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Christmas
is Coming!
Small Business Holiday
Marketing Tips 2015
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The days when you could start your holiday
marketing in December are long gone.
Regardless of what service or merchandise you
provide, in 2015 you will have stiff competition,
both online and for local shoppers. And you can
bet your competitors are already plotting their
first moves.
To help you compete here are some of our
favorite small business holiday marketing tips.
Don’t Wait Too Long to Start your
2015 Holiday Marketing!
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It’s Christmas, so dig out the ornaments and
spruce up for the holidays. This includes every-
thing from adding a few Christmas related im-
ages to your website, a few snowflakes for your
email template, and adding a holiday themed
profile image to your social accounts. And don’t
forget your store locations!
Go Ahead. Decorate!
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Ask your customers what they want. It really
is that simple! Do they want the latest gadget,
or are they more interested in money-saving
coupons?
Post an online survey on SurveyMonkey or use
your business website to survey your customers.
Target your marketing campaign and messaging
accordingly.
Listen to Your Consumer!
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Your ultimate goal is to encourage a purchase.
Make that as easy as possible. Any landing page
on your business website needs to focus on that
goal.
Your landing pages should be simple and direct,
and focus on one product or service. Feel free
to ornament, but don’t let seasonal decorations
detract from the main purchase.
Design an Effective Landing Page!
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Promote your holiday specials early, before all
your competitors do!
Host a preview sale, or other special event at
your location, or feature a special offer combined
with a teaser image or video clip online.
Give Your Customers a Sneak Peek!
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Be cool and give your customers a glimpse be-
hind the scenes. Showcase your festive brand, or
perhaps your awesome customers.
Show how easy and fun it is to prepare for the
holidays with you and your team.
Get Creative!
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Offer existing customers exclusive deals. Simple
things like “Free Holiday Shipping” or a special
coupon, code, or even discount on a future
purchase work best.
Offering your customers a deal that your
competitors don’t will entice consumers to buy
from you.
Make Them Feel Special!
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This may sound strange in the digital age. But
sending an actual holiday card can really make
your business stand out.
Thank your customers for their support and
loyalty and wish them a happy holiday. This can
have a big impact!
Send Them a Card!
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Start reflecting the changing of the season. Sim-
ply by including autumn and holiday-themed
headers can make a big difference.
Visual clues are important to get your customers
in the mood to purchase.
Customize Your Email!
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Be sure to engage your customers through all
of your social media channels. Get consumers
excited about your brand.
Social contests like ugly holiday sweater or
cutest pet costume contests are a great way
to engage your audience and collect email
subscribers.
Be Social!
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Speaking of social media, don’t forget that
Pinterest has been proven to drive online sales
better than other social channels.
Create a holiday-themed Pinterest board that
promotes your seasonal offerings and products.
Be sure to include the URLs for all your holiday
campaigns.
Don’t Forget Pinterest!
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One evening during the holiday season you
should extend your regular hours, or invite your
customers to a private event at your store. Give
them a special incentive discount only valid for
this one event.
Even if you do not have a physical location think
about having a cyber event, such as a Google
Hangout or TweetChat
Have A Holiday Party!
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Stand out by sometimes NOT posting or sending
out sales messages. They bombard everyone in
the holiday season.
Give your subscribers and customers a break and
instead post a team picture in Santa hats or your
neighborhood decorated for the season.
Don’t Make Everything Promotional!
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This is the age of personalization. Make sure your
messaging is targeted to specific segments of
your audience.
Make sure to include the recipient’s name.
“Merry Christmas Jennifer” is so much more
heartwarming than “Dear Customer.” Maybe
even include a picture of your holiday party to
show them how you and your team celebrate
the holidays.
Get Personal!
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Even if you are a primarily brick-and-mortar
business you still need to cater to your online
audience. Not everyone will flock to your store
the moment the turkey gets cold.
Today’s cost conscious consumer knows the
best deals can be found the Monday after. Be
sure to create an exclusive offer for your online
audience.
Don’t Forget Cyber Monday!
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This Saturday is dedicated for small business
owners just like you. Almost every city or small
business association has special promotions, in-
cluding special events and advertising and PR
campaigns. Be sure your small business takes full
advantage.
Celebrate Small Business Saturday!
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Today’s savvy consumers may even wait until
after the holidays to complete their holiday
shopping. Smaller crowds and bigger bargains
are usually the incentive.
Be sure to look beyond the traditional holiday
marketing time frame to benefit from the entire
season.
Plan for After The Holidays!
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Here are a few things that will help you implement our small business holiday
marketing tips:
1.	 Take a look at last year. What worked, and what didn’t?
2.	 Ask your team for input. How can they help?
3.	 Consider bringing in outside help if you need it.
4.	 Create as much content as you can ahead of time.
5.	 Determine a budget, and stick to it!
6.	 Be yourself, and have fun!
Additional Resources!
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1.	 Email Service Providers: MailChimp, Constant Contact
2.	 Social Media Tools: SproutSocial, HootSuite, Filament
Related Blog Posts:
1.	 Key Dates for 2015 Christmas Marketing
2.	 30 Creative Ideas for Your Holiday Email Marketing
3.	 Creating Effective Social Media Marketing Strategies
4.	 Common Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
5.	 10 Tips for Writing the Perfect Email Newsletter
Additional Resources!
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Contact Info
Feel free to reach out if you need help!
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