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Tips and Tricks

Christmas Marketing Trends for 2022 That Will Help Boost Holiday Shopping

Many consumers want to start holiday shopping earlier than expected to beat the rush and get the popular items before they sell out. Businesses should take note and start their holiday marketing campaigns early to reach those desirable customers.

Marketing strategies have had to evolve over the past years with the increase in influencer marketing, the pandemic, and an increase in online shopping. Customers are looking for the best deals on new and trending gifts and want them before they are gone.

Here are some useful tips for planning your holiday marketing campaign.

1. Start planning your holiday marketing strategy early to get a head start on the competition

Everybody wants to be first, so many businesses will plan for Christmas and holiday marketing strategies in the late summer months. With Black Friday’s kickoff of holiday shopping, most physical stores will start with those holiday promotions. For online retailers, Cyber Monday is the start of the holiday season.

You can encourage customers to shop earlier with your Black Friday campaign but to increase sales, you still need shoppers to continue shopping until Christmas.

You can start the upcoming holiday season with marketing campaigns geared toward holiday gift inspiration and shopping earlier to get the best deals. From there, you can maximize sales by having popular items put on special or “back in stock” to encourage consumers to continue buying.

2. Use more video content in your holiday season campaigns – it’s becoming increasingly popular and is more engaging than traditional text-based marketing

Influencers have created their own marketing strategy when it comes to holiday shopping. Trends such as #TikTokmademebuyit have become increasingly popular and have created a buzz around trending products. Creating video content and using your brand to work with popular influencers can help small businesses increase their retail sales and build their brand.

Emotional storytelling can help build an emotional connection with your customers when creating your own advertising content. Ads with happy endings and engaging stories resonate well with customers and can help positively influence your brand.

Use all sorts of social media platforms to promote your great deals. Remind people to start early for the 2022 holiday season. Post-engaging holiday content and the perfect gift for those in their lives.

3. Focus on Consumer spending

The holiday season is a time of giving, and customers want to know they are getting the best holiday deals. With the continuing rise of inflation, consumers may spend less this year than in previous years, so the cost will be a big factor in their decision-making.

Consumers want sales and will go to great lengths to find them. Holiday sales are the largest annual increase to businesses during the year, and it’s going to be tough when holiday shoppers are looking for the best deals.

Choose items that are popular but can be discounted. Look for brands that carry good quality items but are less expensive. Increase discounts on overstocked items to help move them out of the store.

Create a marketing strategy that helps customers find the perfect gift at the perfect price.

4. Gift Cards are Increasing in Popularity

With shipping delays and product popularity, it’s easy for shelves to become empty and sales to be lost. For those who find gift shopping a tedious task, gift cards might be the right answer for them to allow their receiver to choose what they want.

Having a good assortment of gift cards on hand for the holiday season can still give you the sales you require during the holiday shopping season and can help boost sales going into January when the receivers come to purchase items.

To further increase gift card sales, businesses can offer discounts on purchased cards in the hopes that this will increase spending in the New Year.

5. Have a Large Online Presence for Holiday Shopping

Holiday shoppers will likely search online for holiday sales and new deals on popular items. Having a website is not enough for consumers to see you.

Social Media Marketing is the best strategy for your business as there are numerous platforms, and all have their target audience. It’s best to find the right social media platform for your business based on your customers over the past few years.

Creating video content is fun and exciting and allows you to better engage with shoppers. Give them shopping inspiration with holiday trends and new technology. Create posts with holiday gifts perfect for everyone in their lives and gifts for those who mean a lot to them.

Offer special discounts for followers on your social media that only they can use. Cyber Monday is a great way to start the holiday shopping season for online retail sales, so start with online promotions to increase traffic to your retail websites.

6. Create a Unique Holiday Email Campaign

The competition is especially severe over the holiday season, and your customer’s inboxes will be flooded with unique 2022 holiday advertising campaigns and limited bargains. There’s nothing wrong with jumping on board, but if you want to stand out, try something new.

For example, you could send your consumers lists of all the people they could be buying for, causing them to remember a co-worker or neighbor they would have forgotten about.  It’s a basic yet attractive 2022 holiday advertisement that doesn’t appear to sell anything while providing many opportunities to inspire consumers to buy from you.

The holiday shopping season is starting soon, and consumers want to start shopping as early as possible. A strategy for your physical stores and online website will help your customers with their holiday shopping and create a positive working environment for your staff.

With the increase in social media, holiday trends will be very different this year. Sales will be interesting to watch, as more gatherings can occur, and travel is allowed. Give your business an advantage over others by having a smart plan and working with your staff to create a great shopping experience for your consumers.

