As a business owner, the holidays can be a very stressful time: from handling staffing requests and general business highs and lows, to managing your own personal holiday needs and familial obligations. It doesn’t help that the holidays can also be crunch time that will make or break the start to the new year. If you’ve waited until the last moment to implement some clever marketing schemes, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at our last-minute holiday marketing ideas to help your small business end the year on a high note!
Promotional Campaigns and Offer Strategies
- Create a set of themed offers: whether its gift bundles or seasonal discounts, offering a limited-time deal can create a sense of urgency.
- Promotional Campaigns: offer customers free shipping or gift wrapping, and depending on the sale total, maybe even a free gift!
- Offer a Gift Guide: for those who have a hard time shopping, help them find the right ideas by creating a guide that does the work for them!
- Specialty Products: if possible, create a limited-edition version of a popular product that can only be purchased during the holidays to drive excitement!
- Giving Back: consider partnering with a local charity or donate a portion of sales to boost goodwill.
Content and Social Marketing
- Boost your socials: running a holiday-themed campaign using festive visuals can build engagement among your followers, and sometimes partnering with the right kind of influencer can really add to the fun!
- Optimize: if you haven’t recently checked, be sure that your website is mobile-friendly and is optimized for prime usage and engagement!
- Leverage your contacts: personalize your emails and automate your follow-ups to re-engage those shoppers who may have left their online carts abandoned!
- Engage with sentimentality: tap into the holiday spirit by using heartfelt stories and nostalgia that really resonates with your customers.
Customer Experience
- Brick-n-Mortar Stores: be festive and decorate, creating an atmosphere that celebrates the season! Offer in-store events like workshops or exclusive shopping nights.
- Enhanced Experiences: whether in person or online, be sure that your customer service can handle increased volumes.
- Prevent Disappointment: communicate effectively anything that could cause a problem, such as shipping date cut-offs. It’s important to manage the customer’s expectations.
Of course, even these “last minute” ideas require some planning, so if you’re already past the point of no return, put these in your back pocket for next year! Planning a holiday strategy in advance will allow you to execute effectively, and always remember to review what’s worked (and what didn’t work!) from seasons past. Let’s help each other through these next few weeks by telling us what’s worked for your business or suggest your own ideas – contact us today!
