The Small Business Spirit of the Season: How to Make Your Marketing Merrier

If you're a small business owner, now is the time to get creative with your marketing and really capitalize on the holiday season. Forbes notes that you have the advantage of being more nimble than large businesses and can pivot your marketing strategy quickly. Plus, small businesses have more personal relationships with their customers, which you can leverage to create loyalty and repeat customers. To boost your brand awareness this season, try some (or all) of the following tips courtesy of the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce.

Try Out a PDF Gift Guide

To make things easier for both customers and employees, many small businesses create a holiday gift guide. Clover explains that a holiday gift guide can help customers find the perfect gift for their loved ones, while also providing a handy marketing tool for the business. Moreover, customers are likely to appreciate the effort that goes into creating a holiday gift guide, and this can help to build brand loyalty. This guide can be sent out via email or made available on your website in PDF form, making it easily accessible on a smartphone. What’s more, if there’s a need for removing or reorganizing pages or sections, you can extract PDF content using a tool that allows you to extract these pages and use them elsewhere.

Liven Up Your Website Content

During the holidays, people are looking for content that's helpful, informative, and entertaining. Whether it's a blog post about how to make the perfect holiday cocktail or a fun quiz to help them find the perfect gift for their loved ones, make sure your content is engaging and useful.

A Holiday Contest

Customers love to receive freebies, so why not give them what they want? Host a holiday-themed giveaway or contest on social media or your website to get people interacting with your brand. Make sure the prize is something people actually want, like a gift card to your business or a basket of your products.

Opt for Seasonal Packaging

First impressions matter, so make sure your products are packaged nicely for the gift-giving season. If you sell physical products, consider using festive wrapping paper, ribbons, or even custom-printed bags with your company logo. Your customers will appreciate the extra effort, and it'll make your brand that much more memorable.

Host a Memorable Event

Holiday pop-up events are a great way for businesses to get into the holiday spirit and promote their products or services. Not only do they provide a unique and festive atmosphere, but they also give customers a chance to try out new products or services.

Get Social

Social media is a great way for small businesses to reach out to their customers during the holidays. By creating and sharing festive content, small businesses can connect with their customers and build goodwill. In addition, social media can be used to promote holiday sales and special offers.

Join Forces

To ensure a successful season, many businesses turn to partnerships with other local businesses. For example, a florist might team up with a local bakery to offer holiday-themed gift baskets, or a clothing store might collaborate with a jeweler to host a holiday trunk show. When you team up with other businesses in the community, you can reach a wider audience and tap into new customer bases. These partnerships can also lead to long-term relationships that continue long after the holiday season ends.

Make the most of your holiday marketing by brainstorming creative ways to build awareness of your small business! Whether it’s coming up with interactive content, sharing a PDF gift guide, partnering with other local businesses, or investing in festive packaging, there are lots of ways to spread holiday cheer (and generate some extra sales).