When you think of business holiday tips, you usually think of how to increase your sales during the holidays. But it doesn’t always have to be about sales. As an owner of a small business, there are still ways to actively promote your business while giving something back to the community, which after all, is what the holidays are all about.
Holiday Greetings
An advantage to owning a small business is being able to add a personal touch. One way to personalize your business during the holidays is to send out holiday greetings to customers, either by mail or more cost-effectively, through social media such as Facebook. Let your customers know that they are valuable to you outside your normal business activities. This assures the customer that you honestly value them during non-transaction times.
Promote Gift Certificate Sales
This can be done through Facebook or social media sites too, but I strongly promote gift certificate sales during the holiday season. The gift certificates make great gifts for those hard-to-buy-for people on your list and also make great stocking stuffers. Again, this is something I promote in-house and by posting on Facebook. After all, online shopping is hitting an all-time high this year.
Showcase Business in Christmas Parade
Participating in the local Christmas parade is a fantastic and inexpensive way to advertise to the masses. For a small entry fee, you can draw a lot of attention to your business in a clever nonconventional way. The possibilities are endless with a shaved ice entry in the Christmas parade. I can really play up the ice and snow cones during the winter season with a fun holiday theme.
Give Back To The Community
Your business wouldn’t exist without the support of the community. Take this time and give back something in return to help the less fortunate in the community. This is a great time to initiate a toy drive and have people drop wrapped toy donations off by your business. You are creating a bond by partnering up with your customers and giving local families in need Christmas presents who wouldn’t ordinarily be celebrating this holiday season.
Yes, a businesses’ main goal is to make money but there are more to the holidays than bringing in as much as you can. The holiday season is all about the spirit of giving. A healthy balance of both could make your holiday season and those around you more meaningful.
More from Caryl Cress Ramsey:
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