When the latter portion of the year comes around, the majority of people are generally thinking about the festive period. They’re rushing around trying to acquire last-minute Christmas presents, heading off on a trip for a festive experience, or they’re planning a family gathering to welcome in the New Year. But, for small businesses, the holiday season doesn’t signal an opportunity to take the foot off the gas.
In fact, if a business seriously wants to remain, or push ahead of their competition, then they must put extra effort in to prosper during the holiday season. As we’ve already touched on, consumers are often frantically searching for gifts or using various services to ensure they have a fantastic time. So, this highlights that there is still business to be conducted for brick-and-mortar or ecommerce stores at Christmas time.
Of course, corporate companies who usually work with other clients, such as B2B businesses, will experience a quieter time. But, they can use that time wisely, by preparing for the return of normal business in the New Year, or by planning how they can expand and become a bigger brand. Although, in this article, we’re going to be focusing on small businesses, which may struggle with the enhanced demand during the holiday season.
1. Fine-tune your advertising campaign
The holiday season presents a fantastic chance to increase your revenue, as people are ready and willing, to spend their money. Now, they’re also not going to be pondering on the purchasing decision for too long, because they’re concentrating more on securing something for their loved one.
Therefore, as a small business, it’s crucial that you capitalize on this to take your company forward. One of the best ways is to ensure your advertising campaign is constructed properly. You’ll want the ad itself to be eye-catching, direct and to convey the main message of your brand. Additionally, make sure you’re targeting the right audience with your advertising. If you can get people clicking on your ads, they’ll convert very well during the holiday season.
2. Hand out business cards to attract new customers
Whilst it’s brilliant to utilize the power of the internet to capture customers, there is still plenty of potential for face-to-face marketing in the festive period. Why? Well, because the streets are going to contain an awful lot more people around this time of the year, and that will allow you to forge unique relationships with people that are looking for things that your business provides.
But, if you don’t supply them with information about your business, they’ll either forget about you, or they won’t feel enticed to take any action. A way to solve that problem in a cost-effective way is to get small business cards printed that you can give to people, so they remember what your business can offer them.
3. Send a festive card to existing customers
While it’s great to push your new customers, it’s equally as important to retain the ones that you’ve got. A great way to do that is to ensure they feel like a valued member of the brand, and not just another number that you’re trying to get money out of. But, you’ll still want to subtly promote what you have on offer to them.
A brilliant method to do that is to send a personalized festive card to all of your existing customers. Not only will they feel as though you’ll care about them, but if you include discounts or new products on it, they’ll also remember to use you to cater for any of their needs.
4. Engage with your audience on social media
It may seem like people don’t have any time around the holiday season; either because they’re spending precious time with their family, or because they’re busy doing other things. But, if you can go the extra mile and engage with your audience on social media, then you’ll be able to realize what people want, what they don’t like, and how you can secure them as customers.
This doesn’t need to be a complicated ploy like advertising. You can simply communicate by hosting chats, questionnaires or surveys. A good example is posting images of some of your products, and asking people which one they prefer, which should subsequently evoke a healthy discussion.
5. Ensure you have enough inventory
Although this last one may sound very obvious, it’s arguably the most important. As a small business, you could follow all of the above successfully, but if you don’t have enough inventories to sell to people who want to buy, none of it will be useful. Either reflects on how much you sold last year, and gauge how much you’ll need based on growt or just overstock. It’s better to have too much, which you can to continue to sell, than not enough!