Not got a Christmas strategy in place for your business? Don’t worry; it’s easy to get caught up in all the chaos of Black Friday, and it’s understandable if those Christmas marketing plans fall by the wayside. The good news is, there are plenty of last-minute techniques you can employ to take advantage of the festive season:
Consumers typically have a lot to buy in the run-up to Christmas, so it’s safe to assume that many people are on the lookout for a bargain. Of course, it’s totally up to you whether you decide to offer money off a particular product or range, provide free delivery for a limited time or even introduce a free gift-wrapping service.
Whatever incentive you choose, bear in mind that you need to be able to market it easily. Your offer needs to be so tempting that customers will feel like they’re missing out if they don’t shop with you.
But whilst the irresistibility factor of your offer is important, what really counts is how you get word out to your customers. There’s no point having a fantastic deal on if nobody is going to see it. For best results, consider marketing your offer via the following channels:
- Email – newsletters are huge way to let your audience know about your offer. Make sure you use compelling copy that persuades your customers to take an action.
- Social media – particularly visual platforms like Facebook and Instagram, where you can entice users in with captivating imagery that draws attention to your offer.
- Paid search – you can mention your deal in your PPC ad copy to grab users actively looking for special offers.
Send your customers a Christmas card
If you have the home addresses of your customers, why not send them a personalised Christmas card to spread some festive cheer? They’re bound to appreciate the gesture, and it’ll put your business in their minds when it comes to finishing off their Christmas shopping.
Similarly, if you’re a client-based company, you could send a Christmas card to the business addresses of those you work with regularly. An unexpected surprise in the post is always appreciated, and it’ll make your business memorable.
Run a competition
Competitions are quick and easy to set up online and don’t require a lot of management once they’re live. What’s more, they’re an effective way to build up awareness of your brand.
Again, the competition prize is completely up to you; it will need to suit your budget and be relevant to your brand. But remember, you need to make sure you’re sharing your competition on social media and via email newsletters if you want a significant number of people to enter.
One especially good way of raising brand awareness is to encourage users to share the post or “tag” friends in order to be in with a chance of winning. Both methods will get your competition (and brand) seen by more and more people.
Hold a pop-up event
Who doesn’t love a freebie? Holding a pop-up event in your local area is another great way to build brand awareness. Providing marketing materials and/or free gifts to potential customers will ensure that people find out about your brand, as well as increasing their interest in what your company has to offer. It also gets people talking, especially if your marketing materials include hashtags to encourage people to spread the word about your event or share photos of their freebies.
Give something back
Christmas is certainly a time for giving, and establishing yourself as a business that cares will resonate with both existing and potential customers.
According to a survey by Cone Communications, 87% of people would buy a product because the company selling it advocated a charity they care about. Millennials are the generation most likely to research the issues a business supports and the extent to which it contributes to the cause, so it’s well worth talking about what you do to support a particular charity, and how you do it.
Even if you can only afford to donate your time, your customers are bound to appreciate your charitable side, which may increase their inclination to buy from you or send business your way.
Need a hand getting your Christmas marketing strategy up and running? That’s where we come in! Get in touch today to find out how we can help you make the most of the festive season.