It’s Time To Host A Mid-Summer Contest!

On behalf of the entire Synergy Merchants staff, we hope you all had a wonderful holiday long weekend! Here in Toronto, where Synergy Merchants is headquartered, this past weekend’s holiday is known as Simcoe Day. It’s unofficially recognized as the halfway point of the summer season in our neck of the woods.

Can you believe that it’s August already? Let’s consider a few ways to take advantage of this time of year. Why not host a mid-summer contest? It’s a great way to drum extra excitement about your business!

Launch a hashtag contest on social media.

#Hashtags are all the rage. They represent particular topics of conversation meant to engage a wide audience. Why not create your own hashtag? Consider different words or phrases that are specific to your brand.

Do you own a restaurant? What about hosting an #EatOutside contest? The hashtag can represent your latest promotion. Request that people take pictures of themselves eating outdoors and then post them using your hashtag. Choose your favourite pic and offer up a free meal!

Host a photo contest.

Considering our last suggestion, it’s important to highlight the effectiveness of photos when they are placed online. People love pics – it’s that simple! Utilize your company’s Instagram account to host a photo contest. According to Corinna Keefe of Easypromos, a photo contest is a top way to generate greater social media buzz for your brand.

“People are already going to share their photos of summer days at the beach, weekend brunches, and far-away sunsets,” she writes, “Some will share memories from previous years if they’re not allowed to travel this summer. But the trick is to persuade them to share the pictures with your brand. One way to do this is a Summer Photo Contest. Create a public gallery where people can post their photos, share with others, and even vote for their favourites.”

Offer up some sweet treats.

Can you ever go wrong with offering free food? If you’re a restaurant owner, this idea is a sure winner. However, if you own a business outside the food industry, now might be the perfect time to join forces with a business that offers sweet treats. As Victoria Taylor notes on Wishpond.com, few people can resist treats such as frozen yogurt, ice cream and popsicles.

“Give your (contest) winner a gift card or free treats for several times or days,” she suggests, “Summer treats aren’t limited to frozen food; it can also be jams, sauces, and snacks. If your brand doesn’t sell snacks, find a complementing brand that does. If you do sell snacks or sweets, find a food influencer to help increase your summer contest reach.”

No matter what type of mid-summer contest you decide to launch, Synergy Merchants can get you the funding you need to make it a success. Promotion is everything. Ensure your customer base is made well aware of your contest!

For information about how our unique merchant cash advance program can help you to afford your next advertising campaign, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-877-718-2026 or email us at info@synergymerchants.com. You can also apply online for a free, no obligation quote!