The holidays are a critical time for small businesses to get right. With so much competition, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. But with a little creativity, your small business can make a big impact this holiday season. Here are some ideas from the Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce to get you started.

Create & Share a Gift Guide via PDF

One of the best ways to market your small business during the holidays is to create and share a gift guide. This is a great way to showcase your products or services in a festive and creative way. You can design your own guide or work with a professional designer to create something really special. If you create your own, write it in Word then convert it to a PDF by using this tool. Be sure to promote your gift guide on social media and via email marketing.

Invest in Gift Wrapping & Holiday Packaging

Another great way to make your small business stand out during the holidays is to invest in holiday packaging. This is something that customers will notice and appreciate. You can use festive wrapping paper, ribbons, and tags to make your products look even more appealing. Plus, holiday packaging can be reused year after year, so it's a great investment for your business.

Post Useful & Interactive Content

It's important to keep your website and social media channels updated with fresh, relevant content during the holidays. But instead of just promoting your products or services, try to post useful and interactive content that will engage your customers. For example, you could post-holiday recipes, DIY tutorials, or gift guides. This type of content will help you attract new customers and build relationships with existing ones.

Engage Your Customers via Social Media

Social media is a great way to connect with customers during the holidays. Make sure you're active on all of the major platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and that you're regularly posting updates about your products or services. You can also use social media to run holiday-themed promotions or contests. This is a great way to generate buzz about your business and attract new customers.

Hold Giveaways & Contests

Everyone loves a good giveaway or contest, so why not hold one this holiday season? This is a great way to get people talking about your business and increase brand awareness. Just be sure to set some ground rules so that everyone has a fair chance of winning. For example, you could require entrants to follow you on social media or sign up for your email list.

Celebrate Loyal Customers

The holidays are also a great time to show appreciation for your loyal customers. You could offer exclusive discounts or free shipping on orders over a certain amount. Or you could send out handwritten holiday cards with each order. These are just a few ideas that will help you show your customers how much you appreciate their business.

Work with Other Local Businesses

Collaborating with other local businesses is a great way to reach new customers during the holidays. You could team up with complementary businesses to offer joint promotions or discounts. For example, if you're a clothing store, you could partner with a local jewelry store or accessory boutique. This is an effective way to cross-promote each other's businesses and attract new customers in the process.

Host a Seasonal Event

If you have the space, why not host an event at your small business? This could be anything from an open house to a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus himself! Hosting an event is a great way to bring people into your store (or online) and get them excited about shopping with you this holiday season.

Support a Local Charity

One final way to make an impact this holiday season is by supporting a local charity. There are many ways to do this, but one idea is to donate part of the proceeds from the sales of certain products. This is a great way both give back and promote your small business at the same time. Plus, it's sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit!

These are just a few ideas to get you started with marketing your small business during the holiday season. By being creative and thinking outside the box, you can make your small business stand out from the competition. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your holiday marketing strategy today!

Looking for business support in Yankton? The Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce champions our community’s economic and cultural growth through networking, events, and advocacy. Click here to become a member today!