Holidays are a time for family, friends, and relaxation. But for businesses, holidays are also a time for increased sales. In fact, many businesses see an increase of 20% or more in their annual revenue during this period.
But the holidays can also be a real challenge for small businesses. With the increased competition, there are more chances that some businesses might not be able to meet their sales targets.
The key then to increasing sales during the holidays is to have a clear strategy.
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Start Early to Make a Plan
Ideally, to really work on holiday sales, the best time to start is during the summer months. But being a small business, you actually have more flexibility than larger companies, and it’s possible to start gearing up as late as November.
Obviously, you’ll need to ensure you have enough product. This might mean hiring temporary or seasonal help to ramp up production, but you can’t sell what you don’t have. And begin now by coming up with holiday packaging ideas to make your product look festive and seasonal.
Marketing
Start with your print materials first since those will take the longest to create. Postcards, brochures, business cards, flyers, thank-you notes, and, most importantly, gift cards for indecisive customers and those looking for last-minute gifts.
Make your website and social media pages festive and fun. For Facebook, create a holiday banner. Most banner makers are free to use, and they are easy to create.
Everyone loves a good meme. It’s what most people share on social media because they’re fun and eye-catching. Making your own meme to showcase on your site can create buzz as people share it on their own pages. It could even go viral! Use a free meme maker, then choose a template and customize it by adding your own background and changing the appearance of the text.
Create a fun video on your site promoting a special product, decorating tips, holiday music, or whatever will have people watching and sharing. Just create one for YouTube, then embed it onto your website or share it on your social media page.
Host a Contest
You can also use contests to increase sales. For example, if you host a contest for a new product before the holidays it can increase awareness of that product and generate more sales at the same time.
In order to run a successful contest, make sure that you have clear rules and guidelines in place so that the contest is fair for all participants. Find an online template to help you create one and to make sure you’re not missing any important steps.
Work With a Charity
You may decide you wish to work with a local charity during the holidays. It is a great way to promote your business and help those in need. You can get involved by providing goods and services to the charity that they can use for fundraising events. Or give discounts to people who donate time and money to a particular charity. Look for a cause that most closely fits your business brand and ask them what they need.
Create a Gift Guide
A holiday gift guide is a great way to showcase all of your products in one place. You’ll need to create a list of items that are relevant to the season, what they are made of, and what they look like. Then, create a visual representation that can be used on your website or social media marketing channels.
Make sure you have plenty of options and ideas. What are customers going to like? Is it something they would be interested in? And above all, make it easy to use. Once you've created a gift guide, share it on your website and social media pages.
Smart holiday marketing for your small businesses is something you can and should do now. Know what your customers want and how to make it happen. Then get your materials together, start ramping up your social media sites with holiday fun, and get involved in your community to bring your business to them. Your cash drawer may just jingle all the way through the holiday.
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