Introduction
Ah, winter. The time of year when we huddle inside our houses and wish it was spring. But there's something else that happens in the colder months: people get excited about going outside again! It's just not practical to go skiing or hiking during the summer months (though some do), but once the temperatures start dropping, people start looking forward to heading outdoors and spending time with friends and family. So how can you use that spike in activity to your advantage?
Small business owners know the importance of marketing, but with the cold months upon us and lower foot traffic, it can be hard to find ways to market your business during the winter.
Small business owners know the importance of marketing, but with the cold months upon us and lower foot traffic, it can be hard to find ways to market your business during the winter. Here are some tips for how you can successfully promote your small business in winter:
Market yourself on social media. Social media is a great way to market your small business during the winter. Whether you're tailoring ads for specific audiences or sharing updates about what's new at your establishment, social media can help you reach new customers who may not otherwise hear about what you do.
However, there are ways you can use the weather and your location to market your small business.
However, there are ways you can use the weather and your location to market your small business. Winter is a great time to market your business because it's a slow time for most retail stores. For example, if you're selling snow gear and accessories, people will be looking for new gear as they prepare to hit the slopes or play in some fresh powder. Similarly, if you have an indoor-themed restaurant or bar that offers games such as pool or shuffleboard, this is also a good time for outdoor activities like that near shops like yours!
If you live near snowboarding destinations (think Colorado), then consider using images of those locations on flyers advertising discounted lift tickets available at local businesses during their slow season. Then use social media to promote all sorts of things: new products coming out soon; contests where people can win gift cards by submitting photos from their last vacation; discounts on items normally sold only online (you know how much more expensive shipping costs are!).
First and foremost, you should focus on making it easier for your customers to come and shop.
First and foremost, you should focus on making it easier for your customers to come and shop.
You should make sure that your business is easy to find. You do this by advertising local specials, posting banners outside of your store, or simply putting your logo on everything from hot cocoa mugs to the packaging of a new line of products.
You also want to make sure that once the customer gets there (even if they had trouble finding you), they can easily get around in the store or restaurant. This means having clear signs and good lighting so people know where everything is located as well as being able to use an escalator or elevator in order for anyone with disabilities who may need assistance getting around easily without having difficulty navigating through unfamiliar surroundings alone without help from others first off - who knows where anything might be hidden away? It's important not only consider how easy things can be found but also how accessible they are too!
Make sure that you have a shoveled walkway, or install lights so that it's easier for people to see at night.
If you live in a cold place, winter can cause lots of falls. Make sure that you have a shoveled walkway and/or install lights so that it's easier for people to see at night.
If you live in a cold place, this is especially important.
If you live in a cold place, this is especially important. It can be hard to get out of the house during bad weather and people will likely stay inside more often. This is actually one of the benefits of winter marketing: people want to get out more and they’re shopping online more often. If your business has an online presence and makes it easier for people to find what they need, then now is a great time for you! Make sure that your business is easy to find on search engines so that when customers are looking for products or services like yours (which they will be), they can find them easily.
Winter can cause lots of falls, so keeping both your walkway and parking lot clear is essential to not only your business's success, but also the safety of your customers.
Have you ever had to walk across a snowy parking lot and wondered how the heck someone got their car there?
In winter, it's imperative that your business keeps its parking lot clear of snow and ice. This is especially true if you have customers who rely on public transportation or can't drive themselves. Keeping your parking area free of snow will not only help improve customer satisfaction, but also increase your profitability as well.
If you're thinking about using one of those self-clearing ice machines this winter, think again: These machines may actually cost more than simply hiring an employee to shovel snow for you! Not only does manually removing the snow from your parking area save money on equipment costs, but it also means that whoever is responsible for removing snow will be able to do so without waiting for an automated machine to do its job first—which means faster service times for customers!
Next, you need to figure out what the local hot spots are during this time of year.
Next, you need to figure out what the local hot spots are during this time of year.
This is where doing a little research can be quite beneficial. You want to find out where people in your area hang out and what they like to do during winter. If you’re not sure, ask around or try looking at online forums for answers. You might even find that some places are already advertising themselves as being open during winter but will still accept new members!
Once you know what the hot spots are, think about how you can market yourself there. If it’s a gym/fitness center then maybe bring in a trainer or offer free lessons on how to stay fit in cold weather conditions? Or if it’s a local club then make sure everyone knows who runs it so people will feel more comfortable coming along (and hopefully spend more money).
Once you establish these locations, try advertising there.
Once you establish these locations, try advertising there.
Put up flyers around town. Flyers are still one of the best forms of advertising because they're cheap and easy to produce. You should be able to get them printed in bulk for less than a dollar apiece at an online printing company such as VistaPrint or FedEx Office. Just remember—don't write on the back! People won't see it unless they take your flyer from the front side and flip it over themselves, and that's not good for anyone involved (especially if your handwriting is bad).
Advertise on social media channels like Twitter and Facebook, where people tend to spend more time scrolling through random updates than they do looking at traditional print ads or watching TV commercials (which tend to get turned off after just a few seconds anyway). Make your social media posts shareable by using clickable links that lead directly back to your website or blog post so readers can read more about what interests them without having to leave their current platform first (and then possibly losing track of what they were doing when they came back). Use hashtags (#) when appropriate so other users will see related content too—for example: "#marketingtips" might bring up a bunch of posts related only if someone searches this particular hashtag within their newsfeeds; otherwise those same posts might appear mixed in randomly with others unrelated."
If you're a clothing boutique owner in a tourist town, look into putting an ad on a billboard near the ski lodge or in a local newspaper near the ski area.
If you're a clothing boutique owner in a tourist town, look into putting an ad on a billboard near the ski lodge or in a local newspaper near the ski area. If your business is located in an area where there are seasonal tourists, this can be a smart move to get more exposure during times when your neighborhood isn't as busy.
If you run an ice cream shop in Arizona or Florida, consider putting flyers on cars or at bus stops during winter break when families are coming down for their holidays.
If you run an ice cream shop in Arizona or Florida, consider putting flyers on cars or at bus stops during winter break when families are coming down for their holidays. Don't be afraid to put them up in grocery stores and hotels as well!
If you're selling a product that can be shipped, consider mailing out samples to people who have signed up for your email list or given their address through Facebook. You could even send them a coupon code they can use online if they decide they like it enough.
Find ways to market yourself that take advantage of cold weather spikes in activity
When it comes to marketing yourself, it's important to find ways to market yourself that take advantage of winter spikes in activity. Winter brings more activity in some areas than others, so you have to think about where your customers are going and what they're doing. For example, if you live somewhere cold enough for snow but not cold enough for ice salespeople may experience a spike in foot traffic during this time of year. On the other hand if you live somewhere with frequent rain or humidity then people are probably spending less time outdoors than usual. People who live in these kinds of climates might not be able to get their hands on any new gear until spring arrives! But luckily there are still plenty of opportunities available online or through mail-order catalogues - just make sure your site is optimized for mobile devices so those customers don't get lost along the way (and don't forget about shipping costs).
The most important thing when deciding which type of marketing campaign would work best among customers: figure out what kind of person they are! Find out which places they like spending time at during winter weather -- whether that's hanging out at home watching movies together with friends or going skiing every weekend throughout January--then tailor messages accordingly so people feel like they're being spoken directly towards them."
Conclusion
If you're a small business owner, winter can be a tough time for marketing your business. However, if you take advantage of the weather and location to market yourself, it can actually be a great time to grow your customer base.
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