Now we’re in that crucial final quarter of the year, it’s important to finalise your business’ plan for those upcoming big key dates so you can maximise your sales – especially after another difficult year for businesses, big and small.
Yes, we’ve only just had Halloween, but we’re talking about the big ones: Black Friday and Christmas. Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving in America) is no longer just a day of epic sales reserved for our US friends, it’s now a marketing phenomenon in the UK too, and often promotions last all weekend, rather than just one day. Psychologically, for many people, Black Friday heralds the start of Christmas and, of course, Christmas shopping.
So how can your business make the most of Black Friday and the run up to Christmas?
It’s an obvious one, but on Black Friday, consumers expect discounts. So if it fits with your brand and your ethos, by all means run a sale, offer a discount, reward your regular customers with an exclusive offer code. This is what people will expect from businesses on Black Friday, and a good sale will not only encourage repeat customers, but can tempt new ones too.
There’s no point running a sale if you don’t tell your customers about it! During the week or so leading up to Black Friday, share some posts teasing your upcoming offers so your followers have visited your website and are ready to buy when the day comes. If you want to maximise exposure, run a short targeted ad campaign too. For as little as £10 you can reach hundreds of potential new customers.
If you’re worried that Black Friday doesn’t fit with your business ethos, don’t fret. If your brand doesn’t do sales or discounts, or you just don’t agree with the ethics behind Black Friday, there are still ways to make the most of the day. A campaign where you donate to a charity of your choice for every sale during the Black Friday period works well without compromising your brand values, or simply share a post explaining why your business won’t be offering a sale. Your customers will respect your honesty.
Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Chances are, most people have or are already planning their gift purchases. Don’t wait until December to start promoting your products or giftable services. By sharing gift ideas and seasonal content early, not only do you catch the organised shoppers now, you plant the seed in the minds of those who aren’t quite ready to buy yet.
Another thing to consider is the last posting dates to guarantee Christmas delivery. Be aware of these, and plan content to encourage those last-minute gift purchases in time for Christmas.
Even if you don’t have a physical product to sell, you can still take advantage of the Christmas shopping season. Gift vouchers for your services or gift experiences are fantastic for boosting your sales now, and increasing your brand awareness with potential new customers for the future. If you don’t already offer gift vouchers, now is the time to think about doing so. Another advantage is that they are easy to post (or email) – perfect for those disorganised shoppers in December.
It’s worth considering using social media advertising to maximise sales, especially if you’re new to gift vouchers or are offering new gift experiences your followers need to know about. For a small budget, you can reach hundreds of potential new customers – get in touch with our expert team if you need a hand with creating your ad campaigns.
If you need some assistance with your Black Friday or Christmas campaigns, do contact us – we’re happy to help!