One of the biggest shopping seasons of the year is upon us—2014 Back-to-School! Parents all across the country are on the hunt for back-to-school deals and early bargains. How can you make your business stand out from the pack amidst all the chaos and frenzy? Whether you are selling clothing, school supplies, or dorm furniture, there are lots of ways you can attract school shoppers to your business and take advantage of this busy shopping season.
Follow these 5 simple marketing ideas to help you market your business and make the most of the back-to-school season:
- Think outside the box. Even if your products or services have no obvious back-to-school tie-in, you can still create one. Put your thinking hat on and forge a back-to-school connection to your business! School shopping is not strictly limited to back-to-school items. If you’re selling a nutrition-related product, tie it back to “healthy school lunch ideas.” If you’re in the personal care business, such as a hair salon, gym, or spa, offer coupons or discounts for parents and teachers—the possibilities are endless!
- Put yourself in your consumer’s shoes. As with all campaigns, understanding your audience, their mindset, needs and desires is key in order to position your business as the perfect solution. This is a busy time for your consumers as they are rushing to get everything they need before school starts so it is important to communicate budget, quality, and ease of shopping in your promotions. Once kids have gone off to school, parents will have more time to do the things they’ve been putting off which is great for “the kids have gone back to school” promotions and perks.
- Promote your business across a variety of channels. The great thing about marketing today is that there are so many ways to get your brand name out there. When building a campaign, it is important to reach your target audience across a variety of channels—your website, mobile site, social media accounts, email promotions, and any form of online or local advertising. Wherever your audience is, that is where you want to be! Create a Facebook Back-To-School sweepstakes for kids. Target parents via radio—parents are spending a lot of time in the car this summer right before school starts, taking their kids to and fro. Try creating online coupons that can be printed and redeemed in store.
- Show support for local schools and causes. It’s important to have a presence in your community and to show support for your local teachers, school athletes, and community service programs. Supporting a cause can help differentiate your brand, generate favorable public opinion, and foster brand loyalty with your consumers. Create a promotion for your products or services and have a portion of the proceeds be donated to a local school. You can also partner with schools to sponsor school-related events or fundraisers, such as a pizza shop having a contest for local schools to host a pizza party. Another area of opportunity is partnering with or creating a campaign around school-related causes that promote education, child development, or anti-bullying initiatives.
- Hold a “Last Chance” Sale. With all the hustle and bustle and rush to be prepared for when classes start, parents are on the lookout for the quickest solution to their problems, at the best price. “Last chance” sales mirror this sense of urgency by offering last-minute discounts on quality products to draw customers in. Maybe a customer was thinking about buying your products or services but decided to hold off for a later time–lock-in the sale by creating a sense of urgency and a promotion that speaks to your shoppers. “Last chance to get that manicure you’ve been thinking about before all that homework keeps you busy!” or “last chance to get a discount on back-to-school haircuts,” you get the idea!
The back-to-school season is a lucrative one so make sure you take advantage of it by following these easy ideas. Remember to keep your target market’s needs and desires in mind, be creative with your promotions, and have fun!
Have some additional tips to add? Share how you are taking advantage of the Back-To-School season by posting in the comments section!
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