The holidays are getting closer and closer, and yet many companies are putting off their holiday marketing plan. With a few months to go, they think they have plenty of time.
You, too, might feel like you still have enough time to get your plan created and put into action. But, the holidays will be here before we know it.
If you think about everything that needs to get done to create and put your holiday marketing plan into action, you’ll see that getting an early start is vital. It’s especially important if you have an extensive plan or a lot of people involved in putting it into action.
5 Reasons Why Early Holiday Planning is Important
Last year, nearly 50% of American’s holiday budgets went to online ecommerce sites. Shopping online is estimated to continue to grow. Nearly 71% of shoppers believe that they’ll end up getting a better deal by ordering online than they would in stores.
And according to a 2016 CBS News poll, 34 million consumers had already finished their holiday shopping by mid-September.
If you need more proof that you should start your social media and digital marketing efforts now, consider these six reasons.
1. You’d Want to Prepare for the Biggest Shopping Event of the Year
Black Friday is the most important shopping day for most businesses, including ecommerce businesses. There are only two months before this day is upon you (as of publishing this post), and they are sure to fly by!
When creating your plan for the next few months, make sure to use a calendar that will allow you to track your sales, marketing initiatives, and goals for the season.
2. You Need Time to Create Your Promotional Content
Quality promotional content doesn’t happen overnight, especially if you’re working with multiple employees or freelancers. And the holidays get busy for everyone.
Remember that putting your holiday planning off to the last minute doesn’t just affect you and your bottom line; There are others you rely on during this process, including your copywriters and graphic designers. They need plenty of time to create a design and marketing copy to suit your needs.
This makes last ditch efforts to get your content out there really difficult on both you and those you work with.
You will also spend more on your marketing efforts, whether it’s to pay employees for overtime or freelancers for rush orders, if you wait until the last minute.
3. Your Company’s Discounts and Sales Should Be Determined Now
Holiday discounts should be determined now. Doing the calculations to figure out what type of discounts you can afford will take some time and concentration. This is definitely not something that should be put off to the last minute.
4. Your Preparation Will Put You Well Ahead of Your Competition
What’s the best way to beat your competition? The best way to do this is to get your message in front of consumers before your competition does. Not only will you get business that could’ve gone to your competitor, you’re more likely to get repeat customers. Delight consumers this holiday season, and they’ll keep coming back year after year.
5. You’re Going to Get Really Busy During the Holidays
This bears repeating: The holidays are a busy time of year. You’re going to be busy with holiday parties and increased traffic and sales on your website. Plus, this is the time of year when people take vacations. Fewer days worked and fewer employees will lead to a hectic holiday schedule, too.
Finish the Year off Right by Getting a Head Start on Holiday Marketing
How do you want to finish off the last quarter of 2017? If you want to finish it with a strong profit margin and get a head start on 2018, one of the best ways to accomplish this is by starting your holiday marketing plan now. Doing so will save you a lot of time and stress, and help you get the most out of the season for your business.
Instead of last minute digital marketing efforts that may or may not pan out (and most likely missing out on some golden opportunities), you’ll have your plan well in hand. This will allow you to enjoy the holiday season, as well as the subsequent revenue from your social media and SEO endeavors.
Make sure you end the year on a high note. Get started now on your holiday marketing plan.
Do you need assistance with your holiday marketing efforts? Contact Thrive to learn more about our online marketing and social media marketing services.
