As a business owner, determining the best way to reach your audience can seem overwhelming. There are so many options to choose from: expensive signage and displays, social media, email lists, blog posts. But what if we told you (while those options are great and you should definitely take advantage of them) there’s another, simpler way to reach potential customers? Today is your lucky day. There’s a simple, fun, and affordable thing you can use to catch people’s attention: a chalkboard.

From writing humorous messages to displaying your daily specials, chalkboards are powerful ways to reach your customer base, promote your business, and build your unique brand. To help you get started, here are three different chalkboard ideas that will help boost your brand.

Create a Stunning Menu

If you own a coffee shop, restaurant, ice cream parlor, or smoothie shop, you’ll need a menu that customers can easily see. Hanging a full-sized chalkboard behind the counter or painting as large a space as you need with chalkboard paint is a great way to advertise your goods without breaking the bank. If you can’t afford a traditional chalkboard or paint a wall, consider applying removable chalkboard wallpaper.

Have a friend, family member, or one of your artistic team members write out your menu options and draw some artwork to accompany it. Your customers will love the creativity, enjoy the talent, and associate both of these excellent qualities with your brand.

Invite Customers In

Sometimes a standard welcome sign only goes so far. And while social media posts are helpful, they’re still digital. Occasionally you need a tangible, fun way to invite customers into your establishment. That’s where a chalkboard come in handy.

Place the chalkboard on the sidewalk or close to your business’s front door. If you prefer to use art to grab the public’s attention, have an artist on rotation to create custom pieces to draw customers in. If you prefer to use words and maybe a little drawing or two, think of something clever or funny to say. Passersby will look twice, smile, or laugh, and be much more willing to give your establishment a try.

Blend Social Media and Business

Another chalkboard idea that will help boost your brand is to blend business with social media. Instagram, for instance, is an incredibly popular social media platform with just about 1 billion users. Now is a great time to get on board as a business and interact with potential customers. One great way to do so is to create a sign on your chalkboard with an incentive. An example would be, “Take a selfie with this sign and post on Insta for a free 12 oz. iced coffee.” This is an excellent way to build your brand and your social media following all at once.