For consumers and businesses, the Holiday season is perhaps one of the most chaotic times of the year. Between shopping, family gatherings, and an insane amount of shopping, it can be tough for any business to be at the top of people’s (often cluttered) minds throughout the holidays.
As a business, you’ll need to stay laser-focused and push Holiday-related distractions to the side in order to maximize your success. The good new is, there are strategies and tactics you can use to cut through the Holiday chaos, and stand out from the crowd in your city, state, and industry.
Effective planning, hosting events, and supporting a cause are just a few Joplin holiday marketing strategies that can help businesses can make the most of the holiday season.
1. Take Time to Plan
The old saying still applies when it comes to the holiday season - “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” Things will be the most hectic during the holiday season, so it’s critical that you invest the necessary time and energy in strategizing your plan leading up to December. If you haven’t started now, don’t worry because early December isn’t too late to get going! However, in an optimal scenario, you’ll want a few months of lead time to develop and refine your plan.
Your plan should include elements like a calendar, budgeting, and marketing messaging that you’ll use for the season. If you plan to run a Christmas sale, for instance, make sure you have a plan to stock enough inventory, and a financial plan to maximize the profits from the sale. Planning prior to the Holiday chaos is critical because you’ll have an ironclad document to keep you focused and on task.
2. Host Events & Sales
Another way to capitalize on the Holidays is to run events that are related to the season. This can be any number of things, from sales to giveaways to charity events. Supporting the local community by engaging in cause marketing is a perfect way to tie in events that promote your business, along with the traditional Holiday spirit of giving and generosity.
Your Holiday events and sales should be included in your overall plan so you can take an integrated approach to your marketing efforts leading up to the event. This will help you develop action campaigns to run on radio and digital channels to maximize traffic to your event. Zimmer Radio, Inc., for example, can help broadcast live from a big sale or event, and simultaneously manage a social media campaign. Our website design services could also tailor your website to reflect the upcoming event, taking a multi-channel approach that much further and having all of your channels speak cohesively.
3. Tell Your Unique Story
No matter what industry you’re in, from auto repair to retail, your business and brand have a unique history and identity. You know exactly what separates you from competitors, and so do your most loyal customers. When it comes to cutting through the holiday marketing clutter, it’s all about connecting with people through a story they can relate to.
4. Put Your Best Foot Forward
Just think about what specifically makes you different. Is it your years of experience? Maybe it’s customer service or a convenient location? You’ll want to feature your best assets that will speak to your audience’s needs throughout the holidays. Showcase those assets in a targeted, strategic message on the channels that your audience spends time on. If you’re an auto repair shop in Southwest Missouri, for example, your target demographic might prefer a specific type of radio station and ensuring you share your message on the right channel is vital to the success of sharing your story.
5. Don’t Be Shy
Don’t hide your message… share it with the world! The final part of the puzzle is frequency. During the holiday season, you’ll need your targeted ads running frequently on the right channels. Maybe a lot of your target audience works overtime or the night shift? You’ll want to have your ads be more frequent at these times and maximize frequency to that audience.
The holiday season is a whirlwind for everyone, whether we like it or not, but by planning ahead, you can reduce the stress and maximize the success of your business goals during this chaotic time of year. Highlight what makes you stand out to your target audience, and work with an experienced media partner like to share your message effectively.
