Must do Christmas Marketing Planning Ideas
With Christmas just around the corner is your marketing plan ready and ramped up for the busy period? There is plenty of marketing that you need to be thinking about in the lead up to Christmas and if you are super organised your marketing plan was probably prepped months ago.
But, for many busy small business owners it’s difficult to always be organised and focused on all parts of your business. Often, the marketing strategy and marketing planning get overlooked. To help you this December here are 11 easy, must do marketing ideas if you have left your Christmas marketing planning a little last minute.
1. Decorate your marketing planning
After a depressing 2020, sprinkle some sparkle into your marketing planning by adding a few Christmas graphics and decorations. Decorate your website and social media posts, your small business or your home office. Don’t forget to decorate your zoom background with a Santa Christmas grotto. There are plenty of choices online, being mindful of copyright.
2. NATIONAL UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER DAY
Speaking of decorating, we are all familiar with cheesy Christmas sweaters. Why not dress up and celebrate the so-called ugly occasion on National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day on Friday, 18th December 2020. In Australia, you may want to swap the sweater for a cool t-shirt or pyjamas – unless you work under an air con vent that blasts chilly Artic air. Alternatively, don some reindeer antlers or Santa hat for the day.
3. LOYAL CUSTOMERS
Your loyal customers have supported your small business through a tough year, which could continue to be tough into 2021. Your business may not be able to afford extra Christmassy discounts, especially if your marketing plan has been full of promos throughout the year, however there are always other low-cost ways to say, ‘thank you’.
A simple phone or Zoom call with a smile, a traditional Christmas card in the mail. You could consider holding a virtual Zoom party. If you can afford a small gift, why not deliver a special hamper pack of goodies to your customers to celebrate and toast together at the Zoom party. Here’s to a brighter 2021! You could also offer a giveaway for attendees to encourage them to get online and mingling for the event
4. Taking time off?
Whether it is taking time off for the public holidays or a longer summer break. Don’t forget to post your holiday trading hours on your website, social media and search engines. How much advance notice to give your customers depends on your business. For example, a hairdresser might need to tell their customers eight weeks in advance depending on how regular their clients repeat book. As a general rule of thumb, give at least twice as long as the time period you are taking off. If you are taking four weeks holiday, then give at least two weeks advance notice with your changed trading hours.
5. Dwindling Christmas sales?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become major buying events in many small business marketing plans. Both events are now tending to dominate sales in the lead up to Christmas. If you don’t want to see your December sales dwindle, you need to apply fresh, new promos to your marketing planning and ensure it fits into your marketing strategy. Ever tried a ‘Belated Black Friday’ sale, one Friday in December, or a ‘Cyber Monday Mark II’? Ensure your social media and marketing plan builds up to these December events.
6. Christmas Video
Get the staff together (or customers) and post a Christmas video on your website and social media. Staff could share a fun or unknown fact about themselves. Perhaps a 12 days of Christmas countdown with or without a marketing promo offer each day. You could collaborate with other small business in the local area.
7. Christmas products
Does your marketing plan show case your Christmas products or services? These products need to drive your December marketing planning. Try some local event marketing and team up with other local small business to enhance each other’s offers. Consider developing a Christmas buying guide that can be marketed online or offline.
8. Holiday POsts
Going away for January and shutting shop for a week or two? Plan your marketing posts and schedule them to set and forget. You may have already scheduled yours in (well done!) If not, there’s still time. Design your posts to have minimal engagement with your customers during this time, to ensure you get a break away from customer queries. Some ideas to post:
- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year posts on each relevant day.
- Holiday hours.
- Back up staff or support staff contact details.
- A list of Q&A’s – answer your top queries and post them on your socials and website too.
- Holiday snaps – showcase those regional Aussie areas that you are planning to visit, the local beach or café, even your backyard pool.
- Food pics – every holiday has those iconic summer lunches and BBQ’s filled with #toomuchfood
9. the small business list
Not the naughty or nice list but a list of what you must do before the holidays. You need a small business checklist to check back against your marketing strategy and marketing plan. What was due for this quarter or month? Are we up to date? And what must be done before we close-up for Christmas?
10. DOing it tough
Many people and small business have faced crushing financial, physical and mental challenges in 2020. Unfortunately, at the stroke of midnight December 31, the world won’t magically turn into the previous normality. 2021 will continue to be a challenge. Consider donating this Christmas to a local charity toy drive or hamper drive for those who are having a difficult time. Many churches, schools and shops are collection points for these worthy causes.
11. Rest and recuperation
It’s getting to that quiet time of the year and well-deserved holidays. Who hasn’t lost their mojo in 2020? It’s time to destress, unwind, take a break and breathe. During the quiet time it is also a great time to reevaluate your small business marketing objectives and goals:
- What worked well this year?
- Did we meet our business and marketing objectives?
- Did the business grow?
- Did we enhance our strengths and reduce our weaknesses?
- How did we track against our competition?
- How can we improve?
- Are our products and services still the right fit for our target customers?
- Are we communicating to our customers through the right channels?
- Are we getting a return on our marketing investment?
Successful businesses have short and long-term marketing strategies and plans in place. Last minute marketing planning does not exist in a highly productive, organised business. These businesses have a never-ending list of marketing growth opportunities. What are yours for 2021?
If you are not sure what to do for 2021 or where your business is heading, it is time to work on your marketing strategy and marketing plan. We are all happy to see the back of 2020. Make 2021 the lucrative success you want it to be. Start planning now! Follow the December Checklist below to help keep your December marketing planning on track.
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About Leanne Di Fazio
Leanne has over 20 years marketing experience in large corporates and small business in Australia and the United Kingdom. She is passionate about helping small business grow and thrive. Leanne is the founder of Look Deeper Marketing: who specialise in marketing, strategy and planning for small business. Look Deeper Marketing bring affordable marketing consultancy to small business in Macarthur, Sydney and surrounding areas, with packaged options so you know exactly what to expect. Look Deeper Marketing: take a deeper look at your marketing.
