Get a Jump on Your Holiday Plans: A Guide for Small Business Owners

It might feel like it’s still a bit early, but if you’re a business owner, it’s time to shift gears and start your holiday planning. Yes, I know, pumpkin spice season has barely even started, but it may surprise you to learn that many savvy marketers started working on their holiday strategies in July and August.

Seem crazy? Maybe a little, but getting an early start is the best way to make sure you get the most out of the holiday shopping frenzy. 

This year in particular, shop owners need to keep in mind that the early bird gets the worm – and in this case, the “worm” is lots of extra holiday revenue! In fact, it’s estimated that a shocking 68% of shoppers plan to make their holiday and gift purchases before the traditional buying season (Nov-Dec) – so if you’re not ready early, you stand to really miss out.

Ready to get a jump on the season? Here’s what you need to know…

When Should Business Owners Start Their Holiday Planning?

When you’re busy running your business, it’s easy to lose track of time. Yet, with the holiday season being the most profitable time of year for many business owners, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve.

By September, you should have already been deep in the trenches of holiday planning. Why? Because by this point, many of your competitors are already fine-tuning their holiday campaigns and stocking their shelves with holiday inventory.

While time is of the essence, don’t lose sleep over your late start. If you jump in now – you’ll still be fine. You just won’t have as much time for leisurely planning as those who got an early start.

So, take a deep breath, and let’s dive right in.

Start with Your Overall Strategy

Now that you know how important it is to get a jump on your holiday planning, it’s tempting to turn your focus to the fun stuff, like designing holiday ads and buying festive decorations … but not so fast. First, you need to get a solid grasp on your overall strategy.

Before you do anything, start thinking about these important points. and working on a strategy. 

Now, this is easier than ever, thanks to AI bots like ChatGPT. By using AI tools, you can simplify and streamline your holiday planning.

To get the most effective answers, you’ll need to start by providing some basic information about your business. 

First things first: Prepare ChatGPT

When using ChatGPT, make sure it understands:

1. The nature of your business (e.g., what products or services you offer).
2. Your target audience (who you want to reach).
3. The tone and personality of your brand (whether you’re playful, professional, etc.).
4. Your specific goals for the holiday season (what kind of results you hope to achieve).

   ** NOTE: Be cautious of putting confidential or proprietary information into ChatGPT. 

Next, follow these steps…

(1) Define Your Target Audience and Timing

Think about who you’re aiming to reach and when. Is it the early birds or the last-minute shoppers? Maybe it’s both! Decide on the optimal moments to captivate your audience.

Ask ChatGPT: “Based on what I’ve told you, what are the key characteristics of my target audience, and when would be the best times to run promotions to maximize holiday sales?”

(2) Brainstorm Holiday Promotion Ideas

Start your planning by brainstorming some special deals or offers you’re willing to bring to the table. Whether it’s a buy-one-get-one-free offer, a percentage off, or even a gift with purchase, think about the offers that align with your brand and are likely to attract your target buyers.

Ask ChatGPT: “Based on my business, what are some creative holiday promotion ideas that would appeal to my target audience?”

(3) Carve Out Your Key Messages

What sentiments or messages do you wish to radiate this holiday season? Maybe it’s gratitude, togetherness, or bringing a bit of calm to the holiday festivities. Maybe your brand is more suited to joyful celebrations, no-nonsense advice, or something in between. Whatever it is, make sure your messaging is genuine and aligns with your brand’s identity.

Ask ChatGPT: “Help me develop a few key messaging ideas for my holiday campaign that convey [insert your brand values] and resonate with my audience of [describe your audience].”

(4) Strategize Your Marketing Tactics

From email blasts and influencer marketing to social campaigns, in-person events, or daily deals, there are plenty of channels and tactics you can explore. Take some time to think about which ones are most likely to give you the best bang for your buck.

Ask ChatGPT: “Given that I want to reach [describe audience] through [list preferred marketing channels], can you suggest an integrated holiday marketing strategy that uses a mix of email, social media, and in-person promotions?”

Don’t hesitate to keep asking follow-up questions until you have a clear vision and strategy for your holiday marketing. 

Do us both a favor and don’t skip this step. Starting your holiday prep without a game plan is like trying to put together a piece of furniture without directions. Sure, it’s do-able, but it’s frustrating!

Whether you spend hours planning every detail or 10 minutes creating a rough draft, having an idea of the direction you’re going will make the rest of the process so much easier.

