A Holiday Update: Marketing Tactics to Match the Season

'Tis the season of giving, which means it's also the season of marketing. The Bank of Hawaii notes that if you're a small business owner, you know the holidays can be a make-or-break time of year. With a little bit of creativity, you can make this holiday season your most successful yet. The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce has put together a list of some of the best marketing ideas to get you started.

Jolly Good Content

Whether it's a blog post, an infographic, or a holiday-themed video, Semrush points out that sharing engaging content is a great way to get people interested in your business. Not only will people be more likely to visit your website or social media page, but they'll also be more likely to share your content with their friends and followers.

Festive Freebies

People love free stuff, so why not give them what they want? Hold a holiday-themed giveaway or contest on social media or your website. Not only will this give people another reason to visit your page, but it will also generate some buzz around your business. Just make sure to promote your contest or giveaway ahead of time so people have a chance to enter.

A PDF Guide for Gifting

If you sell products, why not put together a gift guide? This is a great way to show people what items you have to offer and how they can be used as gifts. You can even include special discounts or promo codes in your gift guide to entice people to make a purchase. To make your gift guide a more affordable effort, create a design you can share as a PDF. When you leverage an online PDF editor, it’s easier to post via email marketing, on social media and on your website. Plus, PDFs are simple to edit if you want to adjust or remove pages or language.

Timely Trimmings

Make sure your products are ready for the holidays by investing in some festive packaging. This doesn't have to be anything over the top; simply using seasonal colors or patterns can make all the difference. People will appreciate the extra effort and it will make your products stand out from the competition.

Holiday Connections

Social media is a great way to connect with customers and build relationships. During the holidays, take some time to engage with customers via social media. Like and comment on their posts, answer their questions and thank them for their business. A little bit of customer engagement can go a long way.

Play the Host

Surprise customers by hosting a holiday-themed event at your store or office. This is a great way to promote your business and get people in the door (literally). You can even offer special discounts or freebies for attendees; again, be sure to promote your event ahead of time.  And don't forget about decorating; everyone loves festive decorations this time of year! 

Spread the Love

What better way to spread some holiday cheer than by supporting a local charity? This is a great way to give back to the community and generate some positive PR for your business at the same time. You can donate money, goods, or services, whatever works best for you and your business. 

Presents for Presence

Be sure to thank your loyal customers this holiday season. They are the ones who keep you in business, after all. You can show your appreciation by offering them special discounts, giving them early access to sales, or sending them handwritten cards (or all of the above)! Whatever you do, make sure they feel valued and appreciated. They'll definitely remember it come next holiday season.  

Partner Up

Partnering with other businesses is a great way to reach new customers and grow your brand awareness. You can partner with businesses that complement yours (for example, if you sell women's clothing, you could partner with a local jewelry store) or businesses that are simply looking for exposure. Whatever route you decide to go, partnering with other businesses is always a win-win. 

From sharing engaging content and producing a PDF gift guide to festive packaging and taking advantage of strategic partnerships, the possibilities are endless when it comes to holiday marketing,  so don't be afraid to get creative. There are no rules when it comes to promoting your business during the holidays, so have fun with it and see what works best for you and your company. From there, you can fine-tune your approach and create an even more successful campaign next year.