As we enter a very unique holiday season, we can’t help but reflect on how different things are now compared to this time last year. For many, this year has been filled with more twists and turns unlike any other. One thing that is for certain is that through it all, this year forced us to be creative with solutions to challenges we couldn’t have predicted only a year ago. Here are five tips to help small businesses get ready for a unique holiday season this year.
Take Advantage of Free Listings
Google has recently launched free product listings on the Shopping tab making it easier than ever to reach new audiences. We suggest combining free listings, paid advertisements, and social media marketing campaigns gain the most exposure for your brand this season. According to a survey by Google “69% of Americans plan to shop online more than they did in previous years”. With an increase in traffic online, it is more important now than ever to have a strong online presence.
Plan Ahead
Make sure your campaigns are running in advance of the peak days for holiday shopping. This includes mapping out realistic budgets and engagement goals beforehand to hold your business accountable when the time comes to launch your campaign. Google’s survey also found that “over 50% of surveyed shoppers have already tried a new shopping service for the first time this year”. With that being said, be sure to research prior to goal and budget setting to find out what is worth your time and money.
Make Yourself Available to Local Customers
Utilize Google’s local inventory ad tools to showcase the products you have in stock as well as your contact information to customers searching nearby. Google reported that since the beginning of the pandemic, “nearly a third of Americans have purchased from a brand that was new to them”. The convenience of being local as well as the appeal of supporting a small business may help increase your chances of reaching larger audiences when backed by an efficient marketing campaign. In fact, according to Google “the term ‘support local businesses’ has grown globally by over 20,000% year after year”.
Get Digital
Video advertising has grown tremendously in popularity over the past few years. It serves as a way to introduce your business and showcase what you have to offer in an attention grabbing, easy to digest manner for your audience. Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube are all great options for experimenting with video advertisements with your audience.
Stand Out in a Meaningful Way
With tools such as Google My Business, you can add attributes like “outdoor seating,” “credit cards accepted,” “black-owned,” or “women-led” to help customers know who you are and what you care about.
We hope that these tips will help you and your business as we move closer to the new year. As always, if you have any questions or need additional pointers feel free to contact us anytime. Stay hopeful & have a wonderful holiday season!
Vanessa started as an intern with us back in March of 2019. Through this experience she gained skills in blog post writing, social media managing, event planning, video production, photography, and newsletter publication that ultimately lead to her current position as a Content Creator at Rare Digital. As a recent graduate from CSU Stanislaus with a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences, Vanessa has a passion for all things related to marketing & finds joy in helping local businesses expand their online reach.