7 Steps to Kickstart Your Holiday Prep

Now that you have a general idea of who you want to target and how you want to present your brand this holiday season, it’s time to put your ideas into action. Start with these crucial steps.

1. Start Planning Your Holiday Marketing Campaigns

Start by pulling out your calendar and putting in the exact dates for when you plan to roll out your holiday marketing campaigns.

Ask ChatGPT: “Create a content calendar for my holiday marketing campaign, targeting [describe your audience], with specific dates and suggested channels for promotions.”

Next, use the data you’ve collected over the year to segment your audience and develop targeted campaigns for each group.

When it comes to holiday marketing, targeting is your friend. Tailoring your marketing messages to your audience might seem like Marketing 101, but you’d be surprised how many overlook it.

2. Schedule Social Media Posts and Email Marketing Campaigns

Once you have your plan and deadlines in place, you can also start creating your social media graphics and posts. Use a tool like Publer or Buffer to schedule the bulk of your holiday posts now.

Ask ChatGPT: “Create a 4-week holiday social media content plan for [your business] targeting [specific audience] with suggested post types, captions, and hashtags.”

You’ll want to leave some space so you have room for spontaneity, but scheduling your core posts now will help ensure you don’t miss any opportunities and allow you to focus on more important things during the holidays.

Likewise, now is a great time to design and schedule your email marketing campaigns. If you don’t already have a bulk emailing tool, consider MailChimp, Kit (Formerly ConvertKit), or MailerLite. 

Ask ChatGPT: “Draft an email marketing sequence for my holiday campaign, including subject lines and content for [number] emails, with a focus on [specific promotions or offers].”

3. Review Your Inventory Needs

Inventory management isn’t sexy, but it’s vital. You don’t want to be that business that runs out of the hottest item two days into December.

Check last year’s data, analyze current trends, and get a read on what people will want this season. Don’t forget to mark your vendors’ ordering deadlines on a calendar you look at daily. Missing these dates could lead to a real problem.

Ask ChatGPT: “Analyze last year’s sales data and trends to forecast inventory needs for this holiday season, particularly for [specific products].”

4. Get Your Financial Ducks in a Row

Cash is king, especially during the holiday rush. Put yourself in a good position now by projecting your holiday expenditures for additional staff, more inventory, and ramped-up marketing. Balance this against your expected revenue so you’re not just spending but investing.

Get your books straight, make sure all pending payments are in, and maybe think about securing a credit line for emergencies.

Ask ChatGPT: “Help me project holiday expenses, including staffing, inventory, and marketing, and balance them against expected revenue for a profitable season. Please tell me what information you need from me to provide an accurate output”

5. Strengthen Your Supplier Relationships

Remember that you’re not the only one under holiday stress – your suppliers are too. Early orders not only ensure on-time deliveries but can also land you better prices.

Also, make contingency plans for potential supply chain disruptions. In many cases, it’s better to have items and not need them than need items and not have them.

Ask ChatGPT: “What steps can I take to build stronger relationships with my suppliers during the holiday season to ensure timely deliveries?”

5. Get Your Staff Ready

Hiring temporary staff or upskilling your current team is not something you want to leave until the last minute. Make holiday schedules in advance and clearly communicate your expectations to your team.

The holidays can be a busy time for everyone, so set a fairly early deadline for staff to request any holiday time off. This will ensure you can plan your schedules accordingly.

6. Update Your Website and Technology

It’s likely that more people will visit your website during the holidays than at any other time during the year. Make sure your site can handle the uptick in traffic and that the user experience is on point.

If you’re not the tech type, now is the time to get an expert’s eyes on your website. Depending on your available time and budget, you may also consider making some tweaks to make it easier to showcase your holiday promotions.

7. Tap Into a Wider Range of Holiday Markets

The holiday season isn’t just Christmas and New Year’s. Depending on your target audience, you may be able to tap into other festive holidays, from Hanukkah to Kwanzaa. Starting early also means you can start generating excitement for earlier holidays, like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Small Business Saturday.

Ask ChatGPT: “Suggest holiday marketing ideas for diverse celebrations like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Thanksgiving that align with my brand and target audience.”

Remember, while it might seem overwhelming at first, a structured approach to holiday planning can be the difference between chaos and a successful season. And using these prompts along with thoughtful planning could make this you best holiday season ever!

One Final Tip…

Following these steps will set you on the right path, but there’s still a lot more to do! Make this holiday season a profitable one, with my FREE e-book, “The Ultimate Holiday Marketing Guide for Small Business Owners.”

Don’t miss out, click below to download your free copy now!