Though we live in the digital age, don’t assume traditional marketing is dead. Granted, certain traditional methods are declining, but many others are thriving and helping small businesses build their brands.
The first step to any impactful marketing strategy is to zero in on your target audience, which you can do by conducting market research and asking consumers how they heard about your company. Know your audience, invest in good branding, and choose your marketing methods, and you will have the essentials for creating a stellar marketing campaign!
Below, The DFW Veterans Chamber of Commerce covers some of the forgotten marketing methods that can help your company flourish. Some of them can prove effective on their own, while others pair nicely with digital methods.
Direct Mail
Not too long ago, more and more people were frowning upon direct mail and tossing it immediately in the trash. But the creativity, personalization, and targeting capabilities have caused direct mail to make a comeback.
For many consumers, direct mail is easier to understand than online materials, and it is an excellent way to elicit brand recall and faster consumer response while allowing you to target your key demographics.
Flyers and Brochures
If you are offering special discounts and offers to your customers, flyers and brochures are still the most effective methods to use. Similar to handing out business cards in person, giving out flyers and brochures to people is a more connective and interactive way of promoting your brand than directing people to your website or social media pages. If you run a brick-and-mortar establishment, using these materials can prove especially beneficial.
Signage and Billboards
Signage is thriving in the marketing world. These days, you can see impactful images on shop-fronts, malls, and buildings.
And the same goes with billboards. If you want to get your brand in front of commuters, investing in a highway billboard will do the trick. As with all the other methods in this list, you can even direct your consumers to your website to increase traffic when using signage and billboards.
Human Interaction
Nothing is more powerful than employing human interaction in your marketing strategy. At the end of the day, people are used to traditional marketing like face-to-face interaction.
Whether you are speaking with someone in person or they see your company’s signage, flyers, or billboard, the experience will evoke a sensation and a lasting memory. Think of ways you can meet new people and provide tangible connections to your brand.
Giveaways
Customers love freebies, and giveaways for everything from store swag to contests can make a dent in your marketing efforts. Stock up on stickers, notepads, pens, totes and tumblers, and hand them out when customers spend a certain amount.
Drawings are another great way to generate interest. Consider offering a pair of tickets to watch the Houston Astros play the beloved Texas Rangers. With sites like TickPick, you can get affordable seats. You can also offer tickets to a play, concert or dinner.
Networking
One of the most practical ways to increase the number of human interactions is to attend networking events. Persuasive copy on printed materials can go a long way in growing your customer base, but if you really want to generate buzz around your business, look to event marketing. Along with adding clients to your resume, networking will present opportunities to attract top talent and meet potential business partners.
Marketing Tools
The market is full of affordable tools to help you create impactful, traditional marketing materials. Look to design tools for creating a unique logo and laying out your colors and typography. Invest in a quality printer for developing your own flyers and brochures.
Don’t assume that traditional marketing cannot move your company forward, or you could miss out on valuable opportunities. Consider the methods above as you make a plan for implementing traditional marketing for your brand. And always keep an eye out for other ways that small businesses are getting their message out to their target audiences!
When you think of the perfect employee, what attributes come to mind? Discipline, dedication, problem-solving, teamwork, and adaptability might be a few. And your best chance of forming a team of people with these qualities is by hiring military veterans. If you’re a new business owner looking to build a team that will guide your company to healthy growth, then check out this guide on hiring veteran candidates, courtesy of the DFW Veterans Chamber of Commerce.
Why Hire Veterans?
There are more benefits for hiring veterans for your business than we can list here, but we will cover a few of the most prominent ones. For one, veterans are used to having to improvise and overcome challenges, and no one needs to tell you the importance of adaptability in organizations. Former military members tend to show uncompromising dedication to their teams as well and are used to solving problems and developing relationships with people from all backgrounds. And, of course, veterans have a reputation for maintaining unmatched discipline.
Another reason to consider veterans for your organization is that they often possess a variety of transferable skills. You could fill almost any role with a qualified veteran—from business development manager or project manager to database administrator or security guard.
Both new and established businesses should consider the financial benefits of hiring veterans as well. As Debt.org points out, while hiring a veteran is a noble gesture, there are several tax incentive programs that are a boon to employers. From the Wounded Warrior program to the IRS’s WOTC program, your company can enjoy practical gains from hiring qualified veterans.
Where to Look for Veteran Job Candidates
These days, you have plenty of resources for finding top-notch job candidates who have served in the U.S. military, and there are local events that can help with everything from networking to information gathering. But before you start hitting the job sites, ask around for referrals. And if you have any current veteran employees, enlist them to reach out to any military buddies they know who are looking for work.
