As the days get shorter and the nights chillier, it’s time to start thinking about end-of-year marketing for your small business. Whether you’re planning on doing your own campaigns or hiring an outside team, consider using the following tips to make the end of your year merry and bright:
Be yourself. While it’s tempting to copy and paste the traditional season’s greetings before sprinting off to that holiday party, authenticity and originality build brand loyalty. Be sincere in your holiday posts and emails. Add photos of staff, behind-the-scenes holiday work, or anything else that shows customers what makes your small business unique, and make sure to let them know how grateful you are for their continued support.
Spread hope. After nearly two years of pandemic stress, we could all use a little excitement for the future. This is the perfect time to start thinking about all the great things 2022 will hold! Show your consumer base that you’re hopeful and inspired with snippets of what’s to come. Offer “sneak peeks” and teasers of new products or programs, letting them know that you’re excited to share a new year with them and that it’s going to be the best one yet!
Provide outstanding customer service. The holidays can be a busy time for small businesses, with extra purchases, more shipping, and increased communication with customers. It’s easy to become stressed and overwhelmed with the increased workload, but customers will remember both the product they received as well as the buying experience. Focus on always providing the best possible customer service, which includes positive, timely answers to their questions and concerns, speedy shipping, and quality products. Communication is key, so make sure to let customers know about any changes in service that might occur like increased shipping times, slower response times, or fewer available appointments.
Focus on Marketing. Create a strong marketing campaign through November and December to grab customers’ attention. A themed landing page, paid social media posts, and email campaigns are all great ways to reach more customers and build revenue. Depending on your budget, this can be done in-house or by an outside expert like Alpha Moose. Planning this marketing scheme in quarter three (October at the latest) often results in better execution, but last-minute, smaller campaigns may still be effective in creating buzz and excitement around your brand.
Always deliver quality. If you’re a new business, recovering from the pandemic, or short staffed, you might be worried about an increase in holiday sales. If you can’t deliver this year, that’s ok! Just focus on providing quality products and customer service, and wait until next year to do new marketing campaigns. It’s better to have fewer sales than to deliver poor quality goods, get a bad reputation, or burn bridges with potential customers.
Thank your people. It’s easy to focus on customers, revenue, and bottom lines, but don’t forget to stop and appreciate your team. If possible, budget in an end-of-year bonus for your team. If a bonus isn’t possible this year, at least make a point to tell them how much they matter to both you and their business. Knowing they are valued and appreciated keeps staff coming back, builds trust in you as a leader, and helps retain a positive morale that will help your business thrive in the new year.
Whether you’re able to launch your biggest campaign yet or are just starting out, Alpha Moose is here to help with all your marketing needs. We focus on delivering personalized, high quality material for a wide range of budgets. Contact us today to find out how we can help your small business grow through the holidays and beyond!
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