Everyone experiences it – that frustrating barrier that drains your creative marketing energy. You suddenly feel lost and uninspired. But there’s no need to panic! A little boost is all you need to get your marketing plan back on course.
Guess what? We’re offering 64 innovative marketing and advertising ideas, along with motivating tips, to help you smash through that obstacle, attract more leads, and boost online sales. Let’s begin.
Table of contents
- Social media marketing ideas
- Urban marketing ideas
- Contest marketing ideas
- Marketing ideas for contest promotion
- Content marketing ideas
Social Media Marketing Ideas
Promote Your Social Media Presence Everywhere
To effectively increase your Twitter followers, embrace a touch of boldness. Speaking at an event? Include your Twitter handle in your presentation slides (keeping it visible throughout). Ordering new business cards? Don’t forget to add your catchy handle!
Very cool Twitter-themed business card from Luis Felipe Silva
Participate in Daily Hashtag Trends Like #ThrowbackThursday
Growing your social media following requires active community engagement. Post consistently and join established weekly social media trends that already have a dedicated audience. Show your target market how trendy and relatable you can be! Find a list of over 100 creative hashtags for each day of the week here.
Utilize Instagram Stories
Think of Instagram Stories as 24-hour digital scrapbooks for your account. Share photos, videos, text, stickers, and unique effects throughout the day. Embrace spontaneity and creativity – perfection isn’t the goal here. The key is to be genuine and relatable!
Share Your Visuals (and Others’) on Pinterest
Don’t underestimate this visual platform’s power. Pin your most compelling images (templates, infographics, etc.) on Pinterest and link them back to your web pages to generate substantial traffic.
Monitor Your Competition on Social Media
Facebook business pages allow you to follow other accounts using the Pages to Watch feature. Follow your competitors to observe their posts, identifying those with the most shares and likes. Learn from their successes and adapt their strategies to your brand.
From Inside Facebook
Urban Marketing Ideas
The urban environment provides a canvas for truly imaginative concepts.
Take Your Marketing Offline
In our digital world, there’s something powerful about going offline and embracing real-world marketing. Embrace traditional methods like flyers and posters in local cafes or try sidewalk chalk art. This approach works best for locally focused businesses but can be effective for others as well.
Street chalk Twitter handle by Marquette ITS
Explore Mural Advertising
Seek permission to transform the side of a prominent building into a large-scale mural. Murals offer a unique and impactful canvas for marketing campaigns.
Great Di Bruno Bros mural found on Yelp
Think Outside the Billboard
Get creative and explore ways to leverage your urban surroundings for impactful marketing opportunities.
Very creative urban marketing efforts by Vijar Barbecues, found on Owni
Seek Unique Sponsorship Opportunities
Urban living presents distinct marketing opportunities not found elsewhere. The key is to think outside the box and capitalize on these unconventional avenues.
Citi Bank sponsoring Citi Bike
Contest Marketing Ideas
Engage Your Audience with Photo Contests
Photo contests offer numerous benefits. They are easy to enter (anyone with Instagram and a few moments can participate) and provide sponsors with valuable user-generated content for repurposing across different platforms.
Explore Harpoon Brewery – they’ve mastered the art of photo contests. (And click here for more Instagram marketing ideas.)
Elevate Content Quality with Video Contests
While video contests might attract fewer participants, the content quality is generally higher since video creation demands more effort. This high-quality content can be invaluable for businesses, especially when talented videographers create content tailored to your brand!
Want more creative marketing ideas?
Free guide >> The 30 Best Ways to Promote Your Business (With or Without Money!)
Drive Engagement with Voting Contests
Voting contests generate significant participation due to their simplicity – often, a simple click suffices. These contests also offer valuable data insights from the votes, which you can then share as a mini case study in a blog post!
Spark Creativity with Caption Contests
Post an engaging photo and invite users to submit their best captions. Caption contests can be a source of amusement and brand engagement.
Embrace the Classic Sweepstakes
A timeless approach, sweepstakes/giveaways are a tried-and-true method. They are quick and easy to enter, and businesses can easily incorporate email subscription requests into the entry form.
Marketing Ideas for Contest Promotion
Leverage Deal Sites and Forums
People love freebies, some more than others. Avid bargain hunters frequent deal sites and forums. These platforms often have dedicated sections for sweepstakes and contests. Some contests receive 90% of their traffic from these sources. While the lead quality might vary, it’s a solid strategy for prioritizing quantity. Begin by submitting to Slickdeals and expand from there. This can be a highly effective tactic for restaurant marketing.
