People love to spend during the silly season. When Christmas comes around, a switch tends to flick, and all of a sudden people realise how much they want need an item. Crowds of people flock to shops, rush to malls, and wait for their favourite websites to host a sale. In fact, in December 2015, kiwis spent a whopping $6 billion shopping!
It’s important that your business is at the receiving end of this increase in wallet waving and card swiping, but it can be easier said than done. You need to create a communications campaign, implement said campaign, and reap the rewards.
We’ve put together some tips and tricksto ensure these holidays give you a reason to celebrate.
Capitalise on the New Year, new you
Once the pohutukawas are in full bloom and Christmas decorations are lighting up the streets, people get giddy on the summer air, and it’s often the perfect time for contemplating life and what one wants to do with their future.
As a business owner or manager, you should hone in on what it is that your company can offer someone who ‘needs a change,’ whether you offer tools for start-up companies, broker advice, luxury lounge suites, or gadgets. People want to start the year afresh and to improve on the last – you just need to sell your products in a way that inspires, excites and is tied into the Christmas period.
Plan like there’s no tomorrow
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
No one has ever conquered Mt Everest without a plan, and when it comes to communications success, it’s no different. Creating a plan is the most important aspect of getting your business in front of people during the holiday period.
The second is implementing that plan, because it’s easy to come up with ideas; it’s harder to ensure we follow through.
Focus on what you want to achieve, and make it a SMART goal: Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. Once you’ve come up with a SMART goal, look at what needs to be done and who needs to do what, to nail it.
“If you’ve realised that you’re a bit behind the eight ball, or simply don’t have the time to carry out these tips, get in touch with the experts.”
A great communications plan should cover:
- What you’re hoping to achieve
- Who you’re trying to reach
- What your key messages are/what story you’re telling
- The methods of marketing you’re going to use, from social media, to advertising, to PR, to blogs and so on
- Content ideas that will engage with your audience.
When it comes to securing publicity over Christmas, it can be tough – but that’s where some external help can come in handy!
Whether you are hoping for a write up in a glossy, a speaking opportunity on radio, or you are unsure of what you require, a storytelling agency like Intelligent Ink will expertly guide you through the process, to get your company the awareness it deserves.
Take advantage of the quiet time
Over the Christmas period journalists often take a break – but news outlets still need to produce content. If you can package relevant, timely, well-written content in a way that works for their readers, you will have a good chance of making the cut and getting published.
This is often the time where people have a bit more time to relax, and in turn are more likely to sit down and read articles, or listen to the radio on their road trip.
Marketing is also an important aspect to cover in your communications plan. Get in front of your consumers with newsletters and direct mailouts that provide value – not just information about what you are selling.
If you are selling high end cake mixers, tips and tricks from a baker will go down a treat. You will also want to continually update and increase the number of people you have in your database, so make sure you have calls to action to sign up to newsletters or direct mail-outs.
Don’t shut down social media
If you’re usually active on social channels, implementing a social media marketing campaign is crucial. If your business is shutting down over the break, it’s vital that your social media doesn’t follow suit.
Posts can be scheduled in advance with a range of tools that also track statistics on how well it’s performing. Aim for posts that are relevant and valuable, that still keep people connected to what you do – just perhaps with a few reminders of when you’ll be back along the way.
A fantastic post pinned to the top of your business page on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn is simple, but effective.
‘Company X is heading home for the holidays! You’ll still see a few festive tidings pop up but we’ll be back with a vengeance on X date.
Until then, have a fabulous family time over the holidays – and if you’re working through, may all your customers and clients be full of festive cheer to keep you going!’
Don’t forget that you can also set an auto-reply or pre-filled responses on Facebook messaging, so if someone messages you, an auto-reply can be sent back thanking them for their message, and that you will respond once you are back at full capacity. Don’t forget to include a date, so they know when they can expect to hear from you.
If in doubt
If you’ve realised that you’re a bit behind the eight ball, or simply don’t have the time to carry out these tips, get in touch with the experts.
Storytelling experts like Intelligent Ink are no more than a phone call away, and can design and deliver a great plan to ensure your communications don’t suffer over Christmas!
