11 Simple Marketing Hacks

If you follow me on Linkedin, you will have seen my list of simple marketing things you can do in your community. These are things anyone can do .. even a volunteer. They are simple but also have a big return on investment (ROI). Some are things that can last through the generations and preserve your community.

Here is the list: 

1. Photograph your town: One of the simplest things we can do is photograph your community. It is a great way to preserve history and showcase progress. Make those photos available for others to use. Then, when anyone is marketing an event in your town, a school event, etc., they can pull great photos from your website, and your town always looks amazing!

2. Do you have a gimmick? What makes cars stop in your town? Are they stopping to shop? Are they stopping to see the largest pecan in Texas? Get gas? Go to the restroom? You need a gimmick! You need something to stop cars and pull them off the road. What it is?

3. Write your town's story and teach it to people. History is passed down through the generations through storytelling. Do you know the history of your community? If not, find someone who does. Write it down and teach it to others. This is a great way to preserve your heritage and help citizens tell the story of your community.

4. Does your town do a communications meeting? A great way to create good lines of communication is to host a communications meeting once a quarter. This is a time to get all your non-profit organizations and entities together. Everyone has a couple of minutes to share what is happening in their organization. It's a great way to work smarter and not harder!

5. Does your town have a hashtag? Are you using it to build momentum in your community? If everything I just said sounds like a foreign language, ask your kids. You should be using it on purpose and teaching others in your community to do the same.

6. Do you have a museum in your community? Is your community interested in opening a museum? It doesn't have to be complicated. Find a few people with large collections. Find an empty space or co-habitat with another space, and start your museum. You never know where small beginnings will lead.

7. Market places to meet in your community. Do you have a list of all the places to meet in your community? People in the region are always looking for places to host a meeting, a baby shower, a wedding, etc. Make it easy for them to find your town. Put it on your website and your social media, and let people know how they can bring a group to your community.

8. What cultural elements are in your town? Are you showing them off? People are interested in history and culture. What is the history of your community and how can people find out about it? Sometimes we forget about the things in our own backyard. Take some time to investigate it and market it!

9. Market your town for a day trip. People are always looking for something to do. What about planning a day trip to your community? Shopping, sightseeing, historical markers, realtor tours, think outside the box! Show off your town.

10. Get reviews on Yelp, Trip Advisor and Google. This may seem like old news, but it still has a huge value. If anything, these reviews have become more and more utilized in order for customers to make informed decisions. Are your community businesses on Yelp? Are they asking your customers to leave a review?

11. Ask people to check-in and use your community hashtag and/or leave a review. Here is a simple reminder to share with your local businesses: Have them place a sign by their cash register or in their window that asks people to check in on their social media page and tag the business. They can also ask their customers to leave a review on Google, Yelp or Trip Advisor. 

I hope these ideas help you with some simple marketing for your community. Don't feel obligated to do each one. Just pick one or two and go for it. 

Keep being awesome!