The holidays are an important time for businesses because customers are spending more around this time than during the rest of the year. You don’t have to break the bank to make an impact. There are options for creative marketing at all cost levels.
1. Send Out a holiday promotional product to your customers. This can be an ornament or calendar to keep on their desk year round. Promotional products do work to keep your name fresh in customer’s minds.
2. Dress up your webpage and brand like Google does. I know it brings a smile to my face to see a customized Google homepage. It will do the same for your customers. Try this year round and not just for the holidays. Don’t forget your social media as well.
3. Create 12 days of your “product” or maybe create a product or a service of the week or month. Most of your clients probably don’t know about every product that you offer. Feature them on your homepage possibly with a discount and maybe you will get a client that says “I didn’t even think about that, let’s go with that.”
4. If you send out holiday cards, do it right. Make sure your contact list is up to date. Don’t send out cards to people who are deceased. Sign your cards personally with a short message. It is the least you can do for your customers to feel special and appreciated. Also send out cards that stand out. Cheap cards look cheap and make you look cheap. You want to be remembered for “wowing” your customers with everything that you do.
5. Give a holiday “freebie” away on your website. Create a downloadable e-book for your customers. You are the expert in your business so give away some free tips and advice. You can call it “A Guide for Surviving the Holidays” or something catchy and creative.
6. Offer no payments until after the holidays. An offer like this can make the difference between a customer or client buying your products and services over a competitors.
7. Run a holiday contest with an amazing prize. People love giveaways, contests and prizes. You could incorporate this into your sales by having each purchase as an entry to win.
8. Personalize or customize. Customize chocolates or candies with your logo to give out to your customers. Customize your postage stamps with your image or logo to send out with your holiday cards or even all year round!
9. Offer gift cards/certificates. These attribute to 10% of all holiday sales and are less likely to be returned. They also cater to the last minute shopper.
10. Utilize email properly. Use a catchy subject line like “Thank you for your business in 2009, here is a holiday offer just for you.” Create links to the promotions not just the homepage. Don’t over send and overwhelm your customers with emails. They will notice and become annoyed.
