How to Impress Your Customers This Holiday Season

The holiday season is an important time for business owners. Yes, you and your team are likely taking a little time off at the end of the year, but before that happens, you have a couple of great networking opportunities.

The first of those comes with the many holiday parties and open houses happening in your local community. These events serve as the prime opportunity to make new business connections, as well as strengthen existing relationships.

But in-person events aren’t the only way businesses engage in marketing during the holiday season. Since it coincides with the end of the calendar year, many businesses see December as the perfect time to reflect on the great year they’ve had, reaching out to customers to offer “thanks” and wishes for a prosperous New Year. Here are a couple of ways you can stand out from the crowd with your customers this holiday season.

Bypass the Inbox

Digital marketing may have become a more affordable way to launch mass mailings, but it also means that your customers are bombarded every day with e-mail. Instead of adding to the messages jamming their inboxes, consider a more traditional approach. Studies have shown that paper messages can be much more effective than digital communication, making a lasting impression that can’t be duplicated when customers are zooming through messages on a screen.

Stand Out

During the holiday season, standing out can still be challenging with print. Imagine your customers retrieving a stack of catalogs, letters, and greeting cards from their mailboxes, sifting through them quickly before discarding them. Even at a glance, your mailer should jump out at them, compelling them to read on. High-quality embossing can boost your print materials to the next level, making even the simplest design element pop.

Make It Personal

Another effort that pushes you ahead of direct-mail marketers is personalization. Instead of feeling like you’re just reaching out to everyone in town, your customers should feel as though you’re directly speaking to them. Once you’ve completed the printing process, sit down and write a personalized message on each card you send, letting that client know why you appreciate his or her business. For those customers you know personally, send good thoughts for their families, as well. This personal note could mean the difference between going in the waste bin or being displayed on the company bulletin board.

Make It Festive

Whatever you’re printing this holiday season, you’ll stand out by incorporating holiday-themed design elements into your print materials. Use red, green, gold, and silver, whether you’re printing catalogs, invitations, or greeting cards. Foil embossing can give your items an additional seasonal look that puts a smile on recipients’ faces. If you repeat this each year, your customers may even begin to look forward to receiving your holiday mailings.
The holiday season is a busy time, but it also brings opportunities to have fun while networking. Traditional marketing can be a great way to stand out from the many other businesses trying to connect with customers. With a little creativity, you can stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression.