small business holiday marketing tips

C h r i s t m a si s C o m i n g !

small Business holidaymarketing tips 2015

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The days when you could start your holiday marketing in December are long gone. Regardless of what service or merchandise you provide, in 2015 you will have stiff competition, both online and for local shoppers. And you can bet your competitors are already plotting their first moves.

To help you compete here are some of our favorite small business holiday marketing tips.

don’t Wait too long to start your2015 holiday marketing!



It’s Christmas, so dig out the ornaments and spruce up for the holidays. This includes every-thing from adding a few Christmas related im-ages to your website, a few snowflakes for your email template, and adding a holiday themed profile image to your social accounts. And don’t forget your store locations!

go ahead. deCorate!



Ask your customers what they want. It really is that simple! Do they want the latest gadget, or are they more interested in money-saving coupons?

Post an online survey on SurveyMonkey or use your business website to survey your customers. Target your marketing campaign and messaging accordingly.

listen to your Consumer!



Your ultimate goal is to encourage a purchase. Make that as easy as possible. Any landing page on your business website needs to focus on that goal.

Your landing pages should be simple and direct, and focus on one product or service. Feel free to ornament, but don’t let seasonal decorations detract from the main purchase.

design an effeCtive landing page!



Promote your holiday specials early, before all your competitors do!

Host a preview sale, or other special event at your location, or feature a special offer combined with a teaser image or video clip online.

give your Customers a sneak peek!



Be cool and give your customers a glimpse be-hind the scenes. Showcase your festive brand, or perhaps your awesome customers.

Show how easy and fun it is to prepare for the holidays with you and your team.

get Creative!



Offer existing customers exclusive deals. Simple things like “Free Holiday Shipping” or a special coupon, code, or even discount on a future purchase work best.

Offering your customers a deal that your competitors don’t will entice consumers to buy from you.

make them feel speCial!



This may sound strange in the digital age. But sending an actual holiday card can really make your business stand out.

Thank your customers for their support and loyalty and wish them a happy holiday. This can have a big impact!

send them a Card!



Start reflecting the changing of the season. Sim-ply by including autumn and holiday-themed headers can make a big difference.

Visual clues are important to get your customers in the mood to purchase.

Customize your email!



Be sure to engage your customers through all of your social media channels. Get consumers excited about your brand.

Social contests like ugly holiday sweater or cutest pet costume contests are a great way to engage your audience and collect email subscribers.

Be soCial!



Speaking of social media, don’t forget that Pinterest has been proven to drive online sales better than other social channels.

Create a holiday-themed Pinterest board that promotes your seasonal offerings and products. Be sure to include the URLs for all your holiday campaigns.

don’t forget pinterest!



One evening during the holiday season you should extend your regular hours, or invite your customers to a private event at your store. Give them a special incentive discount only valid for this one event.

Even if you do not have a physical location think about having a cyber event, such as a Google Hangout or TweetChat

have a holiday party!



Stand out by sometimes NOT posting or sending out sales messages. They bombard everyone in the holiday season.

Give your subscribers and customers a break and instead post a team picture in Santa hats or your neighborhood decorated for the season.

don’t make everything promotional!



This is the age of personalization. Make sure your messaging is targeted to specific segments of your audience.

Make sure to include the recipient’s name. “Merry Christmas Jennifer” is so much more heartwarming than “Dear Customer.” Maybe even include a picture of your holiday party to show them how you and your team celebrate the holidays.

get personal!



Even if you are a primarily brick-and-mortar business you still need to cater to your online audience. Not everyone will flock to your store the moment the turkey gets cold.

Today’s cost conscious consumer knows the best deals can be found the Monday after. Be sure to create an exclusive offer for your online audience.

don’t forget CyBer monday!



This Saturday is dedicated for small business owners just like you. Almost every city or small business association has special promotions, in-cluding special events and advertising and PR campaigns. Be sure your small business takes full advantage.

CeleBrate small Business saturday!



Today’s savvy consumers may even wait until after the holidays to complete their holiday shopping. Smaller crowds and bigger bargains are usually the incentive.

Be sure to look beyond the traditional holiday marketing time frame to benefit from the entire season.

plan for after the holidays!



Here are a few things that will help you implement our small business holiday marketing tips:

1. Take a look at last year. What worked, and what didn’t?2. Ask your team for input. How can they help?3. Consider bringing in outside help if you need it.4. Create as much content as you can ahead of time.5. Determine a budget, and stick to it!6. Be yourself, and have fun!

additional resourCes!



1. Email Service Providers: MailChimp, Constant Contact2. Social Media Tools: SproutSocial, HootSuite, Filament

Related Blog Posts:

1. Key Dates for 2015 Christmas Marketing2. 30 Creative Ideas for Your Holiday Email Marketing3. Creating Effective Social Media Marketing Strategies4. Common Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid5. 10 Tips for Writing the Perfect Email Newsletter

additional resourCes!



ContaCt infoFeel free to reach out if you need help!

Studio 5 Innovation

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