Create a Unique Contest Hashtag
Incorporate a relevant and unique hashtag into your contest to easily track entries, streamline organization, and add an element of fun.
Maximize Contest Shareability
Include “share this contest” buttons on website entry forms and actively encourage social media sharing. Increased contest visibility leads to wider participation, ultimately benefiting your brand.
Incentivize Sharing with Bonus Entries
Offering bonus entries for sharing contest news on social media motivates participation. Tools like Rafflecopter simplify the process of awarding extra entries for various actions (e.g., Joining the mailing list = +5 entries, Sharing contest on Twitter = +2 entries).
(image from Website Spot)
Inform Email Subscribers About Contests
Your email subscribers are already engaged with your brand and its offerings. Capitalize on this by informing them about contests. If you’re offering a free year of your software, your subscribers will likely be eager to participate!
Promote Your Contest Across All Social Media Platforms
Promote your contest on all your social media channels, not just the platform hosting it. Whether it’s a photo contest on Instagram, ensure visibility on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Maximize reach and promote both the contest and your business.
Share buttons from WordPress plug-in
Content Marketing Ideas
Content marketing is crucial for spreading the word, regardless of your small business idea. Consider these strategies:
Know Your Audience, Write for Them
The most impactful content directly addresses the needs and interests of your target audience. Understand their pain points, motivations, and concerns. Craft content that resonates with their specific needs and provides valuable solutions!
Enhance Every Content Piece with Visuals
Text-heavy content quickly loses readers’ attention. Incorporate images to break up paragraphs and maintain engagement. Even in text-based blog posts, prioritize visual elements. Explore examples of visually appealing business blogs here.
Leverage the Power of Infographics
Infographics are a prime example of shareable and visually appealing assets.
Creating a high-quality infographic might seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need specialized software; even infographic just using Powerpoint can be effective. Numerous infographic guides and templates are available to get you started. Speaking of…
Provide Valuable Templates
Templates are powerful visual assets offering practical value to your audience. They provide a framework that simplifies the creation process without starting from scratch. For instance, this landing page template outlines the essential layout and fundamentals, helping users understand key elements before creating their own.
Utilize Graphs & Charts
While perhaps less visually striking than infographics, graphs and charts remain effective visual content. They are quicker to create and still offer shareability, so use them generously. Visual learners will appreciate graphs over text and numbers. Cater to different learning styles!
That’s why you find so many dragons at the animal shelter (image from Reddit)
Engage with Video Content
Video marketing is incredibly effective for promoting products/services and captivating your audience. Visual information boasts a 65% retention rate compared to 10% for text. Moreover, customers who watch product videos are more likely to convert. Whether demonstrating product functionality or educating viewers, video content is a powerful tool.
Craft Shareable Statistic Lists
Hit a content creation roadblock? Compile intriguing statistics related to your industry and create a blog post highlighting your findings. Extensive statistic lists are easy to create, highly shareable, and can even spark new content ideas.
Share Data-Backed Future Predictions
Position yourself as a thought leader by predicting future trends in your industry. However, ensure your hypotheses are backed by credible data and insights.
Approach Controversy with Care
Controversial content attracts attention, but it’s a double-edged sword. Instead of courting controversy directly, respond to existing industry debates with your perspective.
Rumors travel fast
Curate and Repurpose High-Quality Content
Borrowing content from other sources is acceptable if done ethically and with proper attribution. Avoid plagiarism and ensure you’re adding value by presenting information in a new and engaging way. For instance, this SEO guide compiles and organizes valuable information from various Reddit AMAs, making it more accessible to users. Remember to always credit your sources.
Tap into Expert Insights
Interview industry thought leaders on specific topics and share their responses in a blog post. This content format performs well and offers diverse perspectives. Plus, the featured experts will likely share the interview with their followers, amplifying your reach. (Pro tip – target experts with a large Twitter following!)
A very impressive panel of experts
Craft Compelling Top 10 Lists
Top 10 lists are incredibly popular, whether it’s top 10 tools, blogs, or anything in between.
Embrace the Power of Lists
Building on top 10 lists, lists, in general, are highly effective. Starting titles with numbers can improve search engine ranking (e.g., 3 Ways to Slice a Pineapple). People love lists for their scannability and quick readability. This is likely why over a third of Buzzfeed’s posts have a number in the title. Effective content strategies balance quick, digestible content with in-depth, long-form articles.
