Give back – Summer is a great time to become a mentor or hire an intern thanks to the sudden availability of hundreds of local high school and college students. Consider partnering with a school or university to help students learn firsthand the basics of entrepreneurship. It’s likely that by helping out a student, you’ll learn something in return be it a new social media tool or an upcoming event you could be a part of. You may be surprised how may parents of teenagers will be thankful to you for providing to their offsprings the opportunity to spend a few hours away from the computer.
Try out a new product offering – Traffic in the mall – where many of the world’s small businesses are located – tends to pick up in the summer as more people are on foot and accessible. If you are in the F&B industry, offer samples of your products to try. If you work in the B2B space, consider hosting an event to get customers closer to your brand.
Start a blog – A blog may seem like extra work but it can actually be an efficient way to increase your audience. Sharing great content is a proven way to build your email list and develop new leads as well as help sharpen your brand identity. So much of what’s shared on social media these days is visual, so even if you’re not a writer, you can still create valuable content. Small businesses can also benefit from personalized storytelling, so don’t be afraid to share photos of pets and family vacations to help customers see you as more than just a product or service. (Read more: How to set up a blog)
