Most companies use the same marketing tactics every year, and don’t add in any new ideas or methods. That’s great if you’re getting good results, but chances are you’re getting the same results year after year and not growing, which isn’t great. In order to promote growth, we must try new things, spread the word, give our customers something new. You might get a chance to reach a new audience that you haven’t reached before, you might learn something new, or even entice old customers to come back and try your services again. Add some spice to your marketing mix and try some of our ideas below this year.

1. Run a Facebook contest

Social media is becoming one of the greatest ways to find and interact with new fans and customers. Seize this opportunity and use the power of social media by running a contest. Facebook has some rules that you’ll want to abide by, but it can help you gain new fans and potential customers by generating excitement and buzz.

2. Write a press release

Press releases can be used for any event or announcement that you have, and can be distributed to any type of media source. Utilize online press release submission sites or just send press releases to your local newspapers and magazines. It’s great exposure if they pick it up and run it for you.

3. Start a blog

Blogging is a great way to get relevant content out to those that would be interested in your services. You’ll want to promote your content anywhere you can so you can gain readership and potential customers. It’s also important to have quality posts and content that people will gain value with.

4. Run a FourSquare special

FourSquare is a great way to get your customers and potential customers excited and connecting with you. Reward those that check in often with coupons or specials. It promotes them to stop by and say hi or use your services, and also goes out to all their friends that they’re checking with you. Win-win.

5. Start an email newsletter

Email newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with past, present, and future clients. You can make announcements, send out specials, offer tips and resources, etc. There are tons of ways to utilize your newsletter, but it’s great because of the non-intrusive way it delivers information to people, but yet gets your name at the top of their mind.

6. Use online coupons

There are tons of online coupon sites like GroupOn that allow companies to run coupon promotions for anything that they wish. It’s a great way to get your name out there to people that may not have known about you before, which is really what we’re after!

7. Run promotions in your local Chamber emails/newsletter

Many local Chambers allow their members to advertise in their monthly or weekly emails or paper newsletters. These usually go out to other Chamber members which are great people to advertise to, but can sometimes include large companies in your region, media outlets, or other important figures in the community.

8. Send out some postcards

Sending postcards is a bit of an old-school marketing tactic but there’s something to be said about receiving something in the mail. People don’t send mail as often as they used to, so it feels special to receive a printed piece that way. Make it special and people will treat it with more importance.

9. Start a free class

People love free resources and information. Offer a class to your local community on something they would find valuable. You can even pitch your services at the end, but make sure they get something of value and don’t feel like they wasted their time.

10. Join a networking group

Local networking groups are a great way to connect with people in your community. Local Chambers usually offer networking, as well as tons of other places. Do some research and find groups that work well for you and provide a great place to promote your company.

Marketing options are endless really, you just have to decide what’s best for your company and give it a shot. Getting your company name out to different people and audiences is a great way to expand and promote growth.

What new marketing ideas have you heard of lately that you’d like to try?