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For some small businesses, the summer is the busiest time of year. For others, 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 store 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 what the people at Constant Contact shared:
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 offering a local deal, don't discount too deeply and set a limit to the total number that could be bought."
- 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 store, eat in your restaurant, or 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
Keep these 5 tips in mind this summer and you'll reach new customers, continue to engage existing customers, and just have a little extra fun!
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