Small businesses need a strategy for the holidays. Here are some tips to maximize your holiday sales. I used some of these for my organizing business. This post has been updated in 2024 with additional tips.
Tips to Maximize Your Holiday Sales
- Develop your holiday strategy early. October/Early November is a great time to do this. Use a calendar and mark the events and activities so all employees know the strategy.
- Focus on promotions that add value, not price, like free wrapping with purchase.
- Team up with other small businesses and create an event that benefits both companies.
- Show your small business uniqueness and appeal during the holidays. I like to advertise one of my services as a holiday gift to help others get organized.
- Build a sense of urgency on social media, in-store, by email, and on your website. Use words like “Expires soon” and “Last day guaranteed for Christmas.”
- Market gift cards for last-minute shoppers or people who don’t know what to get. The goal is for everyone to buy something, right?
- Use rich text media, like photos, memes and videos. Social media sites love great visuals. Ask a question, create engagement.
- Create urgency. Use examples like, “Hurry, this promotion will not last!”
- If you sell products, add a “free shipping” promotion if you pay over a certain dollar amount.
- If you sell digital products online, try offering bundles (packages) of your products at a discount. Be sure to include the details, such as how all the digital products come together seamlessly and why they should get the bundle.
- Offer referral discounts. Give existing clients (affiliate) exclusive discounts and a loyalty program or coupons for your services or products.
- Send a thank you email or card sharing your appreciation for a promotional product or service you are offering.
What are your most popular items that were sold from September to November? Make sure you have those items in stock. Read more.
Keep in mind that it is essential to communicate with potential or existing clients (affiliate) at least 3-5 times through the season or more to get their attention and help them choose your product or service.
Now that you have decided what to do, keep track of the results. Then, come back and answer these questions at the end of the season.
What to do at the end of the busy holiday season?
It is essential to analyze your results for the season and the year at that time. It’s a perfect time to review your events at the end of the season and jot down what worked and what didn’t. Here are some questions to ask yourself.
Was everyone focused on the goals?
Did you attract new customers?
Were there past clients (affiliate) that returned?
Did customers engage in the event?
Have you received new leads for services?
Did you increase your email list?
What worked with the promotion?
What did not work well?
I hope these tips help you have a prosperous holiday season. Good luck to your small business.
Visit our other posts about marketing ideas during the holidays.
10 Holiday Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses
Six Tips to Maximize Your Time with Inbound Marketing
Great post Sabrina! Lots of good ideas here! They are all practical for all different types of small businesses. Also, they will work year round too!
These are all great tips to be prepared and to optimize the holiday season for your business or service. There is so much frenzy during this time of year that anything we can do to make it easier for people to choose our product or service, makes a lot of sense. I imagine some companies start in January to plan their Christmas holiday season and I remember going to a local One-of-Kind Show, (a huge show that attracts artisans from all over North America), and hearing that many of them are preparing the entire year to have enough product to display and sell at this once-a-year 10-day show and sale. Thanks for the tips, Sabrina!
We knew we needed to get going on our holiday plan & sales early but always catching up. My daughter designed a new style lariat & the second it is finished, promoted in newsletter or ad, it is sold. They take some time to make so thats all she can do.
So many great suggestions and I especially like the questions to ask yourself at the end of the season so that you can make it even better next year. Good to do while it’s fresh in your head. Also a great reminder to have plenty of the most popular items.
Thanks for the reminder! I need to finalize some holiday offers that have been banging around in my head.
Thanks for the excellent checklist.
This is a great plan! While I don’t actually have holiday sales in my business, most of these tips will work for me at any time. Thank You!