Published December 3, 2015
Thanksgiving may be over, but there are plenty of holidays coming up that you can use to attract some new customers. When it comes to gaining exposure, don’t be afraid to be creative. Here are some ideas from our digital marketing company:
Everyone loves holiday cookies, so why not start a cookie recipe exchange? Create a new Pinterest board or Twitter hashtag and have your followers post their favorite cookie recipe to it. You can even turn it into a contest by picking a winner and posting the recipe on your website or blog.
For an easy way to often remind your customers (and potential customers) of your business, hand out magnets. They’ll think of you every time they open their refrigerator.
People love bumper stickers, so hand out holiday-themed bumper stickers with your company name on them. Then, tell the recipients that if you see your bumper sticker on their car, they’ll get a prize (such as a discount, free shipping, BOGO, etc.). This is a great way to spread your name around to people who may not already know your business.
Everyone looks forward to a good holiday party, so host one for your business and the other local businesses in your area. If you don’t want to take on the event alone, you can even team up with another business and host the party together. Then, mingle with others to get your name out there, hand out business cards, and give out freebies like stickers or buttons. After everyone has a great time, they’ll be telling their friends about you.
Surprise your clients by mailing each of them a personalized card for the holidays. You’ll not only show that you care, you’ll add a personal element to your business name.
Everyone writes wish lists, so hold a contest to see who can come up with the funniest one. Or, have them create one relevant to your business. For example: If you’re a clothing company, have everyone submit a wish list using your products. This is a great idea for Pinterest, as followers could create their own “Wish List” board. Otherwise, have participants post their wish list on your Facebook page or post a picture of it on Twitter and include your handle.
Who doesn’t love free things during the holidays? An e-book is a great way to gain exposure and establish your business as an expert in your industry. If you’re a restaurant, offer an e-book filled with holiday recipes. Or, if you’re a craft store, offer an e-book with fun holiday craft ideas.
Have some fun with your very own ugly sweater contest. Hold the contest on Facebook and have your followers post their best ugly sweater photo on your wall. Or, hold the contest on Twitter and have your followers post their photo and include your handle. At the end of the contest, pick the best ugly sweater and give that person a prize.
Encourage people to follow you on Facebook by hosting a “surprise gift” game. Offer a surprise gift once a day to those who sign up. Leave all but one gift empty and fill the one gift with a great prize. Each day, your participants will be excited to open their gift because they won’t know if they’re going to get the prize gift or an empty one.
If you already have an email marketing campaign in place, this is a great time to take advantage of it. Create your own holiday email and include special offers, discounts, new products, upcoming events, etc. Make the email eye-catching by including a holiday theme or holiday colors and by wishing your clients a “Merry Christmas”, “Happy Hanukkah”, or “Season’s Greetings.”
Which holiday marketing idea will you try? Or, if you already have a holiday marketing idea for your business, tell us what it is! We’d love to hear it.
