New beginnings make us look forward… plan… think about what we want to accomplish.
It’s why we set New Year’s resolutions.
And it’s why now is the perfect time to plan your marketing for the coming months.
To get you started on your 2019 small business marketing strategy, check out the free template from Valpak below. It comes in a 12-month marketing calendar or list format with the key holidays and dates to know marked for easy reference.
How to Plan
Your marketing calendar is your blueprint for the coming year. It should spell out the specific promotions and events you’re planning for each holiday or special event.
So start by creating a list of the promotions and campaigns you’d like to run this year. They may be annual promotions that are run in specific times of the year or holiday sales.
Then plan the marketing pieces you’ll need for each. Your list should include:
- Ad Campaigns
- Content Pieces
- Direct Mail Marketing
- Displays or Signage
- Email Marketing
- Events
- Social Media Campaigns
- Offline Marketing
Based on the elements that are needed for each campaign, create a timeline with start dates and due dates.
Then add them to your calendar.
Why the Focus on Holidays?
Holidays provide unique opportunities to get your customers engaged and drive sales to your small business.
Whether it’s through major shopping holidays or more casual fun holidays, work your marketing strategy around key dates and opportunities.
While not every holiday will apply to your business, remember to have some fun and think out of the box. You can leverage enthusiasm and excitement around the holidays by connecting your promotions, deals, or events to that date.
There are many holidays to keep track of and consider when planning your marketing calendar. Decide which dates align with your small business and map out ways to capitalize on them.
You’ll also want to consider the size of the holiday when planning ahead. Black Friday or Christmas may take months of planning, while National Taco Day or Get to Know Your Customers Day would take less time.
Ultimately, you want to create a marketing calendar that gives you flexibility and freedom. But it needs to give you structure too, so make plans and follow through…
Create strong, well-planned campaigns. Test your results. And make changes as needed.
