The “ber” months are officially here. I know here in Oklahoma we are still begging for the cool mornings and evenings that fall promises, and it looks like we may be waiting a while.
BUT!
The holiday season will get here regardless of whether the “ber” months still feel like mid-July. For marketers and businesses, we are in full-on holiday prep mode. We may grumble when Christmas shows up in Dollar General in September, but secretly, we know we’ve been planning holiday promotions for at least a month already.
So, should you be promoting your Christmas specials in September? Well, of course not. But there is a lot of work to do before the big buying season arrives.
You Can’t Become Top of Mind Overnight
You can’t decide at the beginning of December that you want to be top of mind and expect your marketing to serve up a record-breaking holiday sales season. The work that makes those November and December promotions successful starts now.
Brand awareness should be happening now. Show people who you are. Get your name and your logo in front of them. Remind your community that you’re here.
Value and educational content should be happening now. Why should someone follow your page? What can you teach them? What makes your business useful, interesting or different? Give people a reason to pay attention before you start asking them to buy.
And product discovery should be happening now. You don’t have to slap a Christmas bow on it. Start showing people what you sell. Introduce products and services. Show your best sellers. Tell the stories behind them.
Help customers begin connecting your business with the things they may need—or want—in the coming months.
Prime the Buying Season
Black Friday is just over 70 days away. Christmas isn’t far behind it. That doesn’t mean it’s time for BUY NOW! HOLIDAY SALE! in September.
It means it’s time to get in front of people. Share your brand. Tell your story. Show your products. Build familiarity. Give people reasons to remember you. Then, when everyone else starts shouting about Black Friday deals and Christmas specials, you aren’t introducing yourself for the first time. You’re showing up in front of people who already know who you are.
The time to sell the holiday season will come.
The time to prime the holiday buying season is now.
Main Street marketing, done right.
Until next time,
Alice
