COVID-19: Holiday Marketing Tips for Small Businesses
It’s no secret that the holiday season is looking a bit different this year.
With more people staying home and less people going out, you need to make sure you’re adjusting your holiday marketing strategy accordingly.
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
In a recent survey by Statista, 65% of respondents said that they are planning on changing up their holiday shopping habits this year.
Not to mention the effect on consumer spending. According to Morning Consult, 39% of U.S. holiday shoppers plan to spend less on gifts this year.
So what does that mean for your business?
It means that Christmas is coming and you need to step up your marketing game now more than ever.
So without further ado, here are 4 quick tips to help you sleigh the competition this holiday season:
Go Digital (If you haven’t already)
Consumer spending may be declining, but online shopping is definitely on the rise.
A recent survey by UNCTAD suggests that the increase in online shopping is likely to outlast the COVID-19 pandemic.
With that being said, if you haven’t already, now is the time to move your business online and maintain a strong online presence.
Pro-tip: It’s super important to keep all of your information online up-to-date and fresh so that people can easily navigate your website and get a feel for what your brand is about, without ever leaving their home.
If you remove any sort of friction and ensure an easy shopping experience, your customers will be more likely to actually complete their purchases.
Start Early
The days of scrambling to get your act together in mid December are over. Prep for the holidays well enough in advance to get the most out of your marketing.
If you’re struggling to think of content ideas, check out Promo’s December Social Media Calendar for some serious holiday inspiration.
There are 31 ready-made videos for every single day of the month, designed to engage your audience and bring results.
Pro-tip: You can make any video your own! Select a video and edit the text or change the footage to better compliment your brand. You’ll never find yourself out of ideas again.
Get the hard stuff out of the way now, so that you can sit back, relax and enjoy the eggnog later.
Show Customers You Care
People are paying attention this year. Your customers want to know that whether in-store or online, you’re doing everything you can to make their shopping experience as pleasant (and safe) as possible.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
If you own a physical store, make sure to clearly display how you are taking the necessary steps and precautions to ensure a safe, enjoyable shopping experience for your customers.
For those of you in eCommerce, be sure to communicate to and with your customers about any changes or updates regarding your shop.
Pro-tip: Using social media to build customer relationships is another great way to join the conversation and stay connected. A little bit of work can go a long way in building loyal customers and getting word-of-mouth referrals.
I don’t know about you, but lately I always remember which shops make me feel uncomfortable with their lack of social distancing, and which ones make me feel safe and clean. Guess which ones I go back to…
Show Your Value
What makes your product or service better than all the rest?
This year more than ever, people care about getting the best value for their money. So you need to clearly show off why they should do business with you over the competition.
According to Adobe, 7 out of 10 consumers are saving more than they did before the pandemic, and most are looking for a good holiday deal. Aren’t we all?
Pro-tip: People often select “free shipping” and “discount” when shopping for holiday deals, so make sure to focus on those rather than BOGO (buy one, get one) offers or a free gift with purchase.
So what are you waiting for?
Remember that your customers aren’t gone, they’re just at home. So don’t wait until the last minute to get your content in order, use these quick and easy tips as your guide to make the most out of your holiday marketing strategy this year.
Visit our COVID-19 Small Business Support Hub to get free resources for your business
