#marketing #webdesign #onlinemarketing
Hi there! I’m David Grubb from Shepherd’s Loft, a web design agency dedicated to helping local businesses succeed online. Today, I want to share a fun and effective marketing strategy that can help you engage with your audience and increase visibility for your local business. The best part? It’s easy, low-cost, and, most importantly, a lot of fun!
Marketing your local business can be challenging. With so many options out there—from social media platforms and email marketing to traditional methods like radio, TV, billboards, and signage—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. On top of that, it can be tough to keep your marketing fresh and engaging. Over time, even the best strategies can feel stale or mechanical, making it harder to connect with your audience.
So, how do you break out of this cycle? One fun and effective way is to enter a contest!
Contests are a great way to build excitement, engage your community, and get your business in front of a new audience. Whether it’s a local competition, a national award, or something niche-specific to your industry, contests offer a unique opportunity to get creative and involve your customers in the process.
Case Study: A Log Home Contest
Let’s take a look at a real-life example of how a local business—Modern Rustic Homes—used a contest to market their business and connect with potential customers. They entered a competition for the Best Log Home in 2024 in the over 3,000 square foot category. This contest is hosted by Log Home Living, a popular magazine in the log and timber home industry. Here’s how we helped them leverage this opportunity:
1. Website Banner and Call to Action
The first thing we did was update Michael’s website (owner of Modern Rustic Homes) with a custom banner on the homepage. The banner prominently featured a call-to-action button that read “Vote for Home #33”—which corresponds to their entry in the contest. By clicking the button, visitors are taken directly to the contest page where they can cast their vote.
This is a great example of how your website can be the hub of your marketing efforts. With a strategically placed banner, you’re driving traffic to your website and encouraging interaction with your audience. Plus, it’s a simple, non-intrusive way to boost engagement without overwhelming visitors.
2. Email Marketing Blast
Next, we created an email campaign using MailChimp to spread the word to their customer list. The email was simple but effective: it included Michael’s logo, a clear headline—“May I Have Your Vote?”—and a picture of the log home they were promoting. We included easy-to-follow instructions: “Click the link and place your vote!”
Email marketing is a powerful tool when done correctly. It gives you direct access to your audience, and a clear call-to-action (CTA) can drive engagement. By keeping the email simple and focused on the contest, we made sure the message wasn’t lost in clutter.
3. Social Media Campaign
Of course, social media is a must when marketing your local business. We helped Michael schedule posts on Facebook and Instagram, both with a simple message and a link to the contest page. These posts included a picture of the home, the contest details, and a direct link for voting.
Social media offers the perfect platform for contests because it’s built for sharing. By encouraging followers to vote and share the post, you can quickly amplify your message and reach a wider audience. It also helps to include images or videos—visual content tends to perform better on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
Why Contests Are an Excellent Marketing Tool
So, why are contests such a great way to market your local business? Here are a few key reasons:
- Engagement: Contests are interactive. They give your audience something to participate in and engage with, which is far more exciting than simply reading a promotional email or seeing an ad.
- Increased Visibility: When your business is part of a contest, it gets in front of a whole new group of people. Whether it’s local voters, industry professionals, or a broader national audience, contests expand your reach.
- Social Proof: Getting votes from real people (customers, followers, friends) is a form of social proof. When others see that people support your business, they’re more likely to trust you and engage with your brand.
- Community Building: Entering a contest shows you care about your industry and your community. It’s a way to give back and involve your customers in something fun.
Wrapping Up: Make Marketing Fun Again
Marketing doesn’t have to be boring or mechanical. With a little creativity and a fun contest, you can engage with your community, boost your brand visibility, and even get a few votes in the process! Whether you’re entering a local competition, a national award, or a niche-specific contest, it’s a great way to build excitement around your business.
I hope this example from Modern Rustic Homes inspires you to think outside the box when it comes to marketing your business. Remember, contests can be a simple yet powerful tool to enhance your marketing strategy, so get out there and start having some fun with your local business!
If you’re looking for more tips on how to make your website or marketing efforts more engaging, feel free to reach out. At Shepherd’s Loft, we specialize in transforming websites on the brink of technology failure into something truly awesome.
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