For us, summer is a distant memory. “But it’s only September!” we hear you cry. Although the sunny days haven’t quite left us yet, when it comes to social media marketing you should already be planning ahead for the key dates in Q4. That’s right, we’re talking about Black Friday and Christmas.
For many, Black Friday signals the start of Christmas shopping, so these two events really go hand in hand, meaning if you haven’t already, you need to finalise your plan for this crucial time of the year. Black Friday is the legendary day of epic sales after Thanksgiving in the US, which has now become a major marketing event in the UK and beyond. This is a season of opportunity for businesses, big and small, so how can we make the most of it?
Started your Christmas shopping yet? You will be surprised how many people will have either planned their Christmas gifts, or even started purchasing them already. So now is the time to start building your mailing list and your audience, as well as encouraging excitement for the upcoming sales and festive season. A short targeted ad campaign is a great way to reach new potential customers ready for your sales to drop.
On the lead up to Black Friday, don’t forget to hint at the special offers your business will be offering – you want your customers to be ready to spend when the time comes.
It goes without saying that on Black Friday your customers will be expecting a great deal. Whether it’s slashed prices, a discount code for your mailing list, free gifts, free next day delivery or a combination of these, a great offer encourages repeat custom, as well as tempting new customers too.
What your Black Friday offers look like will depend on your business. If the idea of Black Friday consumerism gives you anxiety and does not align well with your brand values, then why not think a little differently? Instead of a discount code or a big sale, making a pledge to donate a portion of profits or a percentage per sale to a chosen charity during Black Friday weekend.
With Christmas being at the forefront of everyone’s Black Friday shopping activities, remember to think outside the box when it comes to what can be gifted. It doesn’t have to be a physical item or in fancy festive packaging. If you’re not already, consider offering gift vouchers. Whether you have an online shop, physical store or provide services/experiences, gift vouchers are a brilliant method of making your products giftable and reaching new customers. Plus, if you can offer downloadable or email vouchers you will catch the last-minute panic buyers on the run up to the big day.
For a small budget, you can reach hundreds of potential new customers and, with consumers poised to spend, Q4 is the ideal time to give paid advertising a try. Whether you’re looking to boost your sales, spread awareness of new products or services, or want to build your mailing list ready to launch your Black Friday offers, a Meta advertising campaign is a great way of promoting your business without breaking the bank.
If you need help or advice with your Q4 campaigns then don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Oh So Social team – we will be happy to help.