Holiday Marketing – Part 1

It is September – and that means the winter holidays are just around the corner. If you haven’t started thinking about your holiday marketing yet, you CANNOT put it off any longer. Now is the time to get crackin’. Here are some tips to help you get a plan in action:

• Craft Shows - We are heading into a very busy season for craft shows. It’s best to start this process early. Some shows ask potential vendors to apply and there is a selection process that follows. If you area shows do not have a selection process, I still recommend calling and getting all relevant info in advance. You don’t want to wait until the last minute and find out that all the tables are gone! To find upcoming shows, look in your local paper, on community bulletin boards and http://www.indiecraftshows.com/
• Shopping Parties – Take a cue from direct sales and hold your own shopping party! Invite your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. Have your products set out on the table (hint – create a nice display!), have a few appetizers if you want to, and let everyone mingle, shop, and have fun! If you choose, you can ask them to hold a party for you, where they invite their friends, and you give the hostess a certain amount of your product for free…
• Shopping Sites - There are lots of great shopping sites and blogs out there, and getting listed on them can offer you great exposure! Contact the site owner / blogger and ask send them a letter, explaining why you think their audience would be interested in your product. If you have a press release, go ahead and send that, as well as the link to your electronic press kit (if you have one). Some of these people may ask for a sample. Know upfront that you may not get that sample back, so do not send anything you cannot afford to lose!
• Get Social – Get active on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.  Build relationships and establish trust. These people may become your customers – or they may refer you to some!
• Partner Up – Partner up with other business owners and help promote each other! There are many ways to do this, and you are only limited by your creativity. You could mention each other on your blogs, write a review of their product or service and have them review one of your products or services, enclose each other’s business card or other promotional items in your orders, etc.

You can find more holiday tips in Part 2 of this post, which is found on my personal website, by clicking here!

** Don’t forget about getting listed in the Indie Biz Chicks Holiday Gift Guide! Your ad will include a 125×125 graphic and a 50 word description, all for only $35. The guide is filled with articles, recipes, and more! It will be distributed to over 12,000 people through email, and also distributed virally via Facebook and Twitter. Click Here to purchase your listing now.