3 Easy Marketing Tips You Can Start Doing Today

There’s no shortage of marketing options for retailers nowadays, but somethings take a bit more planning than others. If you’re short on time or on cash, consider these marketing tips as a quick, easy and affordable jump-start to help your marketing efforts this year.

1. Encourage Social Media Check Ins on Four Square, Facebook & Other 

Checking in via social media may seem like no big deal, but consider all the friends and friends of friends who see these check ins. Did you think about? Your business gains visibility each time someone checks into a place via social media… and it only takes seconds for your customers to do this. The appeal of “check-ins” is that customers are actually happy to be at your business – which translates to those viewing check-ins as impressionable moments among potential consumers.  Key word? Consumers. Be in front of their eyes whenever you can, and check-ins are a great way to do this. Post a friendly sign in your store to remind customers to do this and in exchange, offer them 10% off a same-day purchase or another fun perk.

2. Embrace Mobile Experiences

4 out of 5 users shop on their phones and 80% of Smartphone users will reference their phone while shopping in a store. Rather than become frustrated and ignore this reality or try to fight it, embrace it. Make sure your website it mobile friendly and make sure your physical store welcomes Smartphone users. It’s our consumer reality – like it or not.

3. Build Brand Equity Through Press 

Press is free… for the most part. Sure, it takes time to generate visibility and communicate with media, but other than this it is essentially cost free. Better yet? Customers love shopping where they think there is a “buzz”. Beyond your grand opening, celebrating an anniversary or hosting a special event, why does your store deserve press? Create stories to pitch to the media that generates store awareness and in return, attracts new customers while reminding old customers just how great your store is. Be sure your pitch is newsworthy though. Look to your vendors, employees and even customers for ideas. It does not have to be black and white and specifically about your store products – but it does need to be exciting to gain traction among media outlets.

Another tip? Don’t give up… but you know this already, don’t you? Marketing is a non-stop effort for any business – small or large. Whether it’s word of mouth marketing or the kind that comes after a lot of sweat, be sure your store isn’t left in the dust when it comes to gaining customer awareness.