How to Effectively Market Your Business This Holiday Season
Written by Jennifer Thomas for nwoinnovation.ca
It’s that time of the year again when people splurge on gifts to give their loved ones. In fact, a survey commissioned by the Chartered Professional Accountants found that the average Canadian spends about $643 on holiday presents alone, and a good number of people even admit that they will probably go over budget.
As a brand, that means you've got lots of opportunities just waiting for you to explore. But how exactly do you join in on the Christmas buzz and market your business accordingly? Here are some strategies to get you started:
Offer holiday discounts
People love a good discount. And during this season, customers are already on the lookout for good bargains. All you have to do now is pick what kind of discounts you want to offer. They could buy 1, take 1 promos, cash discounts, or cheaper gift cards. You might even want to plan a series of short-term promos that change day-to-day, so that customers have a reason to come back to your store.
Provide gift suggestions
For some customers, gift cards don't provide enough emotional value. In this case, you can help by offering some gift suggestions. If your brand is on social media, consider creating "wish lists" that people can get ideas from. Alternatively, you could also send them out via newsletter, or maybe even offer holiday bundles that are already readily wrapped like gifts. It's a good way to promote your product, collaborate with other like-minded brands, and create seasonal relevant content.
Get online
A lot of people do their shopping online, thanks to the convenience and practicality. In fact, IT World Canada reveals that most consumers can be found looking for the best deals online, especially during occasions like Black Friday and Boxing Day. If you aren’t a part of the eCommerce market yet, there are plenty of website-making tools such as Wix that can help you get started.
Maximize your website and social media
On the other hand, if your store is already online, then you'll want to make sure that customers can find your products. Google is often the first place consumers search for items. If you want your business to stand out during this busy time, you have to up your SEO game. Digital marketing strategists Ayima note how effective SEO takes advantage of Google’s changing algorithms to ensure that your products always get seen, whatever the time or season. As such, some things you can do to be more visible to your target market is to optimize your site with holiday keywords or publish more Christmas-relevant content. The takeaway here is to have your website adhere to the holiday-dictated algorithms (think keywords like: "best artsy gifts for girls") so that it appears on the first few pages of search queries.
Offer free shipping
Again, if you do your transactions online, then another good way to attract customers is by offering free holiday shipping. Management consultants AlixPartners conducted a survey that showed how nearly half of online shoppers stop buying when delivery costs get “too high," so free shipping will certainly set you apart from others. Plus, you'll also want to offer an option to speed-track parcels to accommodate last-minute shoppers.
Participate in the spirit of gratitude
There's no better time than now to show your appreciation to people for supporting your brand. You can do this by sending out personalized "thank you" emails, for instance, or by hosting giveaways. It's a fun way to get customers engaged, while ensuring they remember you as they shop around.
Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of year, but it's also the busiest—both for businesses and customers alike. Don't get caught up in a holiday daze and plan your marketing strategies now.