It’s no secret that this is a big time of year for almost every business out there. Everyone is getting ready to wrap up for the year, but businesses are also ramping up their marketing.
In the midst of holiday madness, businesses can often make costly errors in their seasonal promotions. Why not read about these holiday marketing mistakes to help you from repeating them with your own business?
1. Forgetting All the “Minor” Events
We know Black Friday. We know Hanukkah. And we definitely know Christmas.
These, of course, take center stage the second we’ve packed up the pumpkin pie.
We also have Cyber Monday (which actually surpassed Black Friday in sales last year), Small Business Saturday, Giving Tuesday, and Free Shipping Day (scheduled for December 15th this year). All of these smaller events give you an opportunity to promote your business with a new angle.
Some of these days — like Cyber Monday and Free Shipping Day — will benefit you most by being big sales days. Free Shipping Day is a particularly powerful one, especially since desperate Christmas shoppers are becoming more willing to spend top dollar on anything that will come in time to put under the tree.
Giving Tuesday and Small Business Saturday, on the other hand, can be used to bolster your brand’s story as a small business who is passionate about being involved with the community.
Make note of each of these days at the beginning of the holiday season, utilize them in your social media calendar. If you’re running Facebook or Instagram Ads, it doesn’t hurt to include this in your copy for the day.
2. Not Sending Year-End Thanks to Loyal Customers
Thanksgiving may be over, but the end of the year is a time of reflection for many. Reaching out to loyal clients and customers isn’t required by any means, but even a quick personalized note thanking them for their business can help build that always-important relationship.
Whether this takes the form of a handwritten card (if you aren’t sure if they do or don’t celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, a “Happy Holidays” is always appropriate) or a quick email thanking them and wishing them a happy new year, this is a gesture that won’t be forgotten. It takes just a few minutes, but for someone who has spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars, it’s a gesture that will mean a lot.
3. Skimping On Researching the Competition
Competitor research and monitoring is something…
