| For many small businesses, Christmas is the most | | | | Also make sure you can track the effectiveness of |
| profitable shipping time of the year. By implementing | | | | the ads you're placing through the use of coupons or |
| the right marketing strategies now, not only can you | | | | some other method. As a small business owner, you |
| make it even more profitable, but you can extend that | | | | shouldn't advertise by any method you can't track. |
| profitability throughout the year. | | | | After you get people to come into your store once, |
| Now is the time to start getting your advertising | | | | how do you make sure they come back so you can |
| campaign ready to launch. Get some display ads | | | | extend Christmas profitability year round? The only |
| ready to run in the local newspapers your customers | | | | real way to do that is to capture their contact info. |
| read. You want to let people know about the benefits | | | | That way you can cost-effectively market to them all |
| you have versus going to your competitors so be sure | | | | year. Once you have their contact info you can send |
| your ads effectively convey those benefits. You may | | | | them postcards, or if you get their email address you |
| even want to partner with a charitable event such as | | | | can use automatic tools like email autoresponders. |
| "Toys for Tots" to get people coming in your business | | | | Then your marketing campaign is on autopilot and it |
| to drop off toys. | | | | goes out no matter how busy you get. |
| The problem with most advertising is that it is copies | | | | To capture their contact info you'll need to run some |
| other advertising...and most of it is bad, boring, or it | | | | sort of giveaway so they sign up to win it. With all the |
| blends in with other ads. Instead of following the herd, | | | | traffic coming in to your store over the holiday season |
| run an advertisement with a headline that says | | | | it may be worth it to you to give away a portable |
| something like, "Seven Reasons to use "Your Business | | | | digital TV or something else people really want. |
| Name Here" Instead of [Whatever The Alternative Is]". | | | | Now is the best opportunity you'll have all year to |
| Or run an "Advertorial," which is a cross between an | | | | dramatically increase the profits of your store all year |
| advertisement and an article. Take some time to learn | | | | round. Don't waste it! Take action now! |
| how to make your ads stand out and get noticed. | | | | |