You can post job listings on several websites that cater to veteran job searchers. Some of the top job posting sites include HireVeterans.com, VeteranJobListings.org, HotJobs.vet, Military.com, and Vets.gov. Be sure to personalize each job listing to appeal specifically to former military members to increase your chances of attracting the right candidates. You might even consider using a DBA to better personalize your outreach to veterans.
How to Land the Best Recruits
Along with knowing where to look, you need to develop and execute a good strategy to bring veterans into your organization. Start by making sure your company is well-organized and making identifiable steps toward growth. And foster a healthy work culture and environment. After all, you want to present your business as a promising place to work.
Moreover, you will want to make it clear that you are a veteran-friendly employer. If you have not done so already, think about implementing mentoring and support groups for veterans, and fine-tune your employee benefits to accommodate mental health services for people who suffer from various post-service disorders. Finally, make any modifications necessary so that your workplace is suitable for those who live with disabilities from combat.
If you are trying to build a dedicated, adaptable, and disciplined team of employees who can work cohesively, hiring veterans should be a top priority. Check your professional and employee networks, and use the best military job sites to connect with qualified candidates. Also, make sure your company is appealing to veterans at every turn. The U.S. military is one of the most well-trained workforces in the world, and your company can reap the benefits of the skills and expertise of these veterans!
For networking opportunities, veteran related information, career and education fairs, and much more, join the DFW Veterans Chamber of Commerce.
After graduating high school, Cristie Remmel joined the Navy as a hospital corpsman. She attended training at Camp Pendleton in California, before serving alongside the Marines as a combat medic with a field Marine force unit. Remmel deployed to the Persian Gulf for six months. She served on active duty from 1987 to 1991. While serving, she was often known as “Doc Remmel.”
“The Marines taught me perseverance, dedication, humility, passion and commitment,” Remmel said. “They taught me all of the skills I’ve continued to use over and over again no matter what comes my way.”
After leaving the service, Remmel became a stay-at-home mom and received a bachelor’s degree in graphic design as well as a master’s degree in fine arts. She then found her way into serving the Veteran community.
No matter how many active-duty days you have seen, the prospect of going back to school as an adult and a veteran may be one of the most frightening challenges you’ve ever faced From Combat to Campus. But, it doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. The Dallas-Fort Worth Veterans Chamber of Commerce wants all of our veterans to succeed.
From Combat to Campus
With this in mind, today’s post is aimed at those who wish to go back to school before owning or operating a new business.
It Starts With the Strategy
In the military, you learned all about strategy. It’s time to take that training and translate it into your education. Start by gathering as much information as you can about your G.I. Bill and other education benefits. The US Department of Veterans Affairs shares all you need to know about these, along with tips, links, and resources on how to do additional research and manage your education benefits. (If your veteran benefits don’t cover all of your tuition, you may need help funding the balance of your education. You may be eligible for scholarships depending on your hobbies, interests, or nationality)
The next step in your strategic move is to determine what degree to pursue. Many veterans choose law enforcement, but if you prefer to be in a more business-like environment, consider jumping headfirst into your MBA. Earning your MBA can open up many professional opportunities as you will graduate with skills in research and statistics, marketing, and corporate finance. You may find a new career as anything from a facilities manager to an operations director or GM. You can go to school online as you acclimate to work and family as a civilian.
Going Back
Once you have decided on a degree path, it’s time to develop good study habits. Fortunately, you are already used to keeping a strict schedule and tight regimen. Keep your military training at the front of your mind here, and make sure to set a schedule to ensure that you have adequate time to devote to your studies.
More than just time for study, you have to make time for yourself and for your basic needs. If you start to feel overwhelmed, which is particularly prevalent among those who are also working and raising a family while going back to school, Mental Health America suggests going for a walk or stepping away from your responsibilities for a moment. You can also try and schedule your working hours so that you have time to eat dinner or visit with your family and friends before hitting the books.
Keeping Yourself Well
Although we previously mentioned managing stress, something that many veterans don’t consider is how previous trauma can rear its ugly head when going back to school. Although, on the surface, going back to school seems like a mundane event. The reality is that you can begin to feel the same type of anxiety that you felt during combat, and you have to take care of your mental and physical health. Task & Purpose recommends enrolling with your local VA and being a self-advocate as it pertains to school. Make sure that both the administration and your professors understand that you are a veteran recovering from a physical or emotional injury. Remember, your college can’t discriminate against you based on a disability, but you may be required to show proof of need if you require accommodations, such as additional time to complete assignments.
Going back to school is intimidating, there’s no doubt about that. But, you have faced greater challenges. Earning your degree now may not be easy, but this is one hurdle that will make it much easier to earn an income and care for your family as a civilian.
If you want to start networking now, consider volunteering at the Dallas-Fort Worth Veterans Chamber of Commerce. The organization is always looking for people to help with maintenance, videography, graphic design, and other basic business functions.
