Make your brand shine this Christmas: free marketing ideas for small businesses
Autumn has arrived with a bang this year, the gloves are out, the fire is on, and the Christmas countdown has already begun.
For many small businesses, it's the best time of year to maximise sales and generate brand awareness. You don’t need a huge budget, just time spent planning and getting organised. And even if you provide a service (like mine), you can still offer discounts and promote your business with a Christmas theme. So, read on for some top tips on how to market your business for FREE this Christmas.
Plan your offer and promotion
The first step is to think about what you are going to offer. Are you planning on providing discounts, 2-4-1, doing a competition, a giveaway or other online offers such as a free delivery day? Spend a little time thinking about what you can offer and whether it will appeal to your target audience. When are you going to start and end the promotion?
Add some Christmas sparkle to your branding
It’s a great time of year to break out of your traditional marketing and be a bit more creative. Free apps like Canva and PicMonkey allow you to create great Christmassy themed graphics easily. Why not add a few festive baubles and holly to your website? And if you have a great offer, create social media banners for your profiles. You could even save the graphics you create for next year.
Get together with another small business
Can you think of a small business that would compliment your own? It’s a great opportunity for you both to get together and think about an offer or promotion you could both run. For example, if you were a portrait photographer, you could team up with a make-up artist and hairdresser, and perhaps even a personal stylist to offer a luxurious Christmas photo shoot.
Email marketing campaigns
If you have a mailing list why not run a campaign that provides an exclusive Christmas discount or promotion with a time-sensitive offer to your subscribers. This is also a great way to get new subscribers to your newsletter.
You could highlight specific products or services and inform people about your upcoming holiday times/opening hours.
Social media content planning
Christmas is a great opportunity to have some festive fun with your social media marketing, and with a bit of planning, you can schedule a months’ worth of content now using apps like Buffer and Hootsuite.
Ideas for content can include:
A mixture of themed graphics that contain tips, hacks and fun facts
A blog – reflection, planning etc
Run a fun poll – which is the best Christmas song ever?
Behind the scenes pics and videos of your tree, Christmas jumpers, family traditions, the office, wrapping gifts, selection of products for sale etc
Favourite baking/drink recipe (and you could ask people to contribute)
Christmas motivational quotes
A Facebook Live Post wishing everyone a happy Christmas
Your own festive promotion
Keep an eye on which content performs well so that you can incorporate it in next year’s schedule and don’t forget to engage and answer questions.
Get involved with Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is on 1st December this year, so get involved and support small businesses. You can add your business to their database, and they even have a marketing pack, logos and posters to help you make the most of the day. Be sure to put the date in your diary and support other small businesses!
It’s a wrap
Finally, if you sell a product, have you thought about charging extra for gift wrapping? Or why not send your gifts with Christmas themed wrapping. It doesn’t have to be expensive, as even some ribbon and a personalised thank you note can create a great impression.
Christmas is a huge opportunity for many businesses to maximise sales and grow brand awareness, but it's also one of the busiest times of the year. To make sure you get a break, spend time with the family and recharge your batteries, ensure you spend some time planning.
And don’t forget, if you need help with your social media or other work next year, why not get in touch.
