It doesn't matter if you are a service-based or product-based business, it is never too early for holiday promotions to be planned. The holidays are a great time to increase your revenues and grow your business. It's important that you make the most of them.
If you are selling services, do you really need a seasonal promo? Yes. Customers are not only looking to save money as the holiday season nears, but that's not all they're considering. The holiday season is the perfect time to start the new year with a service-based company.
Below I will walk you through the reasons service businesses need holiday promotions. Then, we'll discuss how any service company can offer a holiday promotion during winter.
Why service-based businesses need holiday promotions
You might be asking yourself: Does holiday promotion work for service-based companies? Yes. These are the main reasons.
First, not everyone needs a Christmas product. Some people might prefer an experience such as cooking classes. Services-based businesses can offer as much as product retailers during holidays.
Second, service-based business aren't that different to product-based ones. Selling something to a targeted audience is still a way to make money. Holiday promotions are just another tool that can help you achieve this goal.
8 Tips to Offer Holiday Promotions to Service-Based Businesses
It is always worth trying seasonal promotions. Let me show you eight ways that you can run holiday marketing campaigns.
1. Partner with other businesses
Let me be clear: I am not talking about partnering directly with competitors. You don't want customers to go to a competitor.
This is when you team up with a complementary company.
These companies often target a similar audience, but not the same. Even though they are in a different industry, they can create the same impression for your company. You can create something amazing for your customers together.
Uber has a great example.
Uber has launched a Holiday Shop for pumpkins on-demand. This allows customers in the LA region to order pumpkins for Halloween decorations.
This is why it works. You're not only promoting local pumpkin farms if your service business is Uber. This is a way to show your commitment to providing local services when your customers need them.
Partner with local retailers to get your company noticed this holiday season.
2. 2.Offer a new seasonal service
Do you have thoughts about expanding your business or offering a new service to customers? Don't wait until the holidays to expand your business and offer a new service. This will not only help you rekindle interest in your customers but also attract new customers when they are more likely to spend money.
You don't have to limit your services to “holiday” themes. Consider the services your customers require and think about how you can add seasonal flair to them.
Are you not planning to introduce new services this holiday season. To make your existing services “feel” new, just add a holiday twist to them.
Colorado-based photographers From the Hip Photo offer Christmas-themed sessions, for example. The service is nothing new, but it does have a festive twist.
This photo also shows a brand partnership.
3. Make gift bundles
Gift bundles can be offered by service-based businesses just as product-based companies.
If you are a pest control business, you could put together a package that includes basic pest control products and tips to identify common house pests. You could also offer hair clips and hair accessories, as well as product samples.
Your budget will dictate what you offer. Salon West in NY offers a discount blow-dry package for gift ideas.
It's a great gift idea as clients can try your service. You'll be a loyal client if they are happy.
Don't worry if you don't have the budget to offer a discount service. Stick with the most cost-effective products that your customers are most likely to appreciate.
4. 4.
A discount company offers an “early bird” sale to those who sign up for an event several weeks or months ahead of time.
They work because they are affordable. Customers feel they are getting a bargain. Early bird sales are a great way to plan ahead for your event so that you can predict attendance and revenue projections.
It is easy to hold an early bird sale. Offer tickets at a discount a few months or weeks before the event. Two factors will determine the discount: how affordable your business is and what your competitors offer for similar events.
Make sure to promote your discount so that people are aware of it. Advertise on social media and send out newsletters. Create buzz about your event.
5. Host a Themed Contest
A giveaway or contest themed around Christmas can help you get into the holiday spirit. There are many ways to run a seasonal contest. Here are some ideas for starting your campaign.
- Run a contest on social media. Followers must tag a friend or like your post to be eligible.
- Give prizes such as gift vouchers to winners that they can redeem for themselves or give to others.
- To draw attention to your contest, use bold images and colors that are holiday-themed.
- Subscribers and loyal customers can share exclusive giveaways or contests.
- You can run a “Countdown to Christmas” giveaway, with different prizes for each day.
Take a look at some of these ideas to find the one that resonates.
