Summertime can be a transformative period of growth for brands that know how to take advantage of it. Whether your marketing goal is to establish your brand in your local community, spread your reach to new audiences, or simply take your promotions to the next level, use these 3 strategies to make this summer your best one yet!

1. Never skip out on events

Summer is THE season for events and public gatherings. From industry trade shows to sports tournaments, to local craft markets and street festivals, there’s something for everyone–and if you’re looking to grow your business, participating is an absolute must. Choose an event that aligns with your business niche and brand values - then get involved in a way that feels right for you! Here are just a few ways you can participate in summer events:

Become a sponsor: Sponsoring local events or sports teams is an incredible way to build brand visibility and community goodwill. Plus, sponsorship often comes with added perks like prominent logo placement, shoutouts, and networking opportunities!

Donate branded supplies or your time: When it comes to local charity events and fundraisers, donating funds, branded supplies, or even your time are impactful ways that your business can show up for your community.

Become a participating vendor: Craft fairs, trade shows, farmers markets, and outdoor festivals are always looking for vendors, and while bringing your business to an event can be a hassle, it’s an incredible way to bring your brand right to your target audience! Displaying your offerings at a local market helps to generate interest in your company and initiate new connections with potential customers in a face-to-face environment.

2. Do a pop-up

Can’t find an event to take part in this summer? Why not host your outdoor pop-up event?

Pop-ups are a form of experiential marketing where brands will “pop up” in unexpected places, generating buzz and allowing an opportunity for potential customers to try out their products or services. Many of the biggest retail brands in the world use pop-up events to generate excitement, but they can work incredibly well for small businesses, too!

A yoga studio could consider hosting a public outdoor class at a local park, or a beloved local ice cream shop could set up a one-day-only stand offering ice cream samples and logoed sunglasses at the nearby beach. The point of these events is to get people talking about your brand, so feel free to get creative with this one!

3. Make some friends

This summer, make yourself some business buddies and explore the power of partnerships and co-branding! Collaborating with other businesses that complement your own in some way can create incredibly valuable marketing avenues for your brand. These kinds of joint marketing efforts allow businesses to split marketing costs while tapping into each other’s audiences to expand their reach. Plus, a well-planned collaboration can even catch the interest of entirely new audiences! Not sure what this could look like in practice? Here are a couple of examples of small business partnerships:

Two businesses with similar target audiences might create a co-branded item to distribute at each of their locations. For example, a coffee shop and bookstore could create branded reusable coffee cups and tote bags featuring a quote about reading and coffee. These items could be handed out with customer purchases or as part of a loyalty program.

A group of local main street businesses could each contribute their own branded items to a visitor gift bag to be distributed at community events and visitors' information centers. The gift bags would highlight the variety of shopping options available to town visitors, enticing tourists and locals alike to pay a visit to the main street shops!

Summer is a time of opportunity - take advantage of it by participating in the right events, generating buzz, and engaging in smart partnerships! You develop your strategy, and we’ll provide the promo to help make it happen.