If you’re looking for ways to give your marketing a shot-in-the-arm, start thinking outside the box. Here are 4 simple and easy marketing ideas you can start using today without breaking your budget:

Offline Ideas:

1. Unusual Sponsorships:

We’ve all seen how businesses sponsor local sports teams like kid’s baseball and soccer. But, with a little imagination, you can find more unique things to sponsor that will really set you apart. One such sponsorship, although on a larger scale than most local businesses could do, is the Citibike program in New York City. Ask yourself what unique sponsorship you could create in your town?

2. Distribute Your Business Card:

Unusual ways to give out your business card can be very effective. You’ve heard of creating relevant content online, right? Well, a good way to leverage relevant content offline is to tuck your business card inside library books and magazines in the stores where you shop that are relevant to your industry.

Another good practice is to include your business card in the envelope when you pay bills, and do so with every bill payment, every month. Finally, whenever you see one of those fish bowl drawings, drop your business card in. True, these drawings are intended as a way for the sponsor to harvest contacts, but those contacts can work both ways.

Do you need help growing your business? Click here to check out our website design and marketing communications packages. We will help you achieve your business goals and in the process, leave your competition shaken and wondering, “Now, what do we do?”

Online Ideas:

3. Video Contests Featuring Your Products or Services:

Video contests are great for a number of reasons: They’re relatively easy to enter (anyone with a smartphone can shoot a quick video and submit it on the prescribed social media page), they’re fun, and they’re a great source of user-generated content that you can reuse elsewhere. Just pick the video you like best of your product being used, and award the prize to the winner. You can also create a Facebook Live event of you presenting the prize to garner additional exposure.

4. Custom Memes:

Everyone on social media loves memes, right? They’re fun, and they get shared – a lot. Creating a totally custom meme is easier than you might think. Just go to the PIXLR.com express online app, upload the background image you want to use, and overlay it with your humorous or inspiring text.

Another option is a meme generator like imgflip, but these are not completely custom because you have to use their images and the meme includes a mention of their site.

When it comes to developing marketing ideas for your business, you’re only limited by your own creativity. Contact us for more simple and easy marketing ideas.

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This article is published by Will Sherwood | The Sherwood Group |Website Design | Graphic Design | Marketing Communications: The Sherwood Group has over 30 years of experience working with all sorts of companies, small and large. Our clients range from entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 firms, in nearly every business sector, from across the street to around the world (and yes, even Europe, China, and South America). Our goal is to create advertising,  graphic design, website design, and marketing communication that still looks fresh and relevant 10-15 years later. Our mission is to stir your imagination and leave your competition shaken and wondering,  Now what do we do?”  We are located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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