As a small business owner, you know how important the holiday season is to your bottom line. According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales amounted to nearly $890 billion last year, so it’s important to have a solid marketing strategy in place to ensure your business gets a piece of the pie. Not sure where to start? Check out these holiday marketing tips for small businesses from the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce.

1. Create a PDF gift guide

One of the best ways to market your products or services during the holidays is to create a PDF gift guide. This is a great way to showcase your offerings in a visually appealing way and make it easy for customers to find the perfect gift for their loved ones. You can even create multiple gift guides to expand your reach, and this online tool helps you split your PDF into separate files. Be sure to promote your gift guide across all of your channels, including social media, email, and your website.

2. Switch to holiday packaging and wrapping

Make things easy on yourself (and your customers) by switching to holiday-themed packaging and wrapping. This will save you time and money while making it clear that your business is ready for the holiday season. You can even use holiday packaging as an opportunity to upsell customers by offering special deals on products that are packaged together.

3. Host holiday giveaways and offer discounts

Everyone loves a good deal, so why not entice customers with holiday discounts and giveaways? This is a great way to show appreciation for your loyal customers and attract new ones. Just be sure to promote your deals and giveaways prominently on your website and social media channels.

4. Post useful web content

The holidays are a busy time for everyone, so help your customers out by posting useful content on your website. This could include blog posts with gift ideas, recipes, or tips on how to make the holidays less stressful. You can also add an FAQ section to address common questions about your products or services.

5. Drive social media engagement

Social media is a powerful tool that can help you reach new customers and drive sales during the holidays (and all year long). Make sure you’re active on all of the major platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.), and consider running targeted ads on each platform. You can also use social media to engage with customers by hosting holiday-themed contests or sharing user-generated content.

6. Partner with neighbor businesses

Partnering with other local businesses is a great way to reach new customers and build relationships with other small business owners in your community. There are several ways you can partner with other businesses, such as co-sponsoring events, cross-promoting each other’s products or services, or teaming up for joint marketing initiatives.

7. Host holiday events

Another great way to reach new customers during the holidays is to host a special event at your store or office. This could be anything from an open house or trunk show to a festive party complete with food, drinks, and live music. Be sure to promote your event through all of your channels—email, social media, and print ads—to get as many people as possible through the door.

8. Support local nonprofits

The holidays are also a great time to give back to those less fortunate in our community by supporting local nonprofits. There are several ways you can get involved, such as donating products or services, hosting fundraisers, or volunteering your time at a local shelter or food bank. Not only will this make you feel good, but it will also reflect positively on your business in the eyes of consumers.

9. Get creative with your marketing

Finally, don’t be afraid to get creative with your marketing during the holidays! This is the perfect time of year to experiment with new marketing tactics and try something outside of your comfort zone—you never know what might resonate with consumers and help boost sales.

Following these tips will help ensure that your small business has a successful holiday season! From creating a PDF gift guide to partnering with other local businesses, there are plenty of ways to market your products or services during this festive time of year.

Join the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce to connect with local entrepreneurs and resources that can help your business grow.