If your business benefits from late year holidays, it’s time to start thinking about your end of the year marketing plans. Below are some guidelines to help you make sure your marketing is on time and on track.
Print Advertising-
Looking to get the word out in some ink? Give yourself at least 2 weeks to develop your ad Fast-tracking a print ad with a solid in-house or contract designer with an established template takes 2 weeks from concept to approval. Check your publish date, work backwards and add a few days for buffer. If you don’t have a solid in house or contract designer add 2-3 weeks.
Digital ads –
Looking to present yourself in pixels? Digital ads have generally the same time frame as print depending on the coding turnaround of your digital ad vendor. Check with them to see how long it takes for ads to go live once artwork is received. You generally save a few days avoiding the print production schedule, but you’ll still want time to develop a great on-brand ad.
If you don’t have an established template or dependable designer, add 2-3 weeks to your deadline, then call The Brandstalk. https://www.thebrandstalk.com/connect
Holiday Services-
Do you offer special services such as lighting, interior decorating or catering that requires advance scheduling for your team? Developing and advertising a clear-cut deadline helps make sure you get early sign- ups for your services. As a bonus you get additional time to order supplies and create a job schedule. Don’t forget to reach out to past clients to see if they need your services again- the best customer is your existing customer!
End of Year Appeal-
Many non-profits have an end of year appeal to help donors manage tax burdens or get them ready for a strong final fiscal quarter. If you have a year-end appeal planned and ready, you get a gold star. If your non-profit hasn’t taken advantage of this, add it to your next board meeting agenda. You would be surprised by how effective an end of year appeal can be. Make sure to discuss with your board to see if it makes sense for your organization.
Need help with a year-end appeal? Yep, you got it! Give The Brandstalk a call.
Promotions-
If there is one thing we can all agree on it’s that there is a lot of holiday noise. Your promotion or sale should rise above the noise with something creative and on-brand. Thanksgiving week is not the time to brainstorm about your holiday promotion. Start now so you can come up with a lot of ideas and separate the good from the great. You don’t want to be left holding onto that fiery wreck of an ad from last year saying it can’t hurt to rerun it. Yes, yes it can hurt.
Client/Customer gifts-
The holidays are a great time to thank your best clients with a thoughtful gift basket, sports tickets, or experience. Donors love to receive handwritten cards that illustrate the impact of their donation. Decide what best reflects the values of your company and your client will be wow’ed by your creativity. Holidays too busy or want to stand out? Use Thanksgiving to be grateful, Valentine’s Day to “love” your clients or Spring to give them a break from winter with a fun gift.
Take aways
If you skimmed through this blog posting your one take away should be start planning early! Create a note on your phone or planner and every time you think about a new marketing idea, write it down. Our team is guilty of thing of Santa in July and fireworks in February, but we keep those fun ideas in a box for later. If you are challenged by marketing plans or need a marketing accomplice - reach out to The Brandstalk.
