The holidays are an important time for small businesses to drive sales and engagement. Shoppers are ready to spend their money, and your business needs to get in front of them with meaningful campaigns and marketing strategies. By following these marketing tips for small business, you can make the most of the season and ensure that your 12 days of Christmas aren’t too heavy on the birds.
Here are our top 12 holiday marketing tips for small businesses this holiday season:
1. Get festive with your social media posts
First and foremost, it is important to have fun and be merry! Incorporate holiday themes and imagery into your social media posts to grab attention and spread some Christmas cheer. Be sure multiple social media platforms and use relevant hashtags so that your posts get seen by people who are interested in what you do.
2. Offer discounts and coupons
Everyone loves a good deal, so offer holiday discounts and coupons on your products or services. This is a great way to increase sales and attract new customers. Just be sure to promote your deals prominently on your website and social media channels.
3. Create holiday-themed content
People are looking for information and ideas related to gift-giving, party planning, etc., so create blog content that covers these topics. This is a great way to drive traffic to your website and position yourself as an expert in your field while showing personality and standing out with some holiday content!
4. Make a list (and check it twice!) of all the people you need to market to
This includes existing customers, past clients, prospects, etc. Once you have your list, you can start planning out your marketing campaigns accordingly. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with everyone this time of year to get your business top of mind, even if it is a simple holiday message.
5. Personalize your marketing messages
With so much competition during the holidays, it’s important to stand out from the crowd. One way to do this is by personalizing your marketing messages so that they speak directly to the needs of your target audience. This will help you build relationships and drive conversions. Bonus marks if you are able to send messages personally, and not just through your email marketing system.
6. Get involved in local holiday events
Participating in local holiday events is a great way to get exposure for your business while also giving back to the community. There are usually lots of opportunities around this time of year, so see what’s going on in your area and get involved! Your local BIA (Business Improvement Area) or Chamber of Commerce are a great place to start you search. Don’t miss these local marketing opportunities!
7. Support a Local Charity
Another great way to give back during the holidays is by sponsoring a local charity. This is a great PR opportunity for your business and it will make you feel good too! This can also be supported by your social media marketing strategy. This year, we’re supporting the Food4Kids Waterloo Region Giving4Kids campaign.
8. Make sure your website is ready for the holiday rush
Ensure that your website can handle an influx of traffic by making sure all forms, links, etc., are working properly. This will prevent any frustration on the part of potential customers and help them have a positive experience with your brand. Take the extra time to update your website homepage or pop-ups with a holiday-themed message so people know your content is fresh and the site is fully up to date.
9. Stock up on popular items
This one should really go without saying, but is important to check off your list in case you have a runaway success with your digital marketing campaigns! If you sell physical products, make sure you have enough inventory on hand to meet demand during the holidays. This is especially important if you sell items that are popular gifts since they tend to fly off the shelves this time of year!
10. Send out e-newsletters with holiday content
Keep your subscribers updated on all things holiday-related by sending out e-newsletters with festive content such as gift guides, recipes, party tips, etc. This is a great marketing strategy to stay top-of-mind and drive traffic back to your website or blog. Don’t get so caught up in the holiday cheer that you forget to include messages about your products and services and any seasonal specials and offers you may have running!
11. Host a contest of giveaway
Everyone loves free stuff! Hosting a contest or giveaway is a great way to generate excitement around your brand while also getting people engaged with your social media posts or website content. This is also a great way to grow your e-newsletter list and social media follow numbers. Just be sure to promote it widely so that as many people as possible know about it!
12. Give back with every purchase
One final tip is to give back with every purchase made during the holiday season (or year-round!). Whether you donate money or goods to a local charity or give a percentage off to customers who make a purchase, giving back is always appreciated and helps make our world a better place!
Utilize your holiday marketing tips
The holidays are an important time for small businesses when it comes to driving sales and engagement levels up. By following these twelve holiday marketing tips, small businesses can increase their marketing efforts and make headway even against some of their toughest competitors. Personalize messages, get festive, send newsletters, get involved locally, sponsor charity events, give back with each purchase – doing all of these things (and more!) will set any small business up for success not just during the holidays but throughout the entire year.
If you aren’t sure where to start, please contact us, we’d be glad to help!
