Holiday Marketing Ideas

Whether your business depends on the  holiday season for a substantial part of your annual revenues or you find it to be a slow time of year,  it’s never more critical than now to remain engaged and connected with your prospect and customer base. And that means embracing the holiday season as part of your marketing strategy.

Sending holiday greetings are important, however, try other online and offline marketing tactics to ensure you  remain relevant and top of mind throughout the season and into the new year.

Here are some ideas to put in your holiday toolkit.

You don’t have to break the bank for effective Promotions, Incentives and Giveaways

Promotions and incentives needn’t be restricted to brick & mortar stores. There is season-appropriate discount, bundle, or giveaway that you can offer your customers, no matter what your industry.

Create a compelling reason for them to act now by thinking about the season and what you can do to help your customers get through the stress and expense of the holidays.  For example rather than simply discounting your services, offer a packaged offering: “Buy X service now and we’ll provide Y for free in the new year.”

We’re the society of instant gratification and giveaways are always popular. However, they needn’t be expensive. Even something as simple as providing holiday cookies or apple cider when they visit  can make you stand out.

Get your Web Site Ready for the Holidays

If you have an online presence, there’s some simple and inexpensive ideas for prepping your site for the season.

Ever watch what Google does to their logo during different seasons?  Decorating your logo doesn’t cost much and can be reused each year. It’s simple yet often overlooked, adds a human touch to your operations and makes online shopping that much warmer. 

Consider customizing your Twitter page and Facebook logo for the holidays too.

Be Festive in your Email use

While some feel email is overused, you can’t argue that it is an inexpensive option for connecting with your customers. Just remember the rules of “Permission Marketing” and only use it to communicate with those who have asked to receive email from you, those you have already made a connection with or who have expressed an interest in your business or services.

First and foremost, Be festive in your design!  It IS the holidays after all!  Keep the e-mail short, sweet and with direct links to your promotional offers rather than the home page.  You want to make the process as easy as possible for your customers.   And be sure to check that all of your online merchant tools are working properly. There is no surer way to lose a customer than broken links.

Clearly state the intent of the email in the subject line – For example, “To thank You for your business in 2009, here’s a Special Offer just for you”.  

Segment your customers.   Most email list management programs have a variety of tools that can help you make sure your readers only get messages that are relevant to them.  Contact me to learn about who I recommend.

Charity Goes a Long way

Pick a favorite local charity, and make it known that every purchase made at your business benefits that charity. It can be a simple percentage of holiday purchase profits, or even a flat donation for every shopper. Have a beautifully decorated container for patrons to donate additional funds for when they feel extra charitable.  Contact me for a list of charities I recommend.