As the summer busy season starts to wind down, now is a great time to think about the things you wish you had more time for, like marketing! It can feel daunting at first but with a little “off season” preparation and planning, your brand is sure to gain more recognition and loyal customers.
We asked the Lumbermen’s Marketing team members to each share one tip Dealers can consider when amping up their marketing efforts this fall. Looking for more guidance? Don’t forget that Lumbermen’s offers free marketing consultation and services. Click here for more info.
Social Media – Celebrate Your Employees
When it comes to social media, a big question is “How do I engage with my audience?” People who follow your Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn are more likely to give a Like or leave a comment if they find a connection to the content that you choose to post.
We’ve found that posts celebrating our Employee Owners receive high rates of engagement. Our audience connects to people being recognized for their accomplishments, photos of them working hard in the field, or volunteering in their community. When posting content, try to include multiple photos or a video within the post. Social media algorithms prefer content that will keep audiences engaged for longer periods of time, and therefore make your posts more visible. Our Employee Owners also love seeing their efforts spotlighted on our social platforms, so it is a win across the board!
-Ryan Terpstra, Media Manager
Design – Fonts Matter
A font can convey your brand’s story and messaging. Your font does not have to be boring or basic to communicate well with your audience. Fonts like Futura, Proxima Nova or Century Gothic provide more of a modern, sleek look while being highly legible. These fonts also have a variety of weight options which allows you to go from light to bold easily and provide interest to readers.
Consistency in using the same general typeface is important, whether you are creating a flyer, letterhead, or billboard. Being intentional about this will give your projects and platforms a cleaner look that is easier to digest and allow your brand to be more recognizable.
-Sam Ballast, Lead Designer
Design – Fonts Matter
A font can convey your brand’s story and messaging. Your font does not have to be boring or basic to communicate well with your audience. Fonts like Futura, Proxima Nova or Century Gothic provide more of a modern, sleek look while being highly legible. These fonts also have a variety of weight options which allows you to go from light to bold easily and provide interest to readers.
Consistency in using the same general typeface is important, whether you are creating a flyer, letterhead, or billboard. Being intentional about this will give your projects and platforms a cleaner look that is easier to digest and allow your brand to be more recognizable.
-Sam Ballast, Lead Designer
Google Business Profiles – Is Yours Up to Date?
A lot of pre-purchase consideration is conducted via Google, where an estimated 92% of all online search traffic happens. That’s why it is so important to make sure that your Google Business Profile is up to date with accurate information including your hours, phone number, website, and physical address. It can also be beneficial to ask satisfied customers to submit Google Reviews for your business. With a higher Google Business rating, you will be more likely to show up in search results and reach more customers.
-Caleb Krugman, Digital Marketing Specialist
Marketing Planning – Helpful Tools to Keep You on Track
There are several tech tools and platforms that can help you stay organized. Most aren’t costly and can save you a bunch of time.
Social Media – Platforms like Buffer, Sprout Social and Hootsuite are designed to manage several accounts, and allow you to schedule posts in advance, as well as analyze your results and engagement.
Project Management – If you find your campaigns have several steps and people involved, or you want to better document your projects and tasks, platforms like Monday.com, Google Workspace and Basecamp are all good options.
Content Calendars – Mapping out what to promote and when will not only make you more prepared, you’re also more likely to capture your audience’s attention at the right times. For example, summer is deck season, but your customers will start thinking about it in early spring. By using a Content Calendar template, you can plan and organize your content in advance. This way, you can track the progress of your content creation, assign tasks and measure performance. There are several online, or you can even simply use software like Excel.
-Jill Carroll, Director of Marketing
Marketing Planning – Helpful Tools to Keep You on Track
There are several tech tools and platforms that can help you stay organized. Most aren’t costly and can save you a bunch of time.
Social Media – Platforms like Buffer, Sprout Social and Hootsuite are designed to manage several accounts, and allow you to schedule posts in advance, as well as analyze your results and engagement.
Project Management – If you find your campaigns have several steps and people involved, or you want to better document your projects and tasks, platforms like Monday.com, Google Workspace and Basecamp are all good options.
Content Calendars – Mapping out what to promote and when will not only make you more prepared, you’re also more likely to capture your audience’s attention at the right times. For example, summer is deck season, but your customers will start thinking about it in early spring. By using a Content Calendar template, you can plan and organize your content in advance. This way, you can track the progress of your content creation, assign tasks and measure performance. There are several online, or you can even simply use software like Excel.
-Jill Carroll, Director of Marketing
These practical tips, combined with the free marketing consultation and services offered by Lumbermen’s, can set you on the path to marketing success and long-term growth. Happy Marketing!
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