via ThriveHive
It’s officially the holiday season! How are you going to market your small business? Here are 10 ideas to get your business noticed during the delightfully chaotic month of December.
PS we also have December Facebook Ideas and December Instagram Ideas
1. Update Your Google Business Listing
Holiday shoppers are going to be turning to Google for all of their holiday needs, whether for gifts, event services, home cleaning, appliance repair, travel, safety, and more. Make sure your business information is up to date so you can get found on search. Be sure to:
- Verify your contact information
- Update your holiday hours
- Upload photos of your seasonal products and services
- Create Offer and Event posts
There are many ways to optimize your Google business profile to stand out in search and attract customers—and no better time than now to do it!
2. Host or Participate in a Toy Drive
During the holiday season, it’s important to remember those less fortunate than ourselves. Host or participate in a toy drive and encourage your customers to do the same. Share photos of your participation on social media and tag the charity you’re working with. Ask them to retweet or share the post for a greater impact. Joining other local businesses to benefit children is a great way to get more involved with your community. For a list of toy drives, check here.
3. Get Personal
Share pictures or stories of your family and holiday celebrations on your blog and social media profiles. Do you have a favorite holiday memory that inspired you to open your business? What about a family recipe or tradition? Share yours and ask your followers what theirs are. This will help build engagement with and among your audience. This will help open up communication with your followers and build engagement.
Bakers can share a video or recipe on their blogs. Photographers can post their family Christmas pictures on Instagram or Facebook and encourage others to do the same. Personal trainers should encourage clients and potential clients to join them on holiday road races through social media. Share your life with customers to engage them online!
4. Host a Party
Events are a great way to market your business during the holidays. Have an open house and extend your business hours one evening. Invite local customers and other businesses to stop by and mingle. Serve some food and drinks or get them donated by another local business! The more the merrier during the holidays and a party is a great way to ignite some word-of-mouth marketing and build solid partnerships.
5. Dress up
Ugly sweater parties are popular during the holiday season, but why stop there?
There’s nothing that attracts customers like a fun attitude so take advantage of the festive spirit! Grab some reindeer antlers or wear Christmas pajamas if it’s appropriate for your business. Daycare centers can have fun dressing up and encourage a pajama day for students! Business professionals can have fun with a holiday-colored tie or socks to get in the holiday spirit. Of course, don’t forget to post on social media with the appropriate holiday hashtag.
6. Gift Guides
A gift guide is a great way to market your business during the holidays. Write a blog post about gifts for moms, dads, kids, and friends!
The gift guide can include some of your products but the best way to sell your business is not to sell it at all. Instead, showcase items that are related to your industry:
- Gift Guide for Accountants (tech gadgets, ties, fancy pen)
- Gift Guide for the Home Decorator (Christmas pillow covers, gold candlesticks, electric candles)
- Gift Guide for the Fitness Enthusiast (ice cleats for running outside, winter hat with Bluetooth headphones, Epsom salts for tired muscles).
People are always looking for gift ideas! Show potential customers how helpful you can be!
7. Send Holiday Cards
Customers like to be appreciated. Send holiday or New Year’s cards or e-cards to your contact list. Marketing is about keeping your business on the radar of customers—new or loyal—so that your business comes to mind when they need your services. Something as simple as wishing customers a Happy Holiday or Happy New Year is an easy way to get people to check out your website and keep your business in mind.
8. Tip or Product of the Day
Take inspiration from the 12 Days of Christmas and feature a tip or product of the day on your blog or social media feed. Fitness-related businesses like personal trainers or health centers can give an exercise of the day to fight off gaining holiday weight. Flower shops can feature a wreath or bouquet of the day featuring different holiday colors or flowers. Restaurants and bars can showcase a cocktail of the day for the holidays. You could also run a different deal or offer for each of the 12 days.
9. Go Behind the Scenes
Show customers what your business is like during the holidays with video marketing! Are you a busy baker who is making cakes and cookies? Take customers into the kitchen with a video of preparations for the holidays. People are curious by nature and giving them a sneak peek of new products or behind-the-scenes action will set you apart from your competitors!
10. Photo Opportunity with Santa or a Winter Wonderland
Last but not least, save time and money with consumer-generated content during the holidays.
Stage a photo opportunity at your store by inviting Santa to come or set up a winter wonderland for customers to post in front of. Everyone wants a picture with a gigantic polar bear so give customers the opportunity to market your business for you by having something fun to take pictures with!
Pick up some props like Santa hats or tinsel garlands and let customers go to town. Make sure to include a hashtag with your company and share, retweet, or regram customers’ photos on social media.
