For some small businesses, the summer is the
busiest time of year. For others, like bowling proprietors, it’s the slow
season. Regardless of what time of year it is for you, there are things all
small business owners can do this summer to be proactive and productive.
And whether you’re taking advantage of the
extra foot traffic in your center or a quiet space in time to reflect and think
about your future goals, these tips can help you make the most out of the next
few months.
Tomorrow’s success really does start today, so it’s important that
no matter what season you’re in, you are thinking ahead and getting ready.
Here’s a list of our top five tips
we compiled from our marketing network. we had lots more, but we think these
are the most appropriate for the bowling proprietor
Tip 1: Snap away
“Take or collect fun pictures of your
customers or members enjoying the summer weather. Then, share those pictures on
your social networks during the cold days of winter to give them something to
remember fondly of or look forward to.
You’ll have fun doing it and create some
great engagement with your loyal followers.”
- Dennis Nations, Senior Content Strategist
Tip 2: Discover something new
“Take advantage of the potentially slower
summer months and try out one of the ‘hot’ visual social media platforms like
Instagram, Vine or Pinterest. Set a reasonable goal for yourself (i.e. upload 2
new photos a week) then, in September, decide if you want to continue to grow
your presence on that channel.
You could also experiment with a new type of
social media post. Consider trying a Facebook quiz/trivia question, a caption
contest, an ‘if you could…’ question or feature a customer story.
Definitely
change your Facebook cover photo to an image that reflects summer and your
brand too!”
- Danielle Cormier, Corporate Community Manager
Tip 3: Boost your website and
deals
“When adding an email sign-up to your
website, be sure to have the “Join My Mailing List” feature at or near the top
of each page of your website.
When doing an offer through SaveLocal, or any
other local couponing service, don’t
discount too deeply and set a limit to the total number of deals that could be
bought. For Smart Coupons, limit the total number that can be claimed.”
- Justin Tryon, Education Development
Specialist
Tip 4: Grow your list
“Summer is a great time to grow your email
list, especially if the summer months are the busiest of the year. Something as
simple as a paper sign-up sheet can go a long way in helping you stay in touch
with people after they visit your center, eat at your restaurant, or drink come
into your office.
It’s also a great chance for you to
personalize your sign-up experience a little more than you may have in the
past. In addition to asking for their name and email address, you could also
ask for their hometown to find out whether or not your new contacts are local
or discovered your business while on vacation. You can use that information to
better target your messages throughout the entire year.”
- Ryan Pinkham, Content Developer
Tip 5: Take advantage of Yelp
“People rely on Yelp reviews and trust them
just as they would a personal recommendation. This summer, take advantage of
Yelp, especially if these next few months are busy.
Setup a Yelp page and then simply put a sign
near your cash register that gives customers a discount if they write a Yelp
review for your business on the spot.
This is a great way to boost your visibility
on Yelp in just a few short months.”
- Leanne Kennis, Content Editor/Writer
Please keep these 5 tips in mind
this summer and you’ll create more opportunities to reach new customers,
continue to engage existing customers, and just have a little extra fun!
