Adding Some Spark to Your Marketing Campaign

Have you got a marketing campaign mapped out, but are concerned because it seems to lack a certain “spark”? Or maybe you are searching for new ideas to include in your next campaign. Here are some suggestions to help you find just the right message and look that will hook your audience.

Look at Emerging Social and Media Trends

Give your marketing an instant facelift by keeping abreast of emerging trends or memes on social media. The Internet, and specifically the social media world, is a fast growing, quickly evolving medium, and it pays for you to stay on top of what is catching people’s attention and imagination. If you know your marketing message, you can easily colour it with the latest memes or flavour it with the taste of the month. Additionally, if you are a keen observer, you may be a step ahead of everyone and jump on a trend just as it takes off, giving you an edge over the competition and positioning yourself as a trendsetter.

Know the Quirks of Your Target Audience

If you are an acute entrepreneur, you will know your target market inside out and upside down. Knowing all the quirks and foibles of your customer base will allow you to exploit that in your marketing; tailoring your message exclusively to them. While this may limit the scope of your marketing, it is more likely to convert viewers into actual customers.

Using Surprise or Controversy

Many successful campaigns use the elements of surprise or controversy to drum up interest and memorability. This can be tricky though, as you need to strike the perfect balance between controversy and positive or neutral publicity. In the case of controversy, you also don’t want to inadvertently run afoul of any laws, so it is best to run your idea past your lawyer before you make it official.

Be Unconventional or Try Something New

Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb and try something completely new or innovative. Being bold captures the public imagination and will have people remembering you long past your marketing run. Sometimes the bold or startling can also be subtle and simple. Use your imagination and think outside the box!

Sometimes Old Can Be Made New Again

Retro and re-visited themes from the past seem to be popular these days. Finding novel ways to present old ideas is clever and has the potential to appeal across generations. For example, you can put an ad in a magazine that is done in the style of the retro ads from years past, or do some flyer printing and start passing out your company’s information in an interactive, colourful and tangible way.

Promotional Items and Giveaways

Everyone loves to get stuff for free, and corporate gifts are a great way to generate brand awareness, especially if you choose gift items that are used everyday such as pens or notepads. Items like pens make great promotional items because people like to accumulate them to offset the many times they misplace or lend them away. That means that people will almost always keep your branded pen and may even take several. As for giveaways, people enter a contest for a chance to win a prize that is related to your business, and entry into the contest usually involves spreading awareness about your business via social media channels such as “liking” your Facebook page or tweeting about your business.