What are some Marketing/Advertising that you have used?

[Minion]

....that don't involve Social Media. 

So I am brainstorming some ideas for new marketing/promotional type products.  I've done some custom key chains, shirts and hats in the past.  The key chains were decent and fit into my business being in the automotive.  I've tossed around the idea of some branded air fresheners, which i've seen use by retailers that I thought might go good with my business since the oil undercoating can be a bit on the smelly side for the first couple of days. 

So hat are some things that you have done or used in the past?

[CareyJo]

Since we do HVAC, I've tried to make all of our items relate to being hot and/or cold.  I've got blue ice scrapers, the mini size that just fit in your hand.  They work great for travel as well.  So if someone travels a lot and is always renting a car, they can take it with them.  That might be a great idea for your business as well.  It has our logo on it but nothing else.

I've also done hats, which people just go nuts over.  Pens of course, but everyone has a billion of those... I've also done RFID sleeves in a metallic blue with our logo.  It has a sticker on the back and fits the back of a phone.  I did miniature shopping bags and those are handy to have in vehicles.

You could do miniature pop up trashcans or a trash bag that hangs on the back of the headrest.  You could get those condensation discs that fit in the cup holder and put your logo on it.  I know that french fry holders aren't the greatest thing that people want but it makes a good holder/collector for little things in the console.  Ice cream koozies or coffee collars.  I have reusable ones, one of each, in my truck.  One of those all in one tools that fits in the glove box.  Those are handy.  Or how about one of those sleeves that you put your car papers in - your insurance card, your registration, your tire warranty, etc???

Just some suggestions.  These are things I honestly use and know other people would too.

[Minion]

THose are some great ideas @CareyJo .  I hate and love the pen one, but when you find the right pen that just glides across that paper it just makes me wanna write everything in cursive!

I like the idea of the condensation discs and mini trash cans, I'll definitely be taking a look into those. 

[CareyJo]

Awesome!  I'm glad it was helpful!

[DinaLRosenberg]

I love love your promotional ideas..

I love cross-promoting- so teaming up with complimentary businesses that you could cross promote services with...

So whatever those adjacent services are I would start building relationships with those people.

[Minion]

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@DinaLRosenberg wrote:

I love love your promotional ideas..

I love cross-promoting- so teaming up with complimentary businesses that you could cross promote services with...

So whatever those adjacent services are I would start building relationships with those people.

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Oh, I forgot about teaming up with other businesses around me.  I tried that once before many years ago, ut in all fairness , didn't really put much thought or effort into it  Maybe time to revisit that again!

[HC_Charlie]

I've never been a big event planner, but this one time (...no, not at band camp LOL 😉

I used Eventbrite to "sell" tickets (for free) for an open house. I advertised in a local paper and some online event listings that customers should come in for free food treats, and a google bag filled with small promo trinkets and giveaway type items. I used their app to scan the ticket code mainly as a means to track the goodie bags and keep track who already might have picked one up.

Not sure if you work with any dealers or other businesses that promote your products, but they could be invited to a Summer style open house or BBQ event, so if someone might have heard about you or not, they could stop by and see what you do, with no pressure to make a commitment.

I was surprised with how many attended my event, with the bulk finding out through a local news station event calendar. I contacted them to be added to this event listing. I think Eventbrite also has a calendar of their listed events that users of their site/app have access to see.

...oh, and about that oily undercoating smell. Maybe just tell them that's how they know they got a nice coat and it's doing the job LOL ?

[Minion]

LOL @ that band camp reference.  I love movie quotes that live rent free in my head.  

I love the idea of the dealership.  I work with about 5 different ones, 2 very local, and 3 about 45 minutes away.  I have spoke to them in the past and brought up the idea if they did like a customer appreciation day, I would love to find a secluded spot, spray some vehicles if they wanted to, again no pressure just more of a means to find out information etc.  They did just change ownership lat last year, and this new one is very community oriented, so it maybe time to resurface that idea to them. 

[CareyJo]

I laughed about the quote too... I can literally have a full conversation with one of my daughters with nothing but quotes and it all forms together to make a sentence... lol... we actually did it one time just to see.  Our family speaks movie and most people just look at us like we're nuts!

[Minion]

You are my people! HAHA love it!

[CareyJo]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

[BrianaJo]

Oh we've done quite a few things. Like newspaper ads, teacher appreciation coupons, our schools sell plastic promo fundraising coupon cards that we're on, there's a local apartment complex that gives out coupons to new tenants, we've walked in parades, and  partnered with the local library for their teen programs. 

[CareyJo]

Those are fantastic ideas!!