How Turkeys, Trees and Taffy Can Boost Your Reputation #sponsored

This post is sponsored by Visa Business.  Thoughts shared are my own.

Have winter holiday promotions hit your favorite shopping spots yet?

Somehow fake pumpkins filled with candy, turkeys silently laughing as if they know what happens when I try to cook Thanksgiving dinner, and brightly decorated Christmas trees seem to have become friends for the month of October instead of staying in the months I’d prefer them in…

If you’re anything like me, you might prefer your holidays (much like your days) to attack one at a time.

But smart businesses plan in advance and now’s a great time to be sure you’ve got your holiday promotional plan in place.

So How Can Turkeys, Trees and Taffy Boost Your Reputation?

Simple.  Tie your holiday promotions into a cause that matters to you and fits with the mission of your business. Share with your clients the heart that’s behind what you do every day.

Show your clients (and potential clients) that your business is about more than pure profit.  Show them what you care about.

So instead of starting with what type of coupon you’re going to create, what products or services to put on sale, or what percentage you can afford to discount to get new clients, start with what you want to change in the world or a cause you want to support.

For example… you won’t be surprised to know that…

I value encouraging entrepreneurialism around the world, so KIVA is a fantastic organization to support.  You’ve probably seen me tweet about them or mention them in my emails from time to time.

I also value giving women and children a voice, so through organizations like The Mocha Club, I can support that.

It’d make perfect sense for me to create a promotion where I can either donate directly to these groups from the profit of a sale, or give something away to those who make a donation.

Either of these would work during a time of year where we care about giving or are focused on thankfulness.

Go to the heart of why you do what you do.  What’s your big mission?  What holiday could you closely associate that with?  And what organizations make sense to connect with?

Once you’ve decided what type of promotion to create, remember to get the word out about it by letting your clients know and inviting them to help you share it!  Blog about it, send an email to your subscribers, write a press release, and share on social media.

7 Important Reminders for Smart, Effective Holiday Promotions

* Choose holidays that are appropriate for your industry and customers, but be creative! For example, during stress awareness month you could create a special offer with your best stress-busting products or issue a press release about how your business can reduce stress for a particular group of people.

* If it’s a religious holiday, be accurate (research or ask for help if you aren’t familiar with the holiday) and respectful both to those who celebrate, and those who don’t.

* If it’s controversial, know your audience and be prepared for reactions.

* Consider targeting unusual holidays/events where there will be less competition for interest or press coverage.

* Plan in advance and remember that print publications need adequate lead time for stories.

* Track your results to see how the promotion worked for you. This will help you determine whether or not to repeat it again.

* Consider finding a way to partner with or donate to local non-profits for appropriate holidays, or enlisting other businesses or friends in your promotions to create larger reach for everyone.

Ready to Create a Holiday Promotion?

Discover unique, kooky, and fun holidays, and learn how you can use them to create standout promotions for your business today in this free report:

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I am blogging on behalf of Visa Business and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa’s. Visit http://facebook.com/visasmallbiz to take a look at the reinvented Facebook Page: Well Sourced by Visa Business. The Page serves as a space where small business owners can access educational resources, read success stories from other business owners, engage with peers, and find tips to help businesses run more efficiently. Every month, the Page will introduce a new theme that will focus on a topic important to a small business owner’s success. For additional tips and advice, and information about Visa’s small business solutions, follow @VisaSmallBiz and visit http://visa.com/business.