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4 last minute holiday marketing tips for your small business

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Now is the time to really ramp up your online marketing for the holiday season. The holiday rush has always been a profitable time for Canadian business owners and this year will be no different. According to Newswire, 22% of Canadian consumers are expected to be last minute shoppers. The holiday rush presents an excellent opportunity for small business owners to boost sales and finish the year strong.

 

Here are a few easy to implement holiday marketing tips to make the most of the rest of the season:

 

1. Update your website and social media to incorporate holiday themes

 The holidays allow you to brand your business on a more personal level. Draw your audience in by giving them insight to what the company is like behind the scenes. You can post pictures of an ugly holiday sweater contest or share a video of staff playing secret Santa. Festive colours as well as images of people having fun will put people in the holiday spirit and in the buying mood. Happiness is also the top motivator for social media sharing according to Fractl’s study of main drivers for sharing.

 

2. Connect with existing customers on social media

The holidays are a great time to reach out to your customers through your social media. Send a message of thanks to your customers or share an employee appreciation story – it’s an excellent way to build loyalty and remind customers why they like doing business with you. Leveraging your relationship with your customers also sets you apart from the other companies using social media to advertise at this time of year. You can also use social media to encourage repeat business through reward programs and exclusive offers.

 

3. Use your website and social media to market a limited time promotion

Last minute shoppers worry they have missed out on all the best deals. A limited time promotion is a great way to capture their attention and create urgency. According to newswire, 39% of Canadians used social media to find deals during the 2016 holiday season. Use popular hashtags like #lastminutedeals, #holidaysale or #giftideas to entice an actively searching audience. You should also make your promotions unique so people will share them.

 

4. Market for the post-holiday rush

The period after the holiday rush can also be a very profitable time. Give some thought to what will attract the most customers and come up with an exciting promotion. Be creative so your sale will stand out and resonate with your audience.

Online, mobile and social media sites continue to be the most popular tools Canadians will use to find out what to buy during the holidays according to Accenture. It’s very important to make sure your products or services get noticed on these platforms or you risk being overlooked.

 

Add your business to 411.ca for free today to connect with local shoppers this holiday season!

Dwight has a double major in Marketing and Business. He is passionate about helping small businesses grow and enjoys writing to provoke thought and start conversations.