I love fall in Kentucky. There are so many festivals and events going on in the area.
This past weekend was the annual Middletown Family Fun Festival . It was a fun time with balloons, inflatable jumps for the kids, music, junk food, games, and a parade. My children had a wonderful time, and I had a wonderful time watching them have so much fun.
Like so many of these types of festivals, the event is made possible by corporate sponsorships. There was marketing going on everywhere. Even the parade was a big marketing extravaganza, full of politicians smiling and throwing candy, fancy floats promoting various businesses, and an orthodontist office throwing toothbrushes out of a pickup. (Surprisingly, a super huge hit with my kids. They still talk about the parade every night when they brush their teeth.)
I’ll be the first to admit, I am a marketing snob. It’s my job. If you aren’t going to market to me well, you shouldn’t market to me at all. Yet here I was at this Family Fun Fest, surrounded by various levels of marketing skill, and didn’t mind any of it. It was fun to talk the local business owners, meet the people running for public office, and see my children’s faces light up every time they got offered another sticker. It was a fun day, even if it was a day that revolved around marketing.
My point? Don’t underestimate the power of grassroots marketing. It is an amazing tool. Yes, it takes time and planning, but can create a powerful connection between you and the community you serve.