Marketing strategies to make the most of summertime

When summer approaches, our minds turn to days at Coronado, summer concert series in La Jolla, and new smoothie flavors from Starbucks. It’s hard not to take vacations up the coast, spend more time with family, and instead focus on work.
 
But it shouldn’t be a time where you let the summer slowdown decrease your marketing efforts especially when you can outsource the work. From telemarketing to online marketing, there are ways to increase your marketing efforts even if you plan to go on vacation.
 
Outsource telemarketing
 
Telemarketing can be used to solicit information, process orders, provide support and offer customer service. It can also be used to inform your existing customers about summer specials and events. When you work with a credible outbound call center, the representatives will communicate your key messages to your customers while informing them of special promotions to encourage repeat sales. It might take some time to get them up-to-speed, but once you do, you can focus on other efforts…or the beach.
 
Online marketing
 
Local advertisers are predicted to spend less this year on online marketing efforts declining 0.3%, compared with growth of 8.5% in 2008, according to the media research firm Borrell Associates. The times when businesses are cutting back on marketing dollars are the times when you should be spending more. During the summer when business partnerships might be slower, you can take the extra time to dive into social media channels. Set up a Facebook profile for your business, a Twitter account, or even create a Squidoo page pointing links back to your site to raise your authority.
 
Web design
 
But, before you spend the time on promoting your company online, make sure your site is easy to navigate, and up-to-date. Hire a web developer, update the site yourself or check with San Diego State or Cal State San Marcos for students looking for internships to do it for you. Your site should have a fresh summer feel, your summer operating hours, promotions and events.
 
Review your marketing strategy, find out what’s working and what’s not, and work on new strategies for the rest of the year.
 
By Betsy Brottlund
San Diego Small Business Strategies Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/x-6465-San-Diego-Small-Business-Strategies-Examiner~y2009m7d1-Marketing-strategies-to-make-the-most-of-summertime

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