Awareness. It’s what most businesses want more of and ultimately a very important part of long-term success. Traditionally organizations have earned awareness through word-of-mouth referrals or TV and print advertising. In recent years the game has changed, and we’ve seen businesses small and large move to online advertising as a tool for building awareness.

This year social media has become a popular and effective method to attract attention, particularly for retailers. Users of social media tools commonly share where they are, what they are doing, and how it makes them feel while they are there! As a consumer, these opinions form a basis for what to buy and where to buy it. Businesses must capture these reviews and engage with these consumers for the valuable feedback and exposure they provide.

Online platforms such as Facebook, Foursquare, Google Places and Yelp have looked to partner with retail businesses to raise awareness of both the platform and the business. Each of the companies above have programs that provide businesses with a door cling or sticker that promotes the business on their platform. Yelp and Foursquare aren’t currently individualized, but Facebook and Google stickers are tailored to your business and allow interaction via text or QR code (a black and white image that has embedded information such as a URL that can be read with a camera phone  see Wikipedia) right from the sticker.

I just started noticing these here in Knoxville last First Friday, first with a Yelp sticker at Crown & Goose and then with a Facebook sticker at Trio Cafe.

These programs can be great methods for local marketing – as easy as peel and stick, right on your door! They build awareness every day and help educate your customers that you want them to find you online. Additionally, these programs will lead to the development of reviews and interaction with your existing customers, creating an engaged atmosphere for those that find you online before they visit your location.

If you’ve seen other businesses utilizing any of these programs, please share in the comments and/or e-mail them to me gbaker@moxleycarmichael.com and I’ll update this post. I’ve yet to see any Foursquare or Google clings on doors, but I’m sure they’ll be here soon!