Provide Product Comparison Guides
Help consumers navigate the abundance of choices with a product comparison guide, especially if you offer various products catering to different needs. When comparing your products to competitors, be objective. Highlight your strengths for specific customer segments.
Alternatively, create comparison guides for products you don’t offer but are relevant to your audience. For example, a video game reseller could compare different video game controllers. This helpful content familiarizes potential customers with your brand, and a strong brand translates to impactful advertising.
Interlink Your Content
Don’t let your valuable content languish in isolation. Feature your best work in related blog posts. Include links or callouts to other relevant content within your posts or list them at the end. For instance, “Eager to learn more about ________? Explore our _________ guide and our __________ infographic.”
Content, love = apples, oranges. (Image from Disney’s Frozen)
Repurpose Content on Slideshare
The slideshow is making a comeback! Adapt your PowerPoint presentations into audience-friendly Slideshares. Check out these tips from Jonathan Colman on getting more views on Slideshare.
Engage with Your Audience Through Webinars
Host free webinars independently or collaborate with other businesses for a more comprehensive and widely promoted event. Webinars are an effective lead generation tool.
Find Inspiration in Google Related Searches
Explore Google’s related searches (displayed at the top and bottom of search results pages) for keyword ideas. Simply Google a term and see what related searches appear. You might be surprised by the results!
Experiment with Pop-Up Opt-Ins
Newsletter opt-in pop-ups are a subject of debate. While potentially annoying and intrusive, they can be effective. Conduct A/B testing to assess their impact on your newsletter subscriptions. If these subscribers are valuable leads, the trade-off might be worthwhile.
Replicate Past Successes
Unsure about your next content piece? Analyze your website analytics to identify your most popular posts. This will reveal topics resonating with your audience, providing a starting point for variations or extensions of existing content.
Offer Comprehensive eBooks
Create in-depth eBooks addressing common pain points or popular industry topics, accompanied by a dedicated landing page. Repurposing past blog posts and articles into a comprehensive eBook collection streamlines the process.
Create Beginner-Friendly 101 Guides
There will always be newcomers to your industry. 101 guides and beginner-friendly content are invaluable resources for them and will likely be shared widely.
Actively Promote Your Content
Don’t expect your content to promote itself. Share it through promotional emails, social media channels, and other relevant avenues.
Engage with Current Industry Trends
Stay informed about trending topics and news within your field. Publish content related to these trends to demonstrate your expertise and join the conversation.
Embrace Guest Posting Strategically
While the SEO value of guest posting has been debated, it can still be beneficial if done right. Focus on brand visibility and reaching a new audience rather than solely on link building.
(Image from Flickr user matsuyuki)
Explore Different Content Formats
Guides, eBooks, white papers – while similar, different labels can resonate differently with audiences. Experiment with various labels to identify what works best for your target market.
Prioritize High-Quality Content
This should be a given, but always strive for high-quality content that you’re proud to share. Google penalizes thin content, and your audience won’t find it valuable either.
Infuse Your Brand with Personality
Don’t be afraid to showcase your company’s unique personality. Let your brand’s human side shine through. Express yourself authentically!
Create an Online Magazine
Launching a virtual magazine is a unique and engaging form of content marketing. Whole Foods’ online magazine, Dark Rye, is a prime example. For a simpler approach, consider creating an online newspaper using tools like Paper.li..
Launch a Podcast
Podcasts offer the convenience of on-the-go listening. Discuss hot industry topics or interview experts in your field to engage your audience.
Share Insights from Events
After attending a conference or online event, share a post summarizing key takeaways and valuable insights. Use event hashtags in your promotional efforts.
Explore Collaborative Opportunities
Collaboration can significantly expand your reach and enhance your brand’s reputation. Partner with charities, related businesses, or industry peers to co-author blog posts, co-host webinars, or explore other collaborative content formats.
Leverage Memes for Relatability
Memes are a fun and relatable form of online communication. Create your own memes using tools like meme generator to add a touch of humor to your content.
#SummertimeSadness
Incorporate Social Proof into Your Content
Effective content marketing can also serve as compelling social proof. For example, the haunted house Nightmares Fear Factory captures photos of terrified guests and post them to their Flickr feed. These hilarious photos showcase the experience’s authenticity and effectiveness! (Thanks to Shopify for the tip).
Pace Your Content Strategically
Avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive content. Determine a posting frequency that suits your target market and their consumption habits. Variety is key!
