If you own or manage a business, you know the importance of using a combination of marketing techniques to attract new customers and retain current ones. Of course, there are your traditional marketing techniques like your website, posting content to your social media accounts, print and digital advertising, and email marketing.
Outside of those more traditional techniques, there are also some effective non-traditional ways of marketing that could be beneficial to your business. Non-traditional marketing is any strategic marketing plan, event, or activity that uses different, out-of-the-ordinary, and innovative methods to reach their customers in a new way. Let’s take a look at just a few of our favorite non-traditional marketing strategies.
Watch Capital District Digital’s Non Traditional Marketing Techniques to Try Video!
Influencer Marketing
Influencer Marketing is a non-traditional marketing technique that has grown in popularity over the past few years. This is where you team up with a popular media figure or celebrity to endorse your company or product. Choosing the right influencer is important, because you want to be sure the influencer aligns with your brand and company values. Having a figure with high exposure and a big following will add credibility to your company and people will be more willing to start using your product or services.
Going Live
Most successful businesses have a social media presence and are used to posting daily or weekly to provide their customers with quality content. However, having a bit more loosely planned, and spontaneous content can really provide your customers with a more behind-the-scenes look at your company. You can use Instagram Stories and Facebook Live to chat with your followers, host a Q&A, have a quest appearance, broadcast an event, run contests, or show a sneap peak of a new product. The options are endless for spontaneous content. Going live will add another layer of connection to your customers which will add to their overall brand loyalty.
Start a Podcast
Podcasts, while slowly transitioning into becoming a traditional method of marketing, are still a newer and innovative marketing strategy. We still consider it to be non-traditional, and out of the ordinary ways of thinking for most companies. Podcasting is an extremely popular medium to consume news and content. It is a quick and easy way to provide your customers with quality content on topics related to your company. The more quality content you provide, the more your company will be looked at as a subject matter expert or knowledgeable though leader in your industry.
Educate Your Customers
Another non-traditional marketing technique that your company could start using is to educate your customers. This can be done online by providing them with how-to guides, video instructions, or educational webinars. Or you can create educational in-person events or seminars for them to attend and learn from. Either way, by providing your customers with quality educational or helpful information, they will acknowledge you as industry experts and it will build your credibility and increase brand loyalty.
Tell Stories
Most marketing techniques, especially more traditional ones, focus on promoting a company’s product or service. However, another non-traditional marketing technique is telling stories. Customers love to support businesses that share similar values, support similar organizations and communities, or share the same pain points as them. If you volunteer with a specific organization or are a sponsor, consider sharing volunteer stories with your customers. Or, have previous customers share their pain points and how your product or service helped them. Future customers will relate to the stories and feel a sense of brand loyalty to you for humanizing your brand.
