The holiday season is starting this month, and for small businesses, it’s a golden opportunity. From Halloween to New Year, this festive time of year offers a unique chance to connect with your customers and boost sales.
How do I market my business for holidays?
- Embrace Festive Branding: Infuse your brand with holiday spirit. Update your social media profiles with seasonal elements. Use colors and imagery that resonate with the holidays you’re targeting. This immediately shows your audience that you’re in the holiday spirit.
- Create Holiday-Themed Content: Write blog posts, create videos, or design infographics that tie into holiday themes. Share holiday recipes, decorating tips, or gift guides related to your products or services. Providing valuable content helps you attract potential customers.
- Offer Special Deals and Discounts: Everyone loves a good deal during the holidays. If your business is typically slower during the last quarter of the year, run promotions, offer discounts, or bundle products and services at a reduced rate. Promote these special offers through email marketing and on your social media channels. Consider creating limited-time holiday bundles to entice shoppers to buy more and buy now.
- Leverage User Generated Content: Encourage user-generated content by asking customers to share photos or stories related to your products or services during the holidays and tag your business.
How can I increase sales during the holiday season?
- Optimize Your Website for Mobile: More people are shopping online during the holidays, and many of them are doing it from their mobile devices. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly (responsive) and loads quickly. A smooth shopping experience can significantly boost your sales.
- Improve Customer Support: Excellent customer service is crucial during the busy holidays. Happy customers are more likely to make repeat purchases and recommend your business to others.
- Upsell and Cross-sell: When customers are making a purchase, suggest complementary products or services. For example, if someone is buying a winter coat, recommend matching gloves or a scarf. If they hire you for (service A), promote a complementary service that brings even more value to your customers, boosting your overall sales.
- Extend Store Hours: If you have a physical store, consider extending your hours during the holiday season. Many shoppers prefer to browse and buy in the evening after work, so accommodating their schedules can lead to increased foot traffic and sales.
When should I start holiday marketing?
It’s never too early to start planning, but the specifics vary depending on the holiday. Here’s a general timeline:
- Halloween: Start your marketing campaign mid-September to early October. People begin planning their Halloween festivities well in advance.
- Thanksgiving: Begin promoting Thanksgiving-related products and services in late October or early November. Shoppers often start preparing for Thanksgiving about a month before.
- Hanukkah: Target your Hanukkah marketing around the same time as Thanksgiving, as sometimes the dates overlap. Launch campaigns in late October or early November.
- Christmas: The longest holiday season starts with promotions as early as October. However, the peak shopping season typically begins in late November, around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
What is one local marketing strategy to try out during the holiday season?
Host a Community Event or Workshop: Organize a holiday-themed event or workshop in your local area. For example, if you run a bakery, host a cookie decorating workshop. If you have a gift shop, host a holiday crafting event. Promote your event through local newspapers, community bulletin boards, and social media. Not only does this get your name out into the community, but it also creates a fun and memorable experience that can lead to increased foot traffic and sales.
The holiday season presents a fantastic opportunity for small businesses to shine and have fun. By incorporating festive branding, offering special deals, optimizing your website, engaging your community, and starting your marketing campaigns at the right time, your small business can enjoy a season of success and joy.
Helen M. Ryan is a freelance writer and marketing pro who helps entrepreneurs, businesses, and service providers get noticed and attract clients.
