How to Create Local Buzz for Branding, Links and Customer Retention

[Linda Buquet]

<a href="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cowEmmy.jpg"><img src="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cowEmmy.jpg" alt="cowEmmy" width="45%" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-9360" /></a>

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WHY IS MY FAMILY DRESSED UP LIKE COWS???

Cow Appreciation Day!

<img src="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/CowAppreciation.png" alt="CowAppreciation" width="45%" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-9362" />​

If you don't have kids, or don't have a Chick-fil-A in your town, you may not know this, but last Tuesday was 'Cow Appreciation Day'! A day my family looks forward to all year. "Dress like a cow and get a free meal!" Not just some nuggets or a sandwich, but a free meal!

Families far and wide dress up in black spots and show up. AND they talk about it for weeks in advance.

AND they blog about it, link to the local restaurant and share it on social before AND after the event.

AND the press talks about it and links to the restaurant as well. There are over 51,000 mentions in Google News for "Cow Appreciation Day 2015".

Now I don't have any idea how much it costs each location to give away all these free meals. But I do think most of the PR is free press and word of mouth.

However I am very certain this buys Chick-fil-A tons of branding, local press and customer loyalty.
The chain is also really good at texting specials that keep folks coming in. (I'm not a fan, but my family is and it's largely due to Cow Appreciation Day.)

Not every type of business could pull something like this off BUT it's worth getting creative and thinking about. If you can't think of your own day like "Cow Appreciation Day" here is a list of quirky Holidays, you could maybe build a promotion around. <a href="http://www.holidayscalendar.com/holidays/weird/">Weird Holidays and Celebrations 2015</a>

"National Tooth Fairy Day" is a no brainer for Dentists. Could have a fairy contest and give away free tooth brushes and tooth paste to everyone that comes in in a fairy costume. "Festival of Sleep Day" would be great for a mattress store. "Beer Can Appreciation Day" for a restaurant or bar. "National Dress Up Your Pet Day" for a pet store contest.

There are all kinds of fun ones that any creative thinking business could create a promo around like: "Take Your Plants for a Walk Day", "Embrace Your Geekness Day", "Be An Angel Day", and "National Chocolate Covered Anything Day".

So take a page out of Chick-fil-A's playbook and do something memorable that helps the community AND creates a buzz. Great way to EARN links and citations!

So that's my little shot of inspiration for the day.
Go forth and do some creative local buzz building! ​

Have you tried any creative promos like this?
Or have you seen anything cool in your local area???



P.S. Here's a pic of the 3 cute grandkids that were shown above - minus the cow costumes.

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