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Top 5 Black Friday Marketing Strategies For 2022

How can you improve your Black Friday advertising strategy in 2022? We are here to break it down!

The day after Thanksgiving, better known as Black Friday, is the official starting point of the holiday shopping season. Businesses create exciting deals to attract customers to their brick-and-mortar stores. To lengthen the shopping weekend, they have created Cyber Monday for online retailers to get in on the shopping season, with exclusive deals you can only find from online stores. Small Business Saturday is also for shoppers to support local small businesses in brick-and-mortar stores and online marketplaces, such as Etsy.

Businesses across the United States are working hard to gain even higher revenues during the holidays. Your Black Friday marketing strategy for 2022 is crucial to your success during the busiest shopping season. Here are our top 5 Black Friday marketing tips.

Black Friday Marketing Strategy

1. Plan your marketing campaign well in advance

You can’t start training for a marathon the night before the race. Marketing campaigns need to be well thought out and based on past performance. Black Friday marketing ideas need to be brought to a whole new level.

A holiday marketing calendar is an excellent tool for scheduling brainstorming sessions, designing and copying briefs, and launch of Black Friday ads. You can set target dates for when milestones need to be accomplished and how to generate some hype for your Black Friday sales.

2. Optimize Your Website Performance

Evaluating an online store’s web hosting is one approach to preparing it for a Black Friday promotion. Consider updating if the website is nearing its resource limit.

The optimum plan should have enough bandwidth, memory, storage, and processing capacity to support the number of products displayed, the expected monthly traffic, and a smooth shopping experience.

Ecommerce stores are growing in popularity, and more and more customers are starting their shopping season with online shopping. It’s convenient, and they can do all their holiday shopping in one sitting rather than driving around to many stores.

3. Offer exclusive deals to your customers

Your loyal customers will appreciate having specific Black Friday sales specific to them or early access to Black Friday promotions. Creating an email marketing campaign targeting previous and loyal customers can increase Black Friday sales because they have already shopped with you.

You can create a discount code that only they can use, have an in-store Black Friday giveaway to encourage new customers, or even provide a free gift for those who do online shopping.

Some businesses have even created an early Black Friday sale to encourage customers to shop with them.

4. Generate hype on social media

Social Media posts are the best way to create hype for your Black Friday sales event. Using a holiday marketing calendar, you can start using your social media platforms to post-holiday promotions, advertise your online business and get customers excited about your Black Friday weekend.

Posts with specific products that will be a part of the Black Friday sales can help get potential customers excited, and they may want to see what other items you carry, thus creating a stream of new customers to your online store.

5. Make the most of digital marketing tools

Don’t underestimate the power of digital marketing strategies. Although more shoppers rely on social media accounts to discover new businesses, current customers can be retained using marketing channels.

Just by asking for your customer’s phone numbers or email addresses, you can send messages to them in the digital path they want. Younger generations prefer getting text messages because most have a smartphone. Sending targeted messages to them can lead to the excitement of your Black Friday deals. Older generations prefer receiving emails, which have the added bonus of additional wording and image displays. An email marketing campaign can also give shoppers early access to your Black Friday deals.

Getting phone numbers and email addresses are easy to get from customers and is a great marketing strategy for learning more about your target audience.

Three Crucial Black Friday Preparations

Planning your inventory

  • What do you need to order to meet customer demand?
    • Customers are beginning their Christmas shopping season, and you need products to fulfill that need. Don’t think of just seasonal items to put on sale, you need to think of current trends and the popularity of items.
    • Online stores need to consider customer demand just as much as brick-and-mortar stores. Consider past Black Friday trends to help you decide what items to carry.
  • How much should you order to avoid overstocking or running out of products?
    • Order enough to get you through the Black Friday weekend. It’s better to run out on Sunday afternoon than Friday morning.
    • For popular items, it’s best to order more and for more seasonal items, order less. You don’t want overstock items that can’t be sold past the season.

Staffing

  • Ensure you have enough employees on hand to help customers, manage the store, and ring up sales
    • Black Friday week should be considered all hands on deck. Schedule as much stuff as possible, and have floaters who can help cover areas during break time.
    • Having a meeting beforehand can help answer staff questions and help develop a plan for how the week will go.

Marketing

  • Create a Black Friday ad campaign that will generate traffic and boost sales
    • Start planning your Black Friday marketing strategy in advance so everything can run smoothly.
    • Black Friday campaigns can start in mid-October to generate excitement.
    • Boost Black Friday sales with exclusive items, giveaways, and free gifts with purchase.
    • Use Social Media marketing strategies and start posting about your Black Friday shopping event.
    • Give a sneak peek to customers through email and social media posts.

