Ready or not, here come the Summer holiday sales! Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, Boxing Day – these are not just dates on a calendar but also the most action-packed time of the year for all you retailers out there. The smart move? Get your marketing ducks in a row as early as August, and here’s why.
The Early Bird Gets the Sale
We all know the old saying, “The early bird catches the worm,” right? Well, in the world of retail, the early bird also catches the best deals and the biggest profits. When the holiday season rolls around, shoppers are ready to spend, and businesses like yours are battling it out for their attention. To stay ahead of the game, you’ve got to get planning in August.
Why so early? It gives you the time to really understand your customers, know what they’re into, and how they shop. You can check out the trends, scope out the competition, and use all that info to craft marketing strategies that hit the right notes with your audience.
All About the Bucks
Planning in advance also means you can sort out your marketing budget. By getting a jump start in August, you can figure out how many dollars you’re willing to drop on each digital campaign and spread your cash out where it counts.
Plus, did you know that increased competition means advertising CPCs and CPMs can shoot through the roof when the holiday season hits? By planning and negotiating early, you can build up quality and conversion data that will help mitigate this increase and get you the best bang for buck.
And let’s not forget about the marketing mix – how much to invest in SEO, PPC, email marketing, social media, you name it. With early budget planning, you can decide where your money’s going to make the biggest splash.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Starting in Winter also lets you slowly up your marketing game as you roll into November. What’s so great about that? A few things.
Firstly, it’s all about testing and measuring. You can test your strategies, see what’s working, what’s not, and tweak things for maximum impact.
Secondly, it’s about the hype. By revving up your marketing little by little, you can create a buzz and get your customers super excited for the holiday sales.
Lastly, ramping up gradually means you can make sure you’ve got everything you need to handle the holiday rush – the right staff, enough stock, and logistics in place to handle all those orders coming your way.
Bottom Line
Sure, planning your Summer sales marketing in Winter might seem like you’re jumping the gun, but trust us, it’s worth it. It’s all about spending your money wisely, building the hype strategically, and launching your campaigns for maximum effect. And remember, even the best-laid plans need tweaking, so keep an eye on those performance metrics and be ready to switch things up if needed. That way, you’ll be all set to rake in the big bucks when the holiday season hits.
Want to make a plan to capitalise on the end of year shopping season? Get in touch for a free strategy session today.
