Christmas has a habit of sneaking up on small businesses. One minute it’s October, the next you’re in the middle of the busiest weeks of the year wondering why you didn’t plan your marketing sooner.
The good news is that it isn’t too late. With a simple plan, a few weeks of preparation and some consistency, you can make this your most successful festive season yet. Here’s how to approach it.
1. Start with your dates
Before you think about content, get the key dates down in one place. That might include:
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday, if they make sense for your business
- Small Business Saturday in early December
- Your last order, booking or delivery dates before Christmas
- Any events, markets or open days you’re involved in
- Your opening hours over the holidays and the new year
These dates become the backbone of your plan. Everything else fits around them.
2. Decide what you want to promote
Trying to promote everything at once usually means nothing stands out. Choose a small number of priorities: a best-selling product, a gift voucher, a festive offer or a service people need before the new year. Give each one its own moment in the run-up to Christmas.
3. Plan your content in advance
A simple calendar from November to early January will save you a lot of stress. Map out what you’ll post and when, and mix it up:
- Gift ideas and offers that make it easy for people to buy
- Behind-the-scenes content showing your team, your preparations and your festive touches
- Reminders about deadlines, opening hours and how to order or book
- Thank-you posts celebrating your customers and your year
Batch-create as much as you can now, while you still have the time, and schedule it to go out automatically.
4. Make sure your website and listings are ready
Check that your website clearly shows your festive offers, opening hours and deadlines, and that it works smoothly on a phone, where most people will be shopping. Update your Google Business Profile with holiday hours too, so customers don’t turn up to a closed door.
5. Don’t forget your existing customers
The people who already know and like you are your best audience. A friendly email or a personal social post reminding them what you offer, with a small thank-you or exclusive offer, often brings in more sales than chasing new customers.
6. Think beyond Christmas Day
The days between Christmas and New Year, and the first weeks of January, can be surprisingly busy for some businesses. Plan a few posts for that quieter period, whether it’s a sale, a new year offer or a look ahead to what’s coming next.
Keep it simple and consistent
You don’t need to do everything. A clear plan, a handful of well-chosen promotions and regular, consistent posting will make far more difference than a last-minute flurry of activity in mid-December.
Want your Christmas marketing taken care of?
From festive social media content to email campaigns and Google Business Profile updates, we can plan and manage your Christmas marketing so you can focus on your busiest season.