It’s that busy time of year again – the abundance of gift buying, stocking stuffing, house decorating, and holiday celebrating leaves us wondering how we’ll ever manage to get everything done. And to top it all off, add the endless influx of mailers, email newsletters and holiday cards, and you might find yourself asking, “Why should I bother bombarding my customers and prospects with mailers when they probably won’t even get the chance to read it?”
Even though it’s a busy season, it doesn’t mean you should just opt out from marketing your business, let the holiday season fly by, and start promoting come January. The holidays are when consumers tend to purchase the most, which makes it the perfect time to get into the spirit and give away deals and promotions for your company, spike sales, turn prospects into customers, as well as strengthen existing customer relationships. Everyone else is doing it, so why shouldn’t you take advantage of the giving season and show your customers your appreciation during the holidays? Chances are, your efforts will generate more business and keep your customers happy too.
If you’re unsure of where to get started,
GotPrint has several, economical ideas and options that you might consider for your holiday marketing strategy:
Give your customers and prospects an incentive.
Postcards are probably the most popular mailers, and with good reason. They’re cost-effective, easy to design, small, and to the point. Get creative and give your customers and potential customers a reason to purchase from your company during the busy and competitive holiday season. Highlight a promotion, discount, or special offer. Perhaps you want to offer $20 off for friend referrals, or a free gift when you make a purchase exceeding $50. Whatever your incentive may be, make sure to make your mailers time-sensitive to encourage a response – perhaps you can offer a discount code that is only valid until December 31st , or announce a sale on the 26th.
If you find that you’re short on time and want to save yourself the extra hassle of addressing and mailing a couple hundred postcards, consider our mailing services.
Thank them.
The holiday season is a time to show appreciation and spread good wishes all around. Your customers have been loyal to you and have most likely referred friends and family to your company, so shouldn’t you show them you’re grateful with a personalized holiday card? It’s a small gesture on your part, and one that won’t go unnoticed.
It’s a good idea to design your greeting cards (
tent cards, as we call them) with a cheery and general holiday greeting (if you specify a holiday, you might offend some customers). Keep in mind that the more personal the message, the more likely your customers will appreciate your greeting card and the efforts you put into it. For example, you might want to provide pictures of your company and employees dressed in silly holiday gear, or at a company event, perhaps a holiday party. It’s also a great idea to show just how grateful you are for their business with a little gift or discount inside the greeting card. Most people tend to keep their holiday cards and place them on their mantle, which means every time your customers turn on the fireplace, they’ll get another glance at your company greeting and offer.
Give a gift that keeps giving. 
With the coming new year, it’s the best time to send promotional
calendars. This is one marketing piece you know your customers won’t toss in the trash. Calendars make great holiday gifts that your customers can hang on their wall and use year-round. Not only will they have a customized calendar to keep track of dates, and to jot down reminders, but they’ll also have a multi-page spread of the very best your company has to offer, 365 days of the year.
The key to making calendars an effective marketing tool is the detail and effort you put into it. Don’t just simply showcase your products and services – put a face on your business. Include pictures of your company and employees to make your calendars more personal. Make sure to add your logo and all your contact information. Highlight special promotions, events, company parties, and observance days. Remind your customers when your company is officially closed for the holidays, and make sure to include operating hours as well. They’ll be thankful to have this information handy on their wall without having to refer to your company website or make a phone call.
There are numerous ways to market your company during the holidays; it just takes a little bit of planning and creativity. Decide on your budget, choose the right option for you and get started as soon as you can. Even though we’re already in the season, you can put your ideas to action in no time. And remember to not overdo it – just a little bit can go a long way.
