Remember your school days, when the last day of school meant an entire summer of nothingness? Instead of dealing with homework, getting up early every day, sitting still in a classroom, and staying quiet for hours on end, you had an entire summer to play, relax, and do nothing?
Ah, the good old days.
Once you became an adult, however, summer lost much of its allure. Sure, you get to take vacations and have time off, but your daily obligations and responsibilities don’t change: summers just aren’t what they used to be.
That doesn’t mean they have to be bland, however. You can plan marketing activities throughout your summer that will not only give you something to look forward to, but they’ll help you build and strengthen customer relationships. Here’s how:
1. Offer a class. Invite your best clients, your fading clients, or everyone in between (depending on how many people you can accommodate in your meeting room or shop floor) for a free, 1-2 hour class on a task many of your clients struggle with or could benefit from knowing more about. Add a 30-minute refreshment/networking segment afterward and you not only give your company an opportunity to demonstrate and reiterate your expertise in your field, but you also get a chance to personally connect with the folks you’d like to continue doing business with. If all goes well, consider making this a recurring event, offering a new class every month or every quarter.
2. Join the party. Summer is full of community events: parades, festivals, and street fairs. Getting involved in one or more such events will not only get your organization more publicity, but it will also provide a great excuse to get out of the office and into the summer sun.
3. Celebrate! Okay, this one won’t do much for your bottom line, but it will do great things for your company’s overall morale. Whether it’s organizing a potluck picnic behind your office building, treating the office to bagels and doughnuts one morning, or surprising the staff by closing the office a little early one Friday afternoon, taking time to enjoy summer’s celebrations with co-workers can keep spirits high.
In the “real world,” life doesn’t offer a summer break. Make your own.