Sleigh bells are ringing, lights are gleaming, and people are freezing. The holidays are here! If you’re a small business, you can make it big during the holiday season. Consumers are expected to spend over $1000 each this year according to the National Retail Foundation. You’ve got to get yourself a piece of that pie. Plus, it’s your chance to turn one-time customers into repeat customers who come back after the holidays are over. People will be shopping in places where they wouldn’t normally visit as they search for gifts for others. We want you to shine like those Christmas lights instead of blending in like a snowman in a snowstorm, so we put together some tips to help you this year!
Black Friday & Cyber Monday
It’s the best weekend of the year for shoppers! Besides those retail stampedes, those are terrifying. Your competitors will be taking advantage of these two days, so you should too! Think about what types of promotions you can use to your advantage here. Consider extending the sale throughout the whole weekend after Thanksgiving and make sure your products or services are available online and in-store so that those with busy schedules don’t miss out.
Social Media
The number of posts you put up in December should roughly double what you did in October! Sounds like a lot, right? It can be, which is why you should try to schedule out the majority of your posts ahead of time. Don’t just make it all about deals either. Throw in some lifestyle images that give insight into your brand. A post about beanie sales is great, but it’s even better when it includes an image of someone looking nice and cozy in their new beanie. Get creative and show people how they can wrap your products easily or in a unique way. Hosting a poll or doing a live video are both great ways to increase engagement. You could even host a contest or giveaway! Also, don’t forget to add some holiday themes to your profile images. You can never do too much Christmas-ing!
Ad Retargeting
Facebook ad retargeting. Great ROI without adding a ton of cash to your ad spend. If you don’t already have a Facebook pixel on your website, it’s time. Tracking the activity of users on your website is monumental to digital marketing success. When someone visits a product page on your website, Facebook will display an ad for that product on their feed. This has shown to be wildly effective, especially during a time when people are considering what gifts they’ll be purchasing. Make sure your ads are attention-grabbing, not too word-heavy, and include a clear call to action like “sale ends soon” or “offer only valid for 24 hours!”
Holiday Emails
Set up a chain of emails to go out weekly or maybe even twice a week during the holiday season. You can start with something simple like “This product makes the perfect gift for all the dads out there.” Then, you can lean on holidays sales or discounts. Lastly, you could create urgency days before Christmas saying “Big discount, only available until Christmas Eve!” After the fat man has made his rounds, consider a “Thank you for your business and continued support. Can’t wait to see you again in 2022!” email. Make sure your emails are well-written, without any spelling or grammar mistakes. People almost always stop reading if they feel that an email wasn’t written professionally. Again, take it easy on the words. A picture is worth a thousand of them or whatever. Email is the primary source of conversion in the world of digital marketing, so don’t skip out on it!
Local Charities
The holiday season is more about giving than any other time of the year. Consider creating a partnership with a local charity that you’re passionate about and make sure that your customers know that a portion of your sales will be donated. Not only will this incentivize customers who also love the charity to purchase, but it will feel good to know that you’re donating to a good cause. Nothing warms the heart during the chilly winter the way giving does!
Ho ho ho! You’re welcome for this lovely gift of marketing prowess. Use it wisely on your journey through the holiday season. If you need a little help putting these processes in place and doing them well, drop us a line! We have plenty of gifts to put under your business’ tree that you’ll love! Happy Holidays!
