Summer is coming to an end and this is the time when businesses NEED to start planning their holiday marketing. You may think that September might be too early, but I assure you it is not. Here are 3 reasons why.

Business Has Changed

First of all, 2020 has been an unprecedented year for ALL businesses. Nearly everything has changed in the way we do business, especially for the retail and hospitality industries. At the time of writing this article, those businesses are still not allowed to operate at full capacity.

Now that we are over six months into this pandemic, we have all learned a lot and unfortunately, many of us have lost a lot. One thing that I think all businesses have learned and can agree on, is the state in which we operate business tomorrow can be drastically different on how it is run today. Nothing is predictable anymore. In fact, we have all had to learn about adjusting our business models at the flip of a switch this year… and that my friends is why it is necessary to begin planning your holiday marketing NOW! Don’t wait until October or (for many last-minute and unorganized establishments) November! It’s crucial that provide yourself some wiggle room with time in the next few months to allow for the unexpected changes that will most likely arise.

Less Stress

Second, when you start creating a plan for your holiday marketing early, it allows you more time to work out any kinks, changes, or additions without having too tight of a time-crunch to deal with. There’s nothing worse than last-minute changes and having to rush to get collateral printed and in your hands while sacrificing your budget to make it happen.

Under a “normal” business year I would certainly suggest beginning your holiday marketing planning no later than September. In 2020?… Businesses absolutely need to get the ball rolling on their holiday marketing planning now and really should have already started by mid-summer. The biggest benefit is the earlier you begin planning, the more time you will have to adjust that plan as this unpredictable year continues to roll forward.

Greater Potential for Increased Sales

Third, It’s not rocket science… the more time you give your business to promote an event, sale, or the like, the greater potential you have to increase sales and brand awareness. A strategic holiday marketing plan can exponentially increase brand awareness, sales, and even followers on social media.  

For example, if you own a retail store, you should be planning out what type of holiday sales you’ll be offering. Will you have any specials on Black Friday such as a whole store sale with a certain percentage off of everything or will you offer doorbuster items? Maybe you’re a small business and would like to focus on a marketing plan that revolves around Small Business Saturday or perhaps you have an online store and would like to market Cyber Monday deals?

Whatever your holiday marketing ideas are, planning ahead and giving yourself more time to market will help drive sales. So, what are you waiting for?

Conclusion

There is a lot to think about when creating a holiday marketing plan, especially with several possible variables to take into consideration. At Fuzzy Duck, we have helped many businesses of all shapes and sizes create holiday marketing plans that have been profitable both in brand awareness and increased sales for those businesses.

If you would like to learn more about how to create a holiday marketing plan or would like ideas and suggestions on what would be most beneficial for your business, contact Fuzzy Duck today.

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