Conduct Regular Content Audits
Evaluate your existing content’s performance. Identify top-performing content and areas for improvement. While potentially challenging, these insights are crucial for refining your marketing strategy. Learn how to conduct a content audit here.
Develop Branded Tools
Branded tools are an excellent way to market your business. Create valuable resources that genuinely benefit your target audience. While subtle promotion is acceptable, prioritize the tool’s quality and avoid making it a blatant sales pitch. Free tools foster goodwill and brand awareness as users share them.
Prioritize Mobile Optimization
With 79% of internet users shopping online via mobile devices, ensure your content is mobile-friendly.
Embrace Gamification
Gamification encourages user engagement through interactive elements. Even if the rewards are virtual, people enjoy earning points and competing. Apps like Belly and Foursquare combine gamification with customer loyalty programs. Starbucks also utilizes gamified loyalty programs. Explore how gamification can benefit your business.
Curate Content from Industry Leaders
Tools like Storify & Buffer can help you find high-quality content from other sources. Sharing valuable insights from industry peers positions you as a valuable resource and thought leader.
Explore the World of Web Comics
While print comics are fading, online comics are thriving! Consider creating webcomics that humorously depict your industry’s quirks. Utilize free tools like Pixton or Strip Generator to begin.
Learn from Successful Content Creators
Identify and analyze successful content creators in your niche. Observe their strategies, particularly those employed by viral websites like Upworthy and Buzzfeed. While their target audience and content might differ, they offer valuable lessons on crafting engaging content and optimizing your marketing approach.
Craft Clickable Headlines
Even exceptional content needs a captivating headline. Experiment with different approaches – clever, attention-grabbing, SEO-friendly – to determine what resonates with your audience. Write 5-10 titles for each article and choose the best one!
Implement the 4-1-1 Content Strategy
This concept, coined by Andrew Davis, author of Brandscaping, suggests a specific content sharing ratio for social media:
- 4 pieces of content from relevant industry influencers
- 1 piece of original, educational content from your brand
- 1 promotional piece (coupon, product news, press release) The 4-1-1 strategy emphasizes building industry relationships and establishing your brand as a valuable resource by sharing thought leadership content.
Capitalize on Seasonal Marketing Opportunities
Leverage monthly awareness themes, observances, and holidays to create timely and engaging blog posts, social media content, email campaigns, and more.
Creative marketing ideas [summary]
The next time you’re seeking effective ways to promote your business, consider these 64 creative marketing ideas:
- Promote your social media handles everywhere
- Participate in popular hashtags
- Utilize Instagram Stories
- Share visuals on Pinterest
- Monitor competitors on social media
- Try urban marketing strategies
- Explore mural advertising
- Use your surroundings creatively
- Seek unusual sponsorships
- Host a photo contest
- Host a video contest
- Host a voting contest
- Host a caption contest
- Host a sweepstakes
- Utilize deal sites like Groupon
- Create a unique contest hashtag
- Maximize contest shareability
- Offer bonus entries for sharing
- Inform email subscribers about contests
- Promote contests across all social media platforms
- Write audience-focused content
- Add visuals to all content
- Create informative infographics
- Provide valuable templates
- Include graphs and charts in content
- Use videos for engagement
- Leverage the power of lists
- Make data-backed predictions
- Approach controversy carefully
- Curate high-quality content
- Create “ask the experts” roundups
- Write relevant top 10 lists
- Explore other list formats
- Create product comparison guides
- Interlink your existing content
- Repurpose content on Slideshare
- Host free webinars
- Find inspiration in Google related searches
- Experiment with pop-up opt-ins
- Analyze popular content for inspiration
- Write eBooks
- Create beginner-friendly guides
- Promote your content strategically
- Engage with industry trends
- Embrace guest posting strategically
- Create informative white papers
- Prioritize high-quality content
- Infuse your brand with personality
- Contribute to online magazines
- Launch a podcast
- Share insights from events
- Collaborate with industry peers
- Create engaging memes
- Use social proof in your content
- Pace your content strategically
- Conduct regular content audits
- Develop branded tools
- Prioritize mobile optimization
- Use gamification to boost engagement
- Curate content from industry leaders
- Explore webcomics as a content format
- Learn from successful content creators
- Craft clickable headlines
- Implement the 4-1-1 content strategy
- Utilize seasonal marketing opportunities What are your most effective creative marketing strategies?
>> Want help with your marketing? Check out our digital marketing solutions!