Eight out of 10 small businesses say the holiday season is important for their overall profit (U.S. Small Business Administration).Holiday shopping brings excitement, revenue and growth opportunities for small businesses, but the surge in customers and extra tasks can leave little room for administrative tasks like marketing and advertising.
During the busy holiday season, independent business owners often find it overwhelming to manage marketing and run holiday campaigns. The demands of handling customers, staff, holiday specials and preparations make it harder to find time for planning social media posts and promotions. When running a whole holiday campaign isn’t feasible, business owners often look for ways to market their business while saving time and energy.
Standing out in the sea of snowflakes, Santas and festive marketing isn’t about working harder: it’s about working smarter. If executed correctly, small and simple actions can significantly boost your visibility and sales during the holiday season. We’ve put together a collection of holiday tips and strategies to help you stay energized and avoid burnout this festive season.
Repurpose What You Already Have
You don’t need entirely new content to make an impact this holiday season. Repurposing old images and campaigns with updated holiday themes ensures your content works as hard as you do (New York Times). One good photo can serve as the starting point for multiple holiday marketing strategies. A product photo or an old social media post can be repurposed into a gift guide social post, a festive email highlight, a blog image and even a Find Local RVA feature. With a fresh caption, a strong call-to-action, and, if you have time, some holiday magic like simple editing or festive elements, you can turn old content into the perfect holiday promo.
Follow the “Three Post” Rule
When the holiday season gets busy, keeping up with social media can feel impossible. A simple posting schedule can help to reduce some of the stress surrounding holiday marketing. By following the “three-post rule,” your business can stay active on social media without the stress of content planning. The three-post rule helps you stay consistent in your social media posting while keeping your followers engaged. Every week of the holiday season:
- Post one behind-the-scenes moment
- Post one product or service highlight
- Post one customer story each week
By posting three different content types, three times a week, you are more likely to show up organically in social media explore feeds, as well as gain brand visibility with new and existing customers (Hootsuite).
Partner Up Locally
The holiday season is all about bringing people together, and by collaborating with local businesses to promote each other, you can embody the spirit of the holidays and create shared visibility. Collaboration not only doubles your reach but also helps you reach new audiences and supports other local businesses (Resolution Promotion). Try teaming up for a simple joint offer or event, like a coffee shop and florist hosting a cozy “Morning & Blooms” special or a boutique and salon partnering for a festive “Shop & Style” day.
If a joint event isn’t feasible for your business, consider partnering with other small businesses to promote each other in creative ways. You could offer 10% off to customers who show a receipt from your local partner, or coordinate a same-day promotion where several shops share exclusive deals.
Remember to tag @findlocalRVA when promoting your partnership. Find Local is a directory of certified, locally owned businesses in Richmond, Va. The InUnison-powered platform is designed to help Richmond residents discover, explore and support local, independent small businesses. Tagging Find Local will amplify the reach of your partnership, while promoting both your business and your partners.
These simple partnerships help keep your business visible, support your neighbors and give customers extra motivation to shop local this holiday season.
Find Local Club Holiday Perks
You can further contribute to your holiday marketing efforts by joining the Find Local Holiday Campaign. By following the Holiday Readiness Checklist, you can ensure your business is seen and celebrated during this holiday season. By joining the campaign,local businesses will be promoted through advertisements, email spotlights, and social media posts, with the goal of encouraging the people of Richmond to “shop local.” The Find Local Holiday promotion gives your content extra visibility, reaches a larger audience, and helps a few simple marketing efforts go further, allowing your business to sparkle during the holiday season.
Wrap Up
- Work smarter, not harder. Holiday marketing doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Simple yet strategic actions can ensure your business is visible and festive without creating additional stress.
- Repurpose what you have. Repurpose photographs and content into festive posts and gift guides, keeping your business visible and merry this season.
- Simplify your social plan. Follow the “three posts” rule; share one behind-the-scenes moment, one product highlight, and one customer story each week.
- Create holiday magic by partnering locally. Collaborate with nearby businesses for joint offers, cross-promotions, or shared discounts, and remember to tag @findlocalRVA.
