‘Tis that time of year again. The time where we show thanks and appreciation to all our loved ones (and customers). The time where we are in the buying mood for weeks on end. So in order to capitalize on this wonderful time of year, its vital that your company has a solid holiday marketing plan in place. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Repetition Sells

This time of year is saturated with companies trying to make their voice heard. Chances are, one marketing message won’t do the trick. Don’t be afraid to send the same tweet or email out multiple times over the next couple weeks. Even if you just change up a few words or try a new subject line for an email, you can use the same content over and over again. That way there’s a much better chance of your message being seen and digested by your audience. Don’t get lost in the crowd!

Email Reminders

Constantly be sending email reminders with what you want your customers to be doing or know about. Remind them that a certain product is back in stock. Remind them of the deal you’re currently running. Remind them that its the holiday season and they should start looking for things to buy for their loved ones. Remind them that your product or service can be that thing. Remind them where they can find your products or service. Remind them over and over again so that you stay top of mind when the wallets come out.

Limited Time Offers

Create a sense of urgency and exclusivity. When you incorporate an end date with the promotion, it makes the consumer feel the need to act now, rather than wait around for something else. When you create a limited time offer for something, it boosts the chances of the customer to buy from you, and buy immediately. On top of the limited time piece of it, it has to actually be a good deal, too. Or at least something they know they won’t be able to get anywhere else.

Throw a Party

Or host a happy hour at a local establishment. Anything to create an interaction with both your employees and customers that you wouldn’t get in your typical interaction. Inviting your customers out to hang out with you outside of business creates a deeper and more rooted relationship that will help you in a myriad of ways. You’;; get to know your customer on a more intimate level that will help you establish what kind of marketing messages to use in the future. It also creates a more transparent relationship between your company and your customers that will promote trust and boost your overall brand image so that you’re more top of mind.

People Are in a Buying Mood. Be Bold.

This is probably the only time of year when you can afford to be bold in your sales and marketing approach. It’s safe to assume that the majority of people will be in a buying mood, so being bold and frank with your messages can really pay off!

Create Customer Profiles

Take your best selling products or services, and create customer profiles of the people that would be the best fit for these items. Then share these profiles with the world, so that when someone is looking for a gift for someone that matches that profile, you’re right there!

For example, our best selling item at Hatch is membership to our 1000 Four group, which is a network of entrepreneurs from all walks of life that have access to our exclusive library of content and resources accessible online at anytime from anywhere, Netflix style. So a customer profile for us may be a stay at home mom, who is currently trying to get an at-home business off the ground. But, she’s unable to leave the house to attend networking or workshops, so 1000 Four would be perfect for her so that she could access all of our workshops, say, while her kids are at school, or at nap time.

When you give your products or service a relatable, personable frame, it resonates with people, and really enables them to picture the person on their list using your product or service, and establishes that connection in their brains.

Highlight Best Sellers

Let the world know which of your products or services are selling the best. When people know that other people are buying what you’re selling, it reinforces trust with your company and rationalizes the purchase. Especially if you have a product based company, letting people know that inventory is flying off the shelf will make them want to buy now so they make sure they get it before you sell out completely. Highlighting your best sellers is something to use over and over in your emails and social media.

Holiday Marketing Calendar

What to do for:

Thanksgiving- Send handwritten thank you cards, or emails, to your most recent and best customers. Let them know how much you appreciate their business and how much you’re looking forward to an ongoing relationship.

Black Friday & Cyber Monday- Start letting your people know about any Black Friday deals immediately so they can begin to plan out their shopping schedules. Pump your social media channels with reminders of these deals and keep your people in the loop.

Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa- These are the keys to the holiday season. The reason people have their wallets out, and are ready to buy all sorts of different present for all sorts of different people. These are the messages you should focus around selling your best products, and creating the customer profiles so that shoppers know which products go with each type of person on their list. Make it as easy as possible for people to know what you’re selling and how they can get their hands on it.

New Year’s- Figure out how your products or services can help or at least relate to someones’s New Year’s Resolution. Start these messages early, with the right fit, this message could be the reason someone buys your product or service as a gift.