Three Crucial Cyber Monday Preparations

  • Have enough staff
    • Customer Service will be your number one priority for online sales. You don’t want to lose customers because they have questions or are having trouble with your website. Have enough staff to cover phone lines and if you have an online chat, have plenty of staff to cover that.
    • For the rest of the week, have adequate coverage in the shipping department so customers can get their exciting deals as quickly as possible.
  • Order Plenty of Inventory
    • Potential customers want to see lots of inventory in an online store if they want to purchase multiple items.
    • Have plenty of stock on hand and don’t allow for back-ordering.
  • Use The Same Black Friday Marketing Strategy
    • You shouldn’t have to change your marketing strategies for online sales. You can market certain items as Black Friday deals and have other items as Cyber Monday deals.
    • Continue to post on all your social media channels over the Black Friday weekend to encourage customers to buy from online retailers.

However you choose to plan your Black Friday sale, it’s best to start early and have a well-thought-out plan in place. Giving your staff plenty of time to prepare and having procedures in place will mean less stress and more time spent with customers, helping them find the perfect gift for the beginning of the holiday season.

Categories
Tips and Tricks

Inspiring Quotes To Motivate You Toward Your Goals

We all have goals that we want to achieve, whether it is day-to-day life or long-term, sometimes we need a little extra push to get started. The road to ultimate success is often long and winding, with plenty of obstacles along the way. That’s why it’s important to keep your eye on the prize and stay motivated throughout your journey. These inspirational and motivational quotes will help motivate you to pursue your goals and achieve success. So get inspired, and then go out and make your dreams a reality!

Inspiring Quotes To Keep You Motivated:

“The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.” —Ernest Hemingway

If you’re going to achieve your goals, you need to be able to trust the people around you. Whether it’s your business partners, your friends, or your family, the people in your life need to be trustworthy if you’re going to succeed. This quote from Ernest Hemingway is a great reminder that trust is essential for any relationship—professional or personal.

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” —Michael Jordan

Basketball legend Michael Jordan is a great reminder that failure is part of the journey toward success. No one achieves their goals without failing along the way. The important thing is to pick yourself up and keep trying until you reach your destination.

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” —Franklin D. Roosevelt

This quote from former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt reminds us that self-doubt is oftentimes the only thing standing between us and our goals. Don’t let your doubts get in the way of achieving great things. Believe in yourself and you’ll be able to achieve anything you set your mind to.

“Today’s accomplishments were yesterday’s impossibilities.” –Robert H. Schuller

This is a powerful reminder that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it. Whatever goal you’re working toward, know that it is achievable as long as you stay focused and dedicated.

“If your mind can conceive it, You can achieve it.” –Napoleon Hill

This quote is similar to the last one in that it emphasizes the importance of mindset in achieving goals. If you believe something is possible, then it likely will be. So if you’re ever doubting yourself or your ability to achieve something, remember this quote and let it give you the boost of confidence you need.

“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” –Paulo Coelho

This not only applies to individuals striving to better themselves but also to organizations working toward collective goals. When everyone works together toward a common purpose, greatness can be achieved—for the individual and for the group as a whole.

“Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.” –George Bernard Shaw

Nobody’s perfect, and that’s okay! What matters most is learning from your mistakes so that you don’t make them again in the future. That’s how real progress is made—by taking two steps forward and one step back instead of sitting idly in place because you’re afraid of making mistakes.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Abraham Lincoln

Too often, we allow ourselves to be passive observers in our own lives, waiting to see what will happen next. But if we want to achieve our dreams and goals, we need to take an active role in shaping our future. So let’s make today the first day of the rest of our lives, and start working towards the future we want to see.

“Start with one step, just one. And then take the next one and keep going that way.” — Cher

By taking things one step at a time, we can slowly make progress toward our goals and eventually achieve them. Moreover, remembering this motivational quote can help us to stay focused and motivated when working towards our goals.

“Every morning we are born again. What we do today matters most.” —Unknown

It’s often said that today is the first day of the rest of your life. And while that may be true, it’s also important to remember that what we do today matters most. Every day, we have the opportunity to move closer to our goals and achieve success.

