Nine out of 10 consumers plan to celebrate the holidays in 2022, according to the National Retail Federation. And almost two-thirds of consumers say that sales and promotions are more important to them now than they were in 2021 (thanks, inflation). With 41% of consumers expecting to spend more this holiday season, according to new QuickBooks research, digital marketing creates an opportunity to direct some of that spending to your small business.
Use social media platforms, your website, and your Google Business Profile to stake out your territory. Make sure your contact information is accurate and your offerings are clear. Ask for product and business reviews. You’re on your way!
With a digital presence established, you can use the time before the holidays to test out different channels for digital marketing.
There’s no lack of options for digital marketing: social media marketing, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, content marketing, and email marketing. Each type has different price tags, strategies, and platforms attached to it. And what works for one business or industry may not work for your small business.
“We are still trying so many things and not 100% sure what’s worth our money,” said EB Belts Kauffman, one of the owners of Idaho backcountry gear company Argali. “We do almost all of it — SEO, pay-per-click, Google Ads, email marketing … we’re currently looking for a way to enter the mobile marketing world.”
Experimentation is the name of the game at this stage. Tap into a mindset of curiosity to test, track results, learn, and try again.
“We test a lot and make small changes, trying new ways to reach our audience,” Belts Kauffman said.
If content marketing efforts like video production are outside of your skillset or something that, as owner, you don’t have time to do, keep it simple. Outsource creative work to a local freelancer, take advantage of free marketing assets, or use tools to create simple assets. Services such as Canva, Adobe Express, and Snappa can help you design professional-looking content quickly.
This content was originally published here.
