Create An Easy Holiday Marketing Plan

Social Media Marketing For The Holidays!

​Are you ready for the holidays?

Now, I don't mean is your Christmas shopping done. What I am asking is if your business is ready for the Holiday Season? Do you have a plan for your holiday marketing and social media?

Have you decided what your holiday offering is? Do you know where and how you are going to market your products and services this season? When your shipping deadlines are? No?

Don't worry, I am sharing my planning strategy that will guarantee the best Christmas season your business has ever seen!! (And who knows, maybe you'll enjoy the holidays with your friends and family a little more this year!)

I don't know about you but I CRASHED into September. The summer is over, the kids are back to school, back to activities and back to routine! And on top of what's happening in our families, our businesses also tend to get busy. Before we know it BAM it's October 1st and Black Friday is LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AWAY!!! 

My goal is to get you holiday ready. Create a plan and execute it. So lets get started!!

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Research
I want you to look at what happened last year. In your business, for your competitors, in your industry and industries similar to yours. Look and see what was popular, trending, when sales picked-up, what marketing strategies were effective and how successful you were. 

Next have a look at those same businesses and/or industry leaders to see what trends are starting to happen right now. Visit the places, either virtually or in person, where your target market hangs out. See what people are talking about because even though you're not thinking about the holidays LOTS of people are  AND your competitors are already marketing for them!!!

My favorite places for research include:
1. Pinterest. Pinterest is a planning and shopping tool. Not only are people buying off Pinterest but they are planning out their holidays. Shoppers are pinning inspiration for holiday fashion, food, travel, parties and gifts! Search Christmas 2018, Holidays 2018, Gifts for 2018 and other key words that target your ideal customers. Then start pinning some of that trending content as well as your own to your Pinterest profile on some holiday themed boards. 

2. Facebook Groups. I love using Facebook groups to see what is new and exciting in my industry and with my target audience. Facebook groups are a great place to engage in conversation so don't be afraid to get chatty in a few groups.

3. Instagram. Instagram uses Hashtags to categorize content and users use Hashtags to search for content. Take advantage of this. See what tags your favorite accounts are using. Pay attention to the posts that your favorite accounts and customers are posting on their feed and in their stories. 

The Goal & The Offering
What do you want to achieve this holiday season? How your offering can help you achieve that goal? Whatever your goal is -  more sales, more followers, more clients or more sign-ups - determine what want to achieve with your holiday marketing. 

To achieve this goal you are going to need a holiday offering that entices them. Give your audience a reason to buy from you, follow you on social media or sign-up for your newsletter. Think about what makes you different from your competitor? What is your edge? 

Not only is this your offering but it is your advantage.  This is how you are going to market yourself to your target audience. Try not to overthink this as it is usually what makes you, YOU! Are you silly, serious, funny, do you swear a lot, are you faith based, are you a mom - whatever IT is just DO NOT try to be some one else. Be YOU then find the BEST way to share this offering/gift/service/product/discount with your target market.

Think about this for a bit and write it all down. Include who you are, who you want to work with, who your ideal client is, the places you want to see your products or services, etc, etc. These details can all be used in your marketing and targeting. 

Timeline
Now that you know your offering and have established your edge. It is time to start the planning phase. 

Print off 3 copies of this calendar. Write down every important date coming up for this next 90 days. Include holidays, events, markets, promotions, and deadlines. Next, decide when you want to announce any sales, launches, giveaway, etc and write them into the calendar.

I recommend leaving this calendar in a very visible place. Leave it on your desk or tape it to the wall. You should be able to see this calendar consistently throughout the day. 

The Strategy
Now that you have your offering,  your deadlines and launch dates you need to fill in the rest of the calendar with actionable steps. Activities that will actually get you to the goals you have laid out. 

I have three very important tips for you:
1. The goals should be realistic. Now I love crazy big goals but if they cannot be achieved in a realistic time frame you are only setting yourself up for failure. Don't plan to be on the cover of Forbes magazine by January 1. Perhaps a goal like increasing your sales by 10% over the holiday season is more achievable. Also, shoot for max 3 goals.
2. Break down these goals into actionable steps. Detail what it is going to take to achieve the goal in the time that you have.
3. Schedule it. Once you have the list of activities needed to achieve these goals put them into your calendar. Actually schedule them in so that you have made time for these activities. 
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Implementation
Now it's time to go do it!! You've got this. If you have gone through and done all the things mentioned above you will have an actual, actionable, realistic and achievable strategy for the holidays!! Now where we fail is not in the strategizing but in the execution. SO DO IT! You know what you want AND how to get it done.

To further discuss creating a holiday marketing plan book a FREE discovery call. 

​If this was helpful please let me know or if you have any questions please share them in the comments below. You can also find me on social media.???

Happy Holidays!!

xo
​Mel

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