We all get stuck in a rut sometimes, but with the beginning of a new chapter, you can use the energy of longer, warmer days to shake up your enthusiasm for marketing your small business. Try these three tips to take your marketing to the next level.

1. Give your customers something to talk about. Let your loyal customers do your marketing for you. How often have you tried a new restaurant or gone to a new store because your friend recommended it? Word of mouth marketing really works. You just have to be worthy of being talked about.

• What new service or feature can you provide your customers?
• What promotional product can you give away that allows customers to share your brand with friends?
• What social media or email newsletter topics will make your content more sharable?

2. Offer free gifts or financial incentives. Everybody likes a deal. Which of these makes sense for your business?

• Gift cards for referrals.
• Gift cards for spending a certain amount of money, like $25 for every $200 spent.
• Buy one get one free or at a discount promotions.
• Certain percentage off for particular days. If Tuesdays are always slow for your business, consider offering Tuesday discounts to drive more traffic.

3. Encourage customer loyalty. Ask yourself what keeps you coming back when you are a customer. Your customers likely have the same tendencies and experiences.

• Use frequent customer cards that reward customers with a freebie after coming back 10 times.
• Send email offers for a discount on the next product or service.
• Offer discounts or a freebie if your customer brings or refers a friend to your business.

Obviously this is not an exhaustive list, but one that’s worth testing. A lot of times we’ve found these small steps skyrocket your ability to stay engaged and present in the minds of your clients and customers. Take advantage of these tactics especially if your seasonal peak times are during the warmer months of summer. People are generally more mobile and social during these warmer months of the year, leaving you a giant opportunity to go a bit viral. What’s the different between companies with longevity, that really stay consistent even during times of uncertainty, and companies that struggle and eventually fall off? The answer is that companies that consistently do the dirty work of staying consistent and engaged with their clients through marketing efforts like the above tend to outlive the others.