6. 6.
What makes charitable giving so great for businesses? It helps you promote your brand image, especially if it's a local charity that you partner with.
Make sure the charity is tied in with your company to get the holiday promotion right. Partner with local charities if your gym is a gym. Partner with a green charity if you are a gardener.
To establish a partnership with charities, reach out early and promote your efforts via social media and on your website.
7. Get Free Resources
You are a professional. You're a knowledgeable professional. Why not share your knowledge with others?
It's the season for giving and showing your industry experience may be enough to convince someone to hire you.
If you are a family law company, for example, give a free guide on dispute resolution during holidays to all subscribers to your newsletter. You could also gain new subscribers which is a great bonus.
This knowledge can be used to retarget customers using remarketing ads. It can also be used to repurpose content for cost-friendly marketing.
8. 8.
Yes.
Sure, influencers often endorse products. There's no reason to not reach out and promote your products to other influencers.
Storytellers are the best influencers. They can help you promote your services and spread the company's message.
The most important thing is that the best influencers are able to sell experiences. They can show your audience how to use your salon, or what you did on their lawn. It doesn't matter what service you offer; it's worth looking into a seasonal partnership with an influencer.
The location of influencers will depend on the business you have and the place you intend to run a holiday campaign.
You might, for example, check out influential influencers via an influencer marketplace. Or you could search hashtags in Instagram to find niche influencers that might be interested testing your services.
Local-owned businesses can also look for influencers to help build trust and create a sense of community.
Here's a local blogger who promotes the Flashfood App which reduces food waste. This promotion is great for the holidays, as it could show people how to have fun and minimize their environmental impact.
How to Run Your Holiday Promotions
These are just a few holiday promotions that you could run for your service-based company. What are the best ways to choose the right promotion? How can you keep track of the campaigns that you launch? These are some tips that will help you keep on track.
- Have a clear goal. Perhaps you are trying to improve a service that is underperforming. It is easier to pick the right holiday promotion if you have a clear goal.
- Find out what your customers are looking for and how you can offer it through a seasonal promotion. Before you launch any campaign, analyze your customer base.
- Take a look at the competition. Consider what promotions have been successful in your niche in the past. What can you learn about their strategies?
- If possible, plan your holiday promotions well in advance. You will have more time to create buzz around your brand and promote the holiday promotions if you get started earlier.
These tips will help you to create a successful holiday promotion.
Holiday Promotions – Frequently Asked Questions
These holiday promotion ideas will hopefully resonate with you. This is a brief summary of what I covered, so you can refer back to it if you need more guidance.
Are holiday promotions possible?
Sure! The holidays are a great opportunity to showcase your brand’s creativity, reinforce your unique selling points, and ensure your customers feel valued. If you’re a service-based small business, it’s always worth considering a holiday promotion of some kind.
What holiday promotions should you run?
Promotional ideas include rewarding your most loyal customers with some extra discounts, running shopping events, giving out free guides, and offering new seasonal services.
Where can I advertise my promotions
You can advertise your holiday promotions just about anywhere, whether it’s on your website or social media channels. Just think about your audience demographics to figure out where you’ll get the most exposure. For example, an older demographic may be less likely to find your ads on TikTok, and so on.
How can I track the success rate of my holiday promotions
It depends on which promotions you run and which platforms you use to market your offerings, but you can generally rely on social media metrics and Google Analytics performance for a good starting point.
Holiday Promotions Conclusion
Service-based businesses can tap into the spirit of the season by offering holiday promotions. It is best to not wait until the last minute in order to create your marketing strategy.
Start creating those promotional emails right away and scheduling seasonal content for your social media channels.
It's never too late for holiday marketing planning. You don't have to feel overwhelmed by all the details or be unsure of how to keep your sales up after the holidays. I offer business consulting services.
Have any holiday promotions been run before?
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By: Neil Patel
Title: How to Run Holiday Promotions for Service-Based Businesses
Sourced From: neilpatel.com/blog/holiday-promotions/
Published Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2021 17:42:47 +0000
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