“You can’t put a limit on how much you can improve and how much you can do. There are no limits on what you can be, do, or have in life.” —Tony Robbins

These words ring particularly true when applied to the notion of self-improvement. After all, only you can decide how far you’re willing to go to improve yourself. Of course, setting a worthy goal is only half the battle. You also need to have the burning desire to see it through. So, if you’re looking to make a change in your life, don’t be afraid to start small. Remember, even the longest journey begins with a single step.

“If your mind can conceive it, you can achieve it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse.” —Walt Disney

Setting goals is an important first step on the road to success, but it’s not always easy to achieve them. That’s why it’s important to remember that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Just think back to Walt Disney, who started with nothing more than a dream and a mouse. If he can achieve his goals, then so can we.

“If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” —Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson is a thinker and philosopher, and his words still resonate today. This quote is a reminder that we must always be striving for more, pushing ourselves to try new things if we want to achieve our goals. It’s easy to get comfortable in our daily lives and routines, but if we’re not willing to step outside our comfort zones, we’ll never succeed.

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” – Theodore Roosevelt

In his quote, Theodore Roosevelt suggests that it is better to try and fail than to never try at all. Without goals, we would never have anything to strive for. Even if we never have our goals succeed, the journey toward it can be just as rewarding. As we continue to strive towards our goals, we also learn more about ourselves and develop better tools along the way. So, even if we don’t achieve success, in the end, there is still value in trying.

“What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” – Robert H. Schuller

We are often too afraid to attempt something new or set goals for ourselves because we are afraid of failing. However, if we knew that we could not fail, what would we attempt? And, more importantly, would our goals change? This quote reminds us that success is attainable as long as we have the courage to pursue our goals.

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn

Without discipline, it is impossible to accomplish anything of significance. This is because discipline is the key ingredient that bridges the gap between having worthy goals and actually achieving those goals. It takes a great deal of discipline to pursue lofty goals, and even more to overcome the challenges along the way. By instilling discipline in ourselves, we can turn even the most challenging goals into reality.

“If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan, but never the goal.” – Unknown

It is often said that the only guaranteed failure is to never try at all. This is especially true when it comes to setting and achieving goals. In order to succeed, it is important to have a plan, but also to be flexible and willing to adjust the plan as needed. There will inevitably be setbacks and challenges along the way, but if the goal is worthy, it will be worth the effort. Achieving challenging goals requires persistence and determination, but also a willingness to adapt and change course when necessary.

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretsky

Wayne Gretsky’s famous quote is often used to encourage people to take risks and pursue their goals. And there is no denying that taking risks is an important part of success. After all, the ultimate goal is to achieve success, not just take shots in the dark. By being strategic and selective about which risks taking, you can conserve your energy and resources for the best chance at achieving your goals.

“You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.” — Stephen King

If we want to succeed, we have to believe in ourselves and put in the hard work required. We also need to be prepared for setbacks and failures along the way. Success is never instantaneous or easy, but it is always achievable if we are brave enough to start no matter the risks involved. So let’s go out there and chase our goals with everything we’ve got. The ultimate success is waiting for us.

“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” ― Karen Lamb

Karen Lamb’s words are so simple, yet so profound. They remind us that time is precious and that we should not wait to start working toward our goals. The beauty of progressive realization is that it allows us to break our goals down into smaller, more manageable pieces. This can be especially helpful when we are faced with unforeseen challenges. What we often forget is how much power we have in the present moment. We may not be able to control what happens in the future, but we can control what we do today. So let’s not wait until tomorrow to start making our dreams a reality.

The Key To Achieving Your Goals:

Achieving goals can take so much energy. You have to constantly be re-evaluating and adjusting your approach. It’s easy to get burned out or to feel like you’re not making any progress. That’s why it’s important to take a step back, celebrate small victories, and remind yourself of why you’re doing this in the first place. It’s also important to be realistic about what you can achieve in a given period of time. Trying to do too much will only lead to frustration. Slow and steady progress is the key to success.

Remember, You Can Do This!

Success is a worthy goal that we should all strive for. But what does success mean to you? Perhaps it’s achieving a certain goal, or becoming the best at something. Whatever your definition of success may be, it’s important to keep your eye on the prize and not lose sight of what you’re working towards. It can be easy to get sidetracked or discouraged, but if you have a burning desire to achieve your goals, you’ll find a way to succeed. Remember, even a hobby can be turned into a successful business if you’re willing to put in the work and go after your dreams.

These quotes should inspire you to stay motivated and focused on your goals. No matter what life throws your way, remember that you have the strength to overcome it. Use these words of wisdom as a reminder that you are capable of anything you set your mind to. So read them when you need a boost, share them with friends who could use some motivation, and keep moving forward toward your dreams.