It’s a new year and time to start looking for new ways to market your business. Connecting with customers may have proven difficult in 2020. In 2021, it might be time to try new tactics to stay relevant with consumers. Building your marketing campaigns around events, like major sporting events, national holidays, and awareness campaigns can, align your brand with things your customers care about.
Embracing big (and smaller local) events in your marketing and advertising keeps your business top of mind. This type of marketing can create spikes in demand for your products and services. Showcasing your business in support of events that are of importance to your customers builds engagement and can lead to increased sales.
Get Your Message Across in a Big Way
To communicate effectively, you need to be big, bold, and undeniable. Create a value proposition for your business with an event-themed message. Custom, eye-catching signage grabs attention and generates excitement for the event.
Signs in various shapes and sizes can create bold visual images that associate your business with the event. Flags and A-frame sidewalk signs can draw attention, as can banners and yard signs. Window and wall graphics do the same. Table tents and point-of-sale signage will help drive home your message. A well-coordinated signage package makes a big impact.
(Learn more about different sign options here.)
Align Your Marketing Campaigns
Aligning your marketing campaigns with an event can help harness the excitement surrounding it. Your campaign messaging should be personalized for your target audience. Use images and verbiage that tie in with the event. Your marketing messages should be relatable. Try sharing stories that convey what that event means to you, your employees, and your business.
Coordinate the timeline for your marketing campaigns to lead into the event and be sure to select the right delivery method. Email campaigns provide a low-cost way to communicate directly with customers, Direct mail marketing is still the most effective means to grab consumer attention (especially when you don’t have a clean, organic email list).
Social media remains the best tool to engage in two-way conversations with consumers, before, during and after an event.
(Learn more about coordinating print and marketing campaigns.)
Share Freebies and Promo Products
Everybody likes swag! Branded promotional products add a tangible element to any event-related marketing campaign. Plus, those freebies keep your business top of mind long after the event.
Promo products that relate in some way to the event are the most effective, as are items that are unique or useful. There are promotional products available for almost every budget, but some take longer to produce than others. Plan ahead to time the availability of your giveaways with the event you’re promoting.
(Search our catalog of promotional products here.)
Tie in Charitable Giving
One of the best ways to make a big impact in event marketing is to tie in charitable giving. People are more likely to participate in a campaign that benefits a good cause or gives back to the local community. Show consumers that your business is involved locally and demonstrate that you care about more than just profits.
Choosing a nonprofit cause to promote humanizes your brand and empowers customers to play a role in something bigger than a simple sales transaction. Working locally also helps you build relationships with other individuals and businesses in your area.
Big Events Mean Big Opportunities for Marketing
Event marketing provides ample opportunities to communicate in relevant ways. These campaigns build real and lasting relationships with your customers and community. Plan ahead and look for events, both national and local, that you can build a marketing campaign around. Strategize with your team and ask what events, charities, or local activities they think would find broad appeal in your area.
Harness the power of event marketing to get noticed and get business while also connecting you in meaningful ways with your community.
© 2021 AlphaGraphics Franklin