Yes, we know. It’s only September. So, why should we be thinking ‘festive’ already, and why do small businesses need to be better prepared for Christmas?
We get it.
The kids are just going back to school. We haven’t even put our summer wardrobe away yet. Our winter coats are still packed up. We’re reluctant to let go of the memories of the summer holidays and warmer days, the last thing we want to do is think about Christmas, let alone why small businesses need to be better prepared for Christmas.
The thing is, though, Christmas isn’t very far away. Today, it is 113 days till Christmas. Take out weekends, there are only 81 working days until the big day arrives. This is why small businesses need to be better prepared for Christmas.
And because, if we’re honest, Christmas sneaks up on us every year.
We might have all these good intentions to be better prepared for Christmas, but then there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all. You’re juggling emails, customers, orders, and running your business day-to-day, and marketing, especially Christmas marketing, just gets pushed down the list and onto tomorrow’s list, groundhog-style.
Let’s be honest – even with the best intentions, it gets left until the last minute.
If this sounds like you…We get it! You are definitely not alone. We are often found rushing out our Christmas cards at literally the last minute, but this year is going to be different! The reason why small businesses need to be better prepared for Christmas isn’t just because it’s a nice thing to do. Christmas is the perfect time to stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression. Even if you are in a service-based industry, Christmas can still be a powerful marketing tool for you.
So, Why Do Most Small Businesses Miss Out At Christmas?
Essentially, because you don’t capitalise on the emotional aspect of Christmas, you might think Christmas branding is a ‘nice to have’, but you’re missing the point. You’re missing the chance to connect, stand out and make an impression.
If you carry on like you do the rest of the year;
- Your branding will look flat next to competitors who planned early and made an effort.
- You’ll be winging it with last-minute posts that don’t connect and make the most of Christmas cheer.
- You will miss out on sales. For retail and e-commerce, it will be immediate, with Christmas shopping sales. However, for service companies, it could be future sales from people who noticed the effort you made at Christmas.
There are so many reasons small businesses need to be better prepared for Christmas.
What We Realised (and Changed)
This year, we decided not to make the same mistake and not let time run away from us..
We sat down in August and asked ourselves:
- What are our clients struggling with? (Time, content, consistency, standing out.)
- How can we help and make it simple?
- How can we add value? How can we help small businesses make the most of the Christmas season?
We’re not going to lie, it wasn’t straightforward, and we are so glad we started in August because Christmas marketing requires some thought and direction.
But now, instead of dreading Christmas, we’ve got a clear plan. There’s still a lot to do, but this is why small businesses need to be better prepared for Christmas; we have the time to do it.
How Small Businesses Can Get Better Prepared for Christmas?
Doing everything in one go can feel so overwhelming, so think of it like this:
September = PLAN
Brainstorm. Sort your offers. Map out your content. Create a list of what you need to do and order them in priority.
October = CREATE & SHARE
Polish up your branding. Do you need photography? If so, get it sorted. Build your posts, email campaigns & start sharing your offers.
November = CONNECT & SELL YOURSELF
Focus on adding value to your clients and customers and harnessing the festive energy! Your efforts in September and October will make this so much more intentional.
December = ENJOY & LOOK AHEAD
For many businesses, December can be a shorter month. With early preparation, you can focus on sales, service, adding value, embracing the festive season, and preparing for next year.
Download our Christmas Marketing Plan and set yourself some targets.
What do you think? Have you bought into the idea that small businesses need to be better prepared for Christmas?
If the answer is yes, but you still don’t know how you are going to manage all this when you just about manage getting through the day/week, then we hope this will help you.
Our ‘Dear Santa, All I Want for Christmas is to feel ready this year!’ Package
We’ve wrapped all of this up into one easy solution so you can be better prepared for Christmas:
- A festive refresh for your homepage + logo – capture attention and turn browsers into buyers
- 10 branded social posts (with captions in your tone of voice) – stay consistent and visible without the stress
- 50 printed postcards – thank your customers in a way that builds loyalty and keeps you top of mind
- Add-on: Professional Photography – Showcase the people and personality behind your brand, making you more relatable and memorable. Posts featuring you and your team receive significantly more engagement! After all, people buy from people!
£360 + VAT (or £120/month over 3 months)
- £200 for photography add-on
Worth over £800, but honestly, worth more not having that sinking “catching your tail” feeling.
Our Biggest Lesson
We’ve learnt the hard way that last-minute planning doesn’t work.
So this year, we stripped it back, took the time to understand our clients’ pain points, planned early, and kept things simple.
That’s our advice to you: start now, begin with what your clients need/want, plan early, and ensure your festive marketing works for you (not the other way around).
And if you want some help to get better prepared for Christmas, that’s what Dear Santa is here for.
Click here to find out more (and don’t forget, your Christmas Marketing Plan).
