The holidays are a great time to market your small business. There are so many opportunities to engage with your customers and potential customers in fun and festive ways. From the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, here are some creative ideas to get you started.
Create & Share PDF Gift Guides
One of the best ways to market your business during the holidays is to create and share a gift guide. This is a great way to showcase your products or services in a festive and visually appealing way. Just write your guide in Word, save it, and convert it to a PDF—the PDF converter is free. Then you can share your gift guide via email, social media, or even on your website. Make sure to include plenty of links back to your website so that people can easily find and purchase your products or services.
Invest in Gift Wrapping & Packaging
Another great way to market your business during the holidays is to invest in holiday packaging. This is a great way to make your products or services stand out from the competition. People love receiving beautifully packaged gifts, so make sure your packaging reflects the quality of your product or service. You can also use holiday packaging as an opportunity to include marketing materials like coupons or discount codes.
Post Useful & Interactive Content
People are searching for all sorts of information during the holidays, so make sure your website or blog is full of useful and interactive content. This could be anything from holiday recipes and DIY tutorials to gift guides and how-to articles. If you have a brick-and-mortar store, be sure to include information about holiday hours and special events. And don’t forget to add plenty of calls to action so that people know how they can take advantage of your products or services.
Engage Online With Social Media
Social media is one of the best platforms for marketing during the holidays because it’s so interactive and fast-paced. Be sure to post often and mix up your content with photos, videos, GIFs, articles, etc. You can also use social media to run holiday promotions or giveaways. And don’t forget to use relevant hashtags so that people can easily find your content.
Hold Giveaways & Contests
Who doesn’t love a good giveaway? Offering holiday-themed giveaways or contests can generate excitement about your business during the holidays. Be sure to promote your giveaway or contest across all of your marketing channels (social media, email, website, etc.) and make it easy for people to enter. You can also offer bonus entries for people who complete certain actions, like making a purchase or sharing your contest on social media.
Reward Your Most Loyal Customers
The holidays are a time to show appreciation for your loyal customers with exclusive deals and discounts. You can promote these deals through email, social media, or even on your website. This is a great way to show appreciation for customer loyalty while also generating excitement about your products or services.
Partner With Other Local Small Businesses
One of the best ways to support local businesses during the holidays is by partnering with other local businesses. This could be anything from teaming up on a holiday promotion or offering joint discounts/packages. You can also partner with other businesses on community initiatives like supporting a local food bank or toy drive. By working together, you can reach a larger audience while also supporting other businesses in your community.
Host A Holiday Event
Nothing gets people in the holiday spirit quite like attending a festive event! If you have the space, consider hosting a holiday party at your business (with safety precautions in place, of course). You could also host an outdoor event like a tree lighting ceremony or caroling sing-along. Or if you’re looking for something virtual, consider hosting an online holiday party complete with games, prizes, and special guests. Whatever type of event you choose to host, be sure to promote it across all of your marketing channels—you’ll be sure to attract lots of attention this way.
Support A Local Cause
The holidays are also a time to give back to those less fortunate in our communities by supporting local charities. There are many ways you can do this as a business owner. One way is by donating products or services. Another way is by hosting fundraisers or charity events. And yet another way is by simply spreading awareness about certain causes that are important to you. No matter how you choose to support local charities this holiday season, know that you will be making a difference in someone’s life.
The holidays are a wonderful time of year—and they’re also a great time to market small businesses. There are so many creative ways to engage with customers (and potential customers) during this festive time of year. By following some (or all!) of the tips above, you’re sure to put yourself—and your business—in a position for success this holiday season!
Membership in the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce offers invaluable benefits to entrepreneurs in our community. Join us today!
