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STRATEGIES AND IDEAS

marketing and promotion

Feel-good messaging and fun small-scale events and entertainment are part of the mix to welcome customers back, support businesses, and celebrate community.

Deploy feel-good marketing and advertising.

Develop and deploy feel-good institutional marketing and comprehensive advertising campaigns highlighting the importance of hometown, local businesses, measures to safely welcome back customers, etc.

Update and maintain directories.

Provide an easy way for businesses to provide information to keep district directories and apps up-to-date with current business hours, customer-convenience services offered, etc.

Introduce small-scale entertainment.

Small scale entertainment might include busker platforms, street performers, and solo and two-piece musical acts performing live in the district.
Smaller scale entertainment, centered in spaces large enough to accommodate social distancing, can help signal the district is open for business and provide a compelling reason for residents to re-emerge, stroll, and find a new comfort zone in the district.
Live stream performances to help reassure those still hesitant to venture out that the district is open for business, and to show attendees enjoying its comforts.

Use PPE to send a message.

Produce and distribute colorful, custom-printed face masks and neck gaiters to district employees and customers, or use them as customer giveaways during the initial reopening phase.

Say something positive.

Use sandwich boards, storefront treatments, banners, sidewalk stencils, etc. to animate the stroll and convey positive messages.

Promote local tourism.

Promote self-guided walking tours of district sites, attractions, etc. and develop suggested itineraries for day-trippers and stay-cationers.
For those who may still be hesitant to venture out, consider offering a narrated virtual tour – possibly as a teaser until they’re ready to emerge, and that residents and prospective visitors can enjoy on their own time at home or in small group settings.

Illustrate the experience.

Gather and use images and testimonials to promote positive district experiences and accolades in this season of change and recovery, and as a means of enhancing comfort levels and promoting special customer accommodations, services and perks.