Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM August 2019 | Page 26

BUSINESS MARKETING
SOMMER KIBBEE
Vernon Graphics & Promotions
832-274-5245
www.myvernon.biz/brianstottlemyer
5 WAYS TO GROW
your Business this Summer
S
ummer is finally here; and while our customers
are planning family vacations, businesses
are feeling the summer slump. Trendy boots
have been traded for dollar bin flip flops and
20-pound turkeys have been replaced by $2
hot dogs. The growing season where less is more and
life slows down.
A slowdown season in business is the world’s way
of giving business owners an opportunity to sit back,
reflect, and plant the seeds to grow their businesses
in the months to come. Here are 5 ways to grow your
business this summer.
1-Evaluate your business.
Most of us have a fiscal quarter or two in the books
by now, so it’s a great time to take a look at our plans
and goals. What’s working? What’s not working? There’s
nothing wrong with changing things up a bit. It’s better
to make a positive change mid-stream than to keep
doing more of the same, especially if it’s not working or
getting you any results.
2-Assess your staffing needs.
Take notice of how your employees are benefitting
your company. Are there any who are working too hard
while some aren’t working hard enough? Are they being
compensated fairly? Even if you’re self-employed, or a
one-man band, it’s important to assess your workload
every now and again. Are you overworking yourself?
Could your business grow if you hired an assistant?
3-Refresh your website.
Now is the perfect time to refresh your website
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MOMENTUM
BEFORE the holiday season hits. Give it a new
look NOW so your customers will be familiar
with navigating through it by fall. Change is
always easier to deal with when you’re not
feeling the pressure of holiday deadlines.
While you’re relaxing on the deck this
summer, take a minute to look at some of
your competitor’s websites. How does yours
compare? Does it need a face-lift or at least a
summer glow? As you’re updating your site,
make sure to update any marketing materials
to match the new look of your site. You should
also update the bios and cover photos on
your social media profiles. Customers like
consistency.
4-Organize a summer social.
There’s no better time than ice cream and
watermelon season to host a customer appreciation
day barbeque! Every-one thanks their customers during
the holiday season with Christmas cards and fruitcakes,
but customers actually enjoy a little appreciation in the
summer too. Besides, it’s far less expensive to get your
brand on t-shirts and visors than jackets and stocking
hats!
Get out the sunscreen and plan a baseball outing for
your customers or host a summer cook-out. And be sure
to provide them with promo koozies to remind them of
the great time they had on your dime, each and every
time they use it!
5-Create a summer special.
Everyone expects Black Friday specials in November,
but an unexpected summer special (not Christmas in
July, full of last year’s holiday leftovers) on items that
make everyone’s summer season even better would
surely be a hit! You want your customers to see the
summer special as a special, not a clearance event.
Don’t sell them last year’s throws in June. Offer a
seasonal product that’s relevant. You could even go one
step further and throw in a free promotional item for
next season!
Try offering a free collapsible cooler for this fall’s
tailgating with the purchase of every full-size summer
cooler purchase. Let your customers know that your
customer service goes beyond the current season.