Yes, my friends, it’s that time of year again…the Holidays are upon us!
Santa (or insert your holiday harbinger of gifts and good cheer here) has long since made his list, and is now scrutinizing the stats in detail, to determine who has, in fact, been naughty or nice.
And so too should you be gearing up for the most lucrative season (for many businesses, especially those of the retail ilk) of the year.
To aid in your marketing promotional efforts, I’m serving up Marketing Expertise’s take on the holiday classic, The 12 Days of Christmas, with…
12 Ho-Ho-Ho Hellacious Holiday Small Business Marketing Promotional tips…
On the 1st day of Christmas…
A savvy small business owner added a seasons greeting note (and possible a holiday discount or promotional offer) to their email signature. You’d be surprised how many specials offers tacked onto email signatures get JUMPED ON!
On the 2nd day of Christmas…
A caring and attentive small business sends greeting cards. Physical cards are not the cheapest route, but it’s the not the most expensive either. And while you’ve missed out on the September – October Brookhollow Super-Discounts (note to self for next year), you’ve still got plenty of time to order cards and get them out by the end of the year, which is only deadline that really matters. If you wanna go the DIY route for your holiday greeting cards, online custom card-making applications like MyCardMaker.com and Zazzle can help. If you’ve got enough lead time (it’s getting pretty late now…) your local printer can also help, potentially with both design and printing, depending on their service offering.
eCards are also an option, and certainly lower cost, but your customers and clients are aware of this fact, which means ecards make less of an impact.
For especially loyal, high volume, low maintenance and otherwise top-tier clients and customers, I recommend a personal note – sincerely thanking them for their business.
On the 3rd day of Christmas…
A smart small biz owner with eye on which side their bread is buttered gives a gift* (or three) for their best – longest running, most loyal, largest spending and lowest maintenance – customers and clients. *DO NOT under any circumstances chintz-out on your special customer’s holiday gifts – if you planning a Kirkland (CostCo’s private label) Holiday basket, it’s really better to just stick with greeting card or personal note. (Harry & David’s is always a good bet – high quality offerings that won’t break your bank)
On the 4th day of Christmas…
A “social” small biz owner posts a holiday themed “cover image” on their social media site of choice – or why not all of them? Facebook set the trend, but Twitter, LinkedIn Company Pages and Google+ have all gotten into the “cover image” act. And on the Twitter front, you can even customize your entire Twitter background. You might consider using this space to tout a special holiday offer, discount or promotion.
On the 6th day of Christmas…
An email marketing oriented small business owner offers a special, Email Only holiday discount promotion, to reward “email responsive” customers. Mailchimp, my broadcast email provider of choice, has some totally free, fab-tastic holiday themed email templates.
On the 7th day of Christmas…
A “social selling” small biz owner offers followers a special, Social Media Only holiday discount promotion, to reward active social media followers, evangelizing your biz in “social circles.”
On the 8th day of Christmas
A web smart small biz owner dresses up their website. Decking out your header, sidebar and wherever else makes sense with some holiday good cheer – check out how the White House spruced up their official site with some warm-hearted holiday flair. Posting a special holiday egreeting announcement or video, or holiday themed team photos on your home page are great, too. You can even apply this nice, nifty website decorating tip year round, and cash in on all the big holidays – just like Google!
On the 9th day of Christmas
A logo-licous small biz owner does up their logo in special holiday themed finery. Can’t handle this task on your own? Logo Works can help you make it happen at a more than affordable price
On the 10th day of Christmas…
The YouTube’ing small biz owner records a special holiday theme greeting for customers and clients, wishing them well and all the best for the coming New Year. A song, skit or ever a brief address are all great holiday video ideas. By way of a entertaining example, investment councilors Vanguard Direct produced a fun and funny holiday greeting, full of light-hearted whimsy. If the video option is up your alley, Microsoft Windows Help Page gives the gift of a great video greeting tutorial. Don’t forget to embed your video greeting on your website’s home page! (this fab gem doesn’t merely have to remain relegated to your YouTube Channel)
On the 11th day of Christmas…
A holiday spirited small biz owner comes up with genius (or at least fun and engaging) 12 days of… promotion (sound familiar…?) 12 days of discounts, each with a new fun, fab and financially exciting special offer. Showcase a different product or service day-by-day, offering a special discount on said product or service. 12 days of special tips, via blog entries, YouTube videos, Facebook posts, Tweets or webinars. Your options abound!
One the 12th day of Christmas
The happening small biz owner hosts a holiday themed in-store or office party. I’ve blogged time and again about the powerful potential of both in-store holiday-themed parties and events, and office (or off-site, depending on the circumstances) customer and client holiday parties. In-store events are a great tool for bring in customers with lure of special discounts and promotions, door prizes, raffles, and free holiday eats and drinks. Hosting an office party for clients is great way to say thank you, and it’s a great opportunity for clients to meet your entire team – all those individuals working behind the scenes that your clients never come in contact with.
What About You?
Any genius ideas about ho-ho-ho-happening promotions for this year’s holiday season? Scored any big hits with great holiday promotions in the past? Give us your top 12 holiday promotional tips.
Talkback: we would love to hear all about your greatest holiday hits and misses!
