Now that you have set your holiday goals, defined your audience and created your offer, it’s time to talk about marketing!

So where to start? You can promote in so many ways: online posts, a community newspaper, by partnering with neighboring businesses, via print advertising, big banners, banner ads, direct mail, online ads, email marketing and yes, even personal invitations! We’ll cover a few of these options below, be sure to take some time and think creatively. How does your audience expect to hear from you? What would represent a pleasant, unexpected surprise? In today’s busy world, what would make them stop and take action?

Marketing Events: Is your offer is in conjunction with an event, such as Small Business Saturday, or an event of your own creation? If so, be sure to start promoting your event with both in-store signs and on social media well before your event. When it comes to social, customers love behind the scenes content. You can even build and...

Now that you’ve thought about your goals and your audience, it’s time to determine what product or service you’re promoting and what type of incentive will excite your customers enough to take action! We’ll do this in a few simple steps.

1. Think back to your best customer. What product or service of yours would they really want or need right now or that they would LOVE to share with one of their loved ones. Maybe it’s an amazing bag or accessory, a local piece of art, a hand-crafted candle, a trending kitchen or tech gadget, a smartly sourced article of clothing, or even a craft project that will release their creativity or a coaching program to help them jump start the new year. Or maybe it’s based on how you package different products or services to add value and to make their shopping experience easy and fun! What will really WOW your audience?
2. Now think about what type of incentive typically inspires your ideal client to take action. Does your...

If you read our first blog, you already have at least one holiday marketing goal in mind. Now that you have your goals in mind, it’s time to focus on your audience. Think about any time you see an ad, whether it’s on TV, in magazine, in a newspaper, or perhaps even an online ad in Facebook or on Instagram. Those ads are all doing the same thing. They are trying to talk to – or connect – with their intended audience. This is what you want to do with your offer. You want to connect with your audience in a meaningful, inspiring way. But first, you need to determine who you’re talking to. The more you can visualize your audience, the more you can connect with them.

So, who is the audience you want to connect with for your offer? A great way to start is by considering who your VERY BEST customer or client is and then create an offer that appeals to that person. When you think about this person, think about their generalities, their demographics. What age...

It’s not too late to prepare your holiday marketing plan! Whether you own a brick & mortar or an online business, if you’re planning on doing any type of offer, sale or event for the holidays, now’s the time to start planning. The first step to achieving your holiday success is by creating a compelling offer that resonates with your audience, and this step beings with setting your holiday marketing goals!

The holidays present an amazing time of year on so many levels. Besides general holiday events and sales, there are many national days of recognition just around the corner. #SmallBusinessSaturday #CyberMonday #Giving Tuesday. Each of these days provide great opportunities to connect with new customers, increase your brand awareness and meet new revenue goals.

Another great thing about the holidays… the energy! It can be a magical time of year, there’s a buzz in the air. As individuals let their guard down, relax a little from their work...