Tips and Tricks for Ending this Year and Starting the Next

As a business owner trying to get the most out of the season, you need to create an effective end-of-year marketing plan.

We’ve condensed our tried and true Q4 strategies and have gathered them here so that all you need to do is read through them and determine which ones are right for your business. So be sure to check out our five most impactful seasonal marketing strategies. They could be just what you need for a successful start to 2023.

Communicating your holiday hours is one of the most manageable holiday marketing tips.

Holiday hours and closures can have a major impact on your business’s operations. If customers are aware of the changes ahead of time, it could avoid delays, interrupting service, and potentially disgruntled clientele. To ensure smooth sailing throughout the holiday season, it’s important to communicate your closure plans early and often with your customers. The information needn’t be dry either. For example, this business included a festive photo of their staff along with information on their closures

Make sure that everyone is on the same page about when you will be open and what kinds of special protocols may be in place. Additionally, it’s smart to provide customers with multiple ways to find this information or access customer service if necessary– think Google Business Profile, social media post, website banners or near where your hours are listed on your website. When your customers know exactly when you’re open and available for them, they are more likely to trust your business and come back for services beyond the holidays.

“An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing.”

When it comes to shopping for the holidays, doing it at the last minute is the worst. The same can be said for holiday marketing planning. Marketing strategies require ample planning and execution to ensure maximum impact. Last-minute decisions over campaign content can lead to rushed work with little consideration given to messaging, target audience, or the overall purpose of the campaign.

In today’s digital age with multiple communication channels, businesses must be intentional in developing campaigns well ahead of deadlines so they can break through the noise and get their desired audiences’ attention. Taking a proactive approach allows ample time for preparation, research, creativity, and testing – all essential components to ensure success when launching any major campaign initiative. Investing time upfront can save immense heartache (and money) down the road! “Getting your expectations in place and creating the systems that will allow your team to excel are key to successful marketing, but proper calendaring is what will bring it all together.” – Medium

Determine holiday specials and any specific holiday marketing ideas.

Making early decisions on what your holiday specials will be gives you the extra time you need to handle all the details and protect yourself from any potential pitfalls. Moreover, you can use that extra preparation time to design promotions and advertisements that maximize customer engagement and create opportunities for generating income through the holiday season. The National Retail Federation recently shared research that claims that approximately 40% of holiday gift-givers will begin their shopping before Halloween! That means to get the attention of that 40% of holiday shoppers, your marketing will need to be planned and executed early.

Determining holiday specials early will ensure that your business meets its holiday goals and avoids any last-minute surprises. Early decision-making also allows you to allocate resources such as staffing or budgets more efficiently. In short, deciding your holiday specials early is both a practical precaution and an important way to manage your resources properly. By taking steps now, you will reap the benefits later.

Reflect on and review the fiscal year.

From the major accomplishments to the daily tasks, a thorough review of the year can provide valuable insights. Reviewing metrics is an excellent way to track progress and identify areas for improvement. It also allows businesses to set goals that consider your previously collected data, either from the Google Analytics provided by your Riverworks account manager or from elsewhere.

Additionally, reviewing what worked in the past year can inform decisions for future business strategies. Analyzing what didn’t work is equally important, as it can help managers prevent costly mistakes down the road. By having all of this information readily available, businesses can plan intentional moves while understanding their strengths and areas that need more attention.

Possibly one of the best holiday marketing ideas? Prepare for the New Year.

The holiday season is the perfect opportunity for businesses to capitalize on newfound downtime to plan and prepare for the upcoming year. If your business already has plans or initiatives coming up in the next 12 months, use this time to get organized and get a jump start on any necessary tasks. Gather data, assess your current state, and put together a roadmap or checklist of items that you will need to have ready when the year begins.

On the other hand, if you still need to create a plan for 2023, take advantage of this time to brainstorm ideas and plot out strategies for future success. Put together research and analysis to see which kinds of projects might be profitable or advantageous for your business in the long run. With a little bit of preparation now, you can set yourself up for success throughout 2023 and beyond! As always, share these goals with your Riverworks account manager so we can grow with you in the year to come.