Affordable Holiday Marketing Ideas To Try For Your Local Business

Caroline D. Quinn Holiday Marketing, Small Business Marketing

Looking for some affordable marketing ideas for your local business during the holidays? Many of these ideas won’t take a lot of time to do and can have real impact. Here are a few that won’t break the bank:

• Spotlight special services or amenities like free gift wrapping, curbside pick-up, personal shopping, etc. on your website, social media, emails, ads, etc..

• Send e-blasts to your email subscribers promoting gift ideas, special offers, and services. Share a link to your e-blasts on your social media.

• Offer a discount on specific items for a limited time.

• Keep your website up to date, especially if you sell online.

• Promote extended shopping hours on your website, social media, and in your store.

• Set up a Shop (e-commerce) on your Facebook and Instagram business pages.

• Create reels to feature gift ideas and holiday tips, and post to Instagram and Facebook. Also share to your feed and stories.

• Post regularly on your Google My Business page. Your posts will show up with Google search results.

• If you have a blog or a newsletter, feature helpful holiday tips for your customers.

• Promote a giveaway like a gift card, shopping spree, or a gift basket. Or have a giveaway in your store on a specific day. This is also a great way to get email subscriber sign-ups by including an opt-in field on the entry blank.

• Give back to a local charity and spotlight this in your marketing, like a toy drive, food drive, or clothing drive. Ask the charity to help promote what you’re doing. Send out a press release to local media.

• Host a Customer Appreciation event and offer refreshments and hot chocolate. Tie-in activities like photos with Santa to appeal to families, prize give aways, live holiday music, etc.

• Host a Trunk Show spotlighting products from a particular line. Include a special discount during the event or a small giveaway to attract customers. Assign an employee to show/demonstrate the products, or ask your vendor to send a rep.

• Partner with other local businesses nearby on an outdoor event, promotion, or a prize package giveaway.

• Participate in holiday markets in your local area to get exposure to customers who have never been in your store or business.

• Offer a bounce-back coupon for a discount after Christmas for those who purchase now.

• Promote gift cards as a convenient gift option.

• Boost your posts on Facebook or Instagram, or run ads with the reach or store traffic objective to target customers within a specified mile radius of your location. 

• Get your customers into the holiday spirit (and a buying mood) by decorating your store or business and creating a festive holiday atmosphere.

• Maximize key shopping days during the season such as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.

Remember to focus on a few things you can do well during the holiday season, with a goal to engage your customers and create sales for your business. Good luck and have a very happy and prosperous holiday season!

 

Caroline D. Quinn is the founder of Quinnovative Marketing, a marketing services company that helps small and mid-size business owners in New England.