It’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially if you are a business looking to make the most of the commercial holiday. The Christmas period through December is the time for merriment, shopping and spending, so as a business, why not capitalise on the festive season?

Naturally, with the yuletide season approaching, people’s moods are light and cheery – perfect for forging connections and relating to your customers from a business perspective. There’s no time like the present to prepare for the holidays, so here are three ways to market your business in the best way possible for the Christmas season.

Plan well in advance
It’s no surprise that this time of year is busy, and the hustle and bustle will certainly filter into your business’s affairs. Therefore, to avoid last-minute tensions, a timely schedule of all your marketing preparation will not go unnoticed. A social media and email campaign will alert your customers of the build-up to Christmas, whilst an internal logistics calendar will remind your employees of the game plan for the holiday season.

Confirm that you are well stocked for the present-buying period, along with all the necessary extras like wrapping paper, ribbons, and gift bag essentials. Conduct a thorough inventory of your stock and assess your sales to understand what has been flying off the shelves and what hasn’t – after all, it’s best to ensure that your best-performing item is available to purchase when it’s crunch time.

Sweet deals
There’s no better time to offer a deal than the holidays. And as Christmas follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s vital that your prices are kept in line – not just because of the two preceding events, but also to boost sales against your competitors.

Sweeten the season with a sale or discount to entice customers into coming back for more, or perhaps even throw in a gift or two to really show your customers your effort to partake in the Christmas cheer by giving them a gift. It needn’t be a large gift! Remember, this is the season of giving, so even a small gesture will be greatly appreciated.

Social media and emails
People may start going on vacation, but that doesn’t mean your social media and email campaigns do! If anything, it ought to be the very opposite; now is the time that people will start winding down and will take the time to read their emails and scroll on their phones leisurely, so why not take advantage of this extra time?

Without pestering, your email campaigns must remind your customers that they will be rewarded for their loyalty. Advertise your seasonal deals and packages, and any new products that emphasise the Christmas festivities. Discounts should also be highlighted, and any deals you may be offering that are only for your dedicated email subscribers.

Use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat to access a wider client base – you never know who will click on shared links and advertisements, especially if they are well-designed and emphasise the festive season. Invite your customers to partake in your cheery social campaigns by asking them to send in pictures and comments and expand your online following by fostering a festive spirit.

Last but certainly not least, decorate! Whether you have a physical or digital service, dress up your storefront or website with greens, reds, golds and silvers and really get on the Christmassy bandwagon. A marketing trick in its own right, the right decoration will complement the rest of your marketing plans and set you up for a successful Christmas business period. Happy holidays!