Don’t “ghost” your digital marketing
BOO!!!! (Did I get you?!?)
Happy Halloween! The candy has been bought, the costumes are ready to go, and the spooky vibes are in full effect. But the scariest part about Halloween? Tomorrow is November, and that means the holidays are right around the corner.
If you were like me this year, you walked into Target in mid-October looking for the perfect fall candle to complement your perfect fall decor, only to be met with what looks like an atomic explosion of Christmas chaos (too specific?). Seriously, you think to yourself, it’s only October. Why in the WORLD are we already thinking about Christmas?
From a consumer standpoint, thinking about Christmas in October seems absurd. However, from a business and marketing standpoint, thinking about Christmas doesn’t start in December. Thinking about Thanksgiving and Black Friday doesn’t start in November. In fact, the planning process for a business’s holiday marketing plan should start much, much earlier – dare I say, far before even Halloween.
Now, if you are a small business owner or a marketing coordinator and you haven’t started planning yet, DO NOT WORRY! YOU WILL BE OKAY! However, as magical as they are, let’s just admit it – the holidays bring chaos. Chaos brings stress. And the last thing you want to be doing while trying to celebrate the holidays is simultaneously throwing together a last-minute marketing plan. I’m telling you this now, on October 31st: DON’T. GHOST. YOUR. DIGITAL. MARKETING. DURING. THE. HOLIDAYS.
Stay active on social media (social media pops OFF during the holiday season). Jump on trends and aesthetics that are relevant for your business or niche. Plan a Thanksgiving or Christmas giveaway. Decide on any Black Friday or holiday sales and how you will advertise for them in advance. Find fun and creative ways to show off your holiday-themed products. Stay active, stay relevant, and stay connected. Plan ahead so you don’t go dark during the peak season for consumerism (let’s just call it what it is).
Utilize email marketing. Email campaigns can help you communicate sales, deals, giveaways, holiday closures, new products, etc. If you don’t have an email marketing platform set up yet, strongly consider getting one going! Your customers don’t know what they don’t know – YOU have to tell them!
Keep up with your website. Make sure your website is up to date with your business’s holiday festivities. Whether it’s a pop-up ad highlighting a Black Friday deal or a Christmas-themed blog post, lean into the holiday spirit on the hub for everything related to your business.
The holidays should be spent relaxing and resetting. However, as small business owners, we know that those moments are few and far between no matter what time of the year it is. By starting your holiday digital marketing plan early, you are setting yourself up for the least stressful holiday season possible. Don’t leave your digital marketing hanging over your head – take it on now so you can take a breath later.
And, as always, Mesman Media is always here to help :)
