| Is your business holiday friendly? Do you get busier | | | | (basketball team) magnets. Those are great items, so |
| during the holidays or are you slower due to the fact | | | | continue to send them if your business does well |
| that people are not interested in purchasing your | | | | sending them. However, if you gave a little more |
| products and/or services at this time of year. | | | | thought, you and/or a few friends could identify |
| Holiday promotions can be a useful tool for any type | | | | something that is a lot more creative and that may |
| of business. However, you will still want to be | | | | not cost any more to do. |
| creative. For example, if you send your clients holiday | | | | Where do you go to look for new ideas and items? |
| cards around Christmas or other December holiday, | | | | 9 places to get ideas to make your business stand |
| your card will most likely be one of 25 (or more) | | | | out from your competitors: |
| cards that your client receives. For this reason, I | | | | 1. Call and/or visit your local promotional products |
| challenge you to set yourself apart from your | | | | companies. You can find them in the local chamber, |
| competitors by being more creative than this year! | | | | leads group or phone book. |
| 6 Simple Secrets to help your business stand out | | | | 2. Consider using gift basket companies. You can be |
| from your competition: | | | | much more creative with a gift basket that you used |
| 1. Send a Halloween, Thanksgiving or New Year's card | | | | to be with the help of one of these companies. |
| instead of a December holiday card. | | | | 3. Try your hand at making your own personalized |
| 2. Consider sending a gift instead of a card. There are | | | | gift baskets with items from your business, food and |
| many gifting services/businesses that can handle this | | | | wine from the local gourmet food store, or other |
| for you, some of which can be very affordable. | | | | items your clients would like receiving. Be careful |
| 3. Stop by to visit your contact and bring them a | | | | thought; this route can be more costly if you are not |
| card, mug, or other personal gift item that they | | | | careful where you make your purchases. |
| would appreciate receiving. | | | | 4. Search online with your favorite search engine with |
| 4. Hold a client appreciation event. This is typically | | | | keyword "gifts". There are many different companies |
| best when held in November or January and not | | | | that will show up in your search results. There will be |
| when your clients are busy in December. | | | | a variety, which will help you find a gift within your |
| 5. Ensure that whatever you send stands out. If you | | | | budget and style. |
| do decide to send a card, be sure to just buy the | | | | 5. Consider working with local gift incentive |
| cheapest ones. Instead, put some thought into it. For | | | | companies. You provide them with the amount that |
| example, send a card that opens up into a calendar | | | | you wish to spend and they will send the recipient a |
| or that has a place for a photo of your staff. | | | | catalog of items in that price range. This allows the |
| Remember, you will need to plan ahead for ordering | | | | recipient to choose the gift that they want. |
| shipping time. | | | | 6. Purchase a gift card from a store like Sam's Club |
| 6. Most of all, enjoy the holidays yourself by having | | | | or Wal-Mart. They offer gift cards in any |
| someone else assemble and send cards/items to | | | | denomination and will upload your company logo or |
| your contacts (that is, if you are doing a mailing). | | | | any photo you want to the front of it. Then you can |
| However, make sure you personally sign all the cards | | | | send gift cards valid for Sam's and Wal-Mart branded |
| and include a note. People like to know you thought | | | | with your company logo/photo on it. |
| enough of them to write something personally and | | | | 7. Consider co-promoting. I talk about this a lot. |
| did not just rely on the preprinted name or logo. | | | | Arrange for a local service business such as a car |
| Proper Ways to Give Gifts to Employees & | | | | wash, massage therapist or any other retail business |
| Clients | | | | to provide you with free gift certificates to their |
| It is very important for business owners to | | | | business that you can send to your database. The |
| remember his/her employees during the holidays. | | | | company gets exposure to your entire database |
| Likewise, businesses should also take care to | | | | (free marketing) and you get to "give" a free gift to |
| remember clients and referral sources during the | | | | your contacts. |
| holidays. Whether your client celebrates Christmas, | | | | 8. Give gift cards that are pertinent to each recipient. |
| Kwanza, Hanukkah or other December holiday, you | | | | For example, give cards to Starbucks for the |
| can do something to thank them for their support, | | | | caffeine freaks, Jamba Juice for the health nuts, REI |
| business and/or their loyalty. This can also be done | | | | for the sports enthusiasts and Bath & Body |
| during the Thanksgiving and New Year's holiday time | | | | Works for the divas. |
| Recently, a few small business people have asked | | | | 9. By sending hand-made gifts and/or thank you |
| me "What should I send out for the holidays?" They | | | | cards, you can make a huge impression and save |
| explained that they either send calendars or King's | | | | some money in doing so. |