Absentee Marketing: Reach Markets Effectively

Tis the season for tourism in Michiana. The boating, fishing and family vacation seasons kickoff each spring and last through the fall. The area offers many things for families, couples and people just looking for a getaway—from festivals and amusement parks to tournaments and natural landscapes, Michiana offers several options for tourists and opportunities to business owners with strong marketing campaigns.

Reaching Tourists

In a slow or recession-like economy, it is difficult to take time away from the business for some marketing. However, marketing is necessary during such an economy because the field is narrowed, making it is easier to reach consumers. Fortunately, there is a way to market your business without being at the office 24/7. To do so requires partnerships, materials and a faith in your business service offering (which shouldn’t be to hard to imagine, right?).

Using your Partnerships

Your partnerships with the local Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) can offer you an opportunity market your business across the local area. While your materials are traveling around the city or displayed next to festival booths, you can tend to your business, cutting the payroll costs.

The local CVB takes brochures, postcards, and even banners from local businesses display in their booths. The organization makes appearances at fairs, festivals, and gatherings all over your county. Your materials help the CVB attract tourists to the area. Meanwhile, you are connecting with the tourist industry in your area. The Chamber in many areas works in much the same way.

Getting Promotional Materials

Something as a small as a coupon or rack card can do wonders in advertising in your absence. A rack card is the size of a brochure, but is a two-sided flyer printed on glossy, heavy paper similar to that of a postcard. It has enough space to list your services, products, and even a menu. Depending on the type of graphics, colors and printer used, you can create rack cards inexpensively. You will need about a thousand to hand out yourself and through your partners and place at hotels in their “Tourism” rack.

Coupons, like those for Michiana Golf shown to the right, can be printed and mailed, or placed in the local newspaper or on your website. They can also be distributed during parades and festivals near your business.

Logo Exposure

Combine efforts with other businesses to create ads using your logos. This way, you are advertising at a third of a cost. Place such ads in event programs, special advertising flyers and on promotional products that can be distributed during large events.

A Little Bit of Marketing Each Day

Focus on nurturing your business, but do not stop the marketing. Put your business’s message and even your logo to work without leaving your business unattended. Tourist season in Michiana provides excellent opportunities for many businesses to get ahead with a little absentee marketing.