Most people consider the Holiday season to be the months of November and December, but the holidays start a lot sooner for small businesses. Whether you’re a small business owner or marketing team member, the holiday season has already begun. According to the National Retail Federation, 40% of consumers begin their holiday shopping before Halloween. This year, consumers are getting an even earlier start on their shopping due to production and shipping issues they’ve experienced throughout the pandemic.
6 Creative Ways to Market Your Business This Holiday Season
Local businesses play an important role in their communities, and consumers want to support them. This perspective is consistent among all generations, too. From Gen Z to the Greatest Generation, people of all ages understand that shopping small is beneficial to their local communities.
Here are 6 ways you can advertise your small business this holiday season:
- Partner With Local Businesses and Charities. Partnering up with other small businesses and participating in local events is always a good way to increase brand awareness. Host holiday events or partner up with another business to do social media engagement activities. For example, you can do a live broadcast with another business on Instagram and host giveaways to encourage your audience to participate.
You can also consider partnering with local charities. People are always looking for opportunities to give back, especially during the holiday season. Customers appreciate small businesses that share similar values, so it’s a good idea to facilitate a way for them to give back and donate to a cause through your business. This also encourages them to spend more on your products and services.
- Update Your Social Media Profiles and Storefront. For the holidays, adjust your social media by increasing posting frequency and getting creative with some holiday content. Advertise discounts, deals, and new products through all mediums, including radio, to reach your target audience. You should update your storefront to provide holiday cheer and get shoppers in the spirit, too! Decorating your storefront might even lead to a few new customers from people who happen to be walking by your shop.
- Offer Promotions and Incentives. Even if you’re a small business, take part in Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales in addition to Small Business Saturday to reach more early holiday shoppers. Remember to provide incentives for those that prefer to shop online. Promote discounts such as free shipping to motivate your customers to spend more. Another thing to consider is adjusting your return policy during the holidays. Most sales have a 30-day return policy; however, with consumers starting their holiday shopping in October, you want to give them more flexibility on returning items that don’t meet their needs to encourage them to make those early holiday purchases.
- Provide Safer Shopping Measures. As we continue to navigate through this pandemic, consumers are looking for safe ways to shop. Make sure to offer online shopping, curbside pick-up, or drive-through options to allow customers to comfortably shop your products or services. This gives your customers peace of mind and shows the care and dedication you have for your community.
- Create a Gift Guide. When shopping, it’s all about convenience for consumers. A great way to provide this for your customers is by creating gift guides for them to easily shop for their loved ones. Make it easy for them to find by promoting them on social media and providing access to the guides on your website.
- Holiday Emails. Send out frequent emails throughout the holiday season. Send your customers reminders about discounts, exclusive products, events, store updates, and email those gift guides for easy and quick access to your customers. This is also a good way to keep them informed about important shopping safety measures you will be taking during the busy season.
BONUS: ADVERTISE in OhioMBE and its media outlets.
Source: Iheartadbuilder.com
