Here are our top tips to help you plan for your festive business – Get in touch if we can assist with any of your marketing and promotional content during the Christmas rush.
Refresh your photography stock
This is the time of year to update your Christmas product and promotional photography. Contact us at the Malting House for all of your seasonal photography requirements.
Revisit your website
People are searching for present ideas, and might be landing on your website or social media for the first time.
Visit your site using an incognito* browser window, and try to be a new visitor. How quickly do you find what you want to know or buy?
(*in the top right of your browser click the three dots, and choose “incognito” or “inPrivate” option – your normal cookie settings etc will not apply).
Buy one of your own products
Remind yourself of the whole customer journey, including the emails and follow-up information, packaging etc. Are you a happy shopper? Or could you make the process even better before Christmas shoppers arrive?
Email newsletters
Help your customers to plan ahead too, by sending out a timely newsletter. Add “Shop early for Christmas” offers, and let them know if you are attending festive markets and fairs. Send them directly to the relevant part of your website, and track who’s opening the messages and clicking through.
Bundle up
Bring additional value to your customers, and increase your own sales. Offer product bundles as Christmas gifts, such as a ‘pamper pack’ of toiletries, or ‘coffee and cake’ deals.
Treat your customers
How about a Christmas gift of a small promotional item, or a greetings card with a personalised message for loyal customers or clients? Or treat them with a hamper of goodies.
This is the perfect time of year to thank loyal customers and it can often payback richly in terms of positive reviews and comments. Remember to share images on your own social media, and tag your suppliers too.
Gift Vouchers
Do you sell an experience rather than a physical product? Some people are looking for gift vouchers to give your experience to someone else. Make sure they are easy to find on your website.
Sparkles & snowflakes
Feeling creative? Add a few sparkles or snowflakes to your website, images, and products to get people in the festive spirit.
Shop local
A lot of shoppers are favouring local suppliers – can people click and collect from you, meet you at a market or fair, or do you offer local deliveries? Try to make it easy for your customers, and yourself!
Look out for any ‘shop local’ schemes in your nearest town/city, which might be run by the local Council or Traders Association. Make sure you use their hashtags in your publicity too.
Countdown
Plan some countdown social media content – XX weeks to go, or an advent calendar throughout December.
Use this regime to share facts about your business and products, offers, a review of the year, etc.
Another one to try is the 12 days of Christmas, from Boxing Day onwards.
Don’t stop at Christmas
Use some of these ideas as we move into the New Year. Think about weekly social media content - what can you re-use from the festive posts you wrote? Keep sharing details of how people can meet you or find you.
People need gifts all year round – rework your Christmas present words to suit them.
Let us help ...
The Malting House would love to help your business with any of the above during this hectic time. contact alan@themaltinghouse.co.uk if you'd like to discuss how we can help you make the most of the festive season.