Have You Launched Your Holiday Marketing Campaign Yet?

Have you launched your holiday marketing campaign yet? If not, my next question is: what are you waiting for? The end-of-year holidays represent one of the best sales seasons for retail and service industries alike. And the best part is that it’s never too late to launch your holiday marketing campaign.

If it’s still before Thanksgiving …

It’s time to pitch your Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. You might not have time to print a full-color catalog, but you do have time to send a postcard campaign, place a large-format vinyl banner, or put up some flyers and posters. Your website and email list can help you promote your specials, and don’t forget social media!

If it’s still before Christmas …

There are plenty of last-minute holiday shoppers out there. Determine who they are and send a postcard to your customer list. Again, banners, flyers and posters can help you reach the masses for minimal investment. A holiday greeting card with a special VIP offer can also help drive holiday sales. Social media such as Facebook can also be a good tool for last-minute specials, especially if they can be purchased online.

If it’s after Christmas …

‘Tis the season for returns! Come up with a creative campaign to accept unwanted gifts in return for a coupon or special discount. Then, either sell those gifts yourself or donate them to charity – a powerful way to attract a large number of customers. An example campaign might work like this: You print and mail postcards (to a targeted list, of course) that offers customers a discount for each unwanted gift they bring in, which you’ll donate to a stated charity. You might give customers a 5 percent discount for one gift, 10 percent for two gifts, and 15 percent for three (you’ll need to put a cap on the number of gifts). Customers will feel great about donating their unwanted merchandise to charity, and they’ll have an incentive to take you up on your offer because they’ll get a discount toward something they really want. Before, during, or after the holidays, it’s never too late to cash in with holiday marketing. You just have to get a little creative to maximize your holiday sales.