, either – they can be fun! Hit the streets in your local area and you’ll have the opportunity to engage with people in ways that generally don’t happen. The form of this type of activity can vary; it could be a pop up stand where you give away samples of your product; it could be an event where you invite local artists and musicians to perform; or it could something else, so long as it’s fun and in line with your company branding.
Guerilla Tactics
There’s another way to market on the streets, one that is patently less obvious than just hosting an event with your name on the side. It’s called guerilla marketing and it can take any form you wish so long as it’s stealthily done. An example would be placing cool stickers with your key details listed around town, hosting a flash mob, adding graffiti around town, or sneakily leaving business cards in places frequented by the types of people you think might be interested in your company.
Create a Buzz
If you’re a new company who will be offering a legitimately exciting product or service, then your marketing will begin well before you actually launch. In the run up to your launch, create a buzz and get people hyped about what is to come. This can be simple as having a countdown clock on your website, revealing extra details about your company in each week before your launch, or anything else.
Thinking Big
In the end, you should be bound by nothing when it comes to marketing your business. There are very few things that are off limits – if it raises awareness of your company and has no chance of harming your reputation, then it’s probably a good idea to go ahead or do it. You could hire a plane to write a message in the sky or pull a publicity stunt (just make it positive); whatever gets people to sit up and pay attention, in effect. So get your thinking caps on and start thinking big about your marketing tactics!