Holiday Marketing Ideas for Small to Medium Businesses

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s the hap-happiest season of all! Holiday season is coming fast and as a savvy entrepreneur, it’s the time to plan for holiday marketing strategies before you realize everybody is doing it. Planning out ahead will maximize the rolled out holiday marketing strategies while doing the normal day-to-day transactions. Remember, a well-planned holiday marketing strategies will convert potential customers into sales and encourage a loyal customer to spend more on your business. So, here are some holiday marketing strategy ideas your company must try on.

Create a marketing plan for the holiday sales. Shoppers act differently during the holiday season; they tend to buy and spend more. Create a comprehensive blueprint that outlines your marketing efforts this season. The key to maximizing profit for the holiday is knowing your target and offering them the products in advance. Businesses that communicate with their customer constantly have more successful holiday campaigns than those who don’t because they have build relationships with them.
Reward loyal customers. The promotions you give to your new customers shouldn’t be the same with the regular ones. You should make an effort to reward those superstar customers. Simple promotions could go along the way knowing that you appreciated them for their patronage. Know that it’s cheaper to retain a customer than acquire a new one.
Create sale bundles. Boost your holiday sale by creating convenient sales packages. Shoppers tend to shop more in volume but have less time to do so. You can offer them bundle gifts for mom, dads, kids, etc.
Offer products online. Save your customers from the stress of driving to your store and queuing the line. Set up an online store because you are not only limiting your sales into your physical store but are also limiting to have an international reach. Your online store is open 24 hours a day seven days per week, no closing time plus anybody around the globe can view your site on their respective computer or phones. Can you imagine the audience reached? The wider the audience, the bigger the potential sales.
Cross-promote services. Team up with other local businesses and cross-promote each other’s product or services. It will increase not only awareness about your business but also have a higher chance of getting highly qualified buyers. Famous example on this is ‘dinner and movie’ packages where restaurants team up with movie theaters during the holiday season.

Start planning your holiday campaign right now so you’re ready to launch right after Halloween. By doing so, you’ll be able to take advantage of last-minute marketing opportunities.

What are you doing offline and online?
What are you posting on social media? How often?
Do you have any special gift packages?
Can you host a holiday party?
Do you have signs up inside your store?
Can you send a holiday postcard out to your customers and/or prospects?
What promotions do you have and how are you going to get the word out?
Are you sending out a bi-weekly or monthly email?
Can you create at least one short 45-second video over your business?
Are you doing Facebook Live, Instagram Stories, Snapchat, or YouTube videos? Which ones should you be using?
Can you give back to the community and ask your customers to help?

Want some help setting up your holiday marketing game plan?

Research shows that as early as October people already think what to buy for the holidays. So, by launching your holiday campaigns as soon as now, you are maximizing your sales opportunity this holiday season. It is important that your business is on the top list when a customer is planning for holiday shopping. Coupons, gift bundles, and new partnerships will have a direct impact on your year-end sales.