The holidays are a crucial time for small businesses. According to the National Retail Federation, holiday retail sales in 2021 reached $886.7 billion, an increase of 14.1 percent from 2020. With so much money up for grabs, you need to make sure your small business is doing everything it can to attract holiday shoppers.
Fortunately, there are a number of creative holiday marketing ideas you can use to spread some holiday cheer (and boost your bottom line). From creating and sharing a gift guide to investing in festive packaging, here are some holiday marketing ideas for small businesses from the Azle Area Chamber of Commerce.
Create and Share a Gift Guide
One of the best ways to get people in the holiday shopping spirit is to create and share a gift guide. Your gift guide can be either digital (in the form of a PDF) or physical (like a printed booklet). Fortunately, almost any file can be turned into a PDF using this free converter, so you can use whatever program you’d like to create your guide. It should feature some of your most popular products and highlight why they would make great gifts. If you have any unique gift ideas, be sure to include those as well.
Invest in Festive Packaging
Another great way to attract holiday shoppers is to invest in festive packaging. This could mean anything from using holiday-themed wrapping paper and ribbons to emblazoning your logo on some ornaments. Whatever you do, make sure your packaging catches people's attention and gets them excited about what's inside.
Reward Your Most Loyal Customers
The holidays are also a great time to show your loyal customers some love. You can do this by offering exclusive discounts or giving them early access to new products. You can also send them handwritten thank-you notes or holiday cards. Whatever you do, make sure your loyal customers feel appreciated this holiday season.
Offer Useful and Interactive Web Content
In addition to making sure your website is up and running smoothly, take some time to post useful and interactive web content. This could include anything from blog posts and infographics to quizzes and polls. Just make sure your content is relevant to the holidays and that it helps people with their holiday shopping.
Boost Your Brand Via Social Media
Social media is another great platform for promoting your small business during the holidays. In addition to posting regular updates about your products and services, try hosting a Twitter chat or Instagram contest. You can also use social media to wish customers a “Happy Holidays” and promote any charitable initiatives you're involved in.
Use Giveaways and Contests for Buzz
People love free stuff, which is why giveaways and contests are such great marketing tools—especially during the holidays. You can use social media, email, or even in-store displays to promote your giveaway or contest. Just make sure the prize is something people actually want (like a gift card) and that the entry requirements are easy to follow.
Work Together With Other Local Businesses
Small businesses need all the help they can get during the holidays—which is why partnering with other local businesses is such a smart idea. You can team up with complementary businesses (like a toy store and a children's clothing store) for joint promotions or cross-promote each other's products on social media or in-store displays.
Use an Event to Bring in Traffic
Another great way to attract attention (and foot traffic) during the holidays is by hosting a unique event at your store or office. This could be anything from an ugly sweater party or cookie decorating contest to a visit from Santa Claus or live caroling performances. Just make sure your event is well publicized so people know when and where it's taking place.
Give Back to a Local Charity
Giving back is always in season—but it means extra during the holidays when people are feeling more generous than usual. One way you can support a local charity is by hosting a donation drive at your business location(s). You could also sponsor a family in need or volunteer at a local soup kitchen or food bank.
A successful holiday season is vital for small businesses—but with so much competition, standing out can be tough. Fortunately, there are plenty of creative things you can do to attract attention (and customers). Use these holiday marketing ideas to give your small business the boost it needs this season!
Looking for business support in Azle? The Azle Area Chamber of Commerce champions our community’s economic and cultural growth through networking, events, and advocacy. Click here to become a member today!
