Another good one by our dear friend Eleanor Hecks — founder and managing editor of Designerly Magazine. The Founding Moms is a community for mom entrepreneurs. We share a wonderful – yet hectic – life full of goals & dreams. We know we thrive better together. We’re a community of learners and motivators. And we want you! Check out TFM for free.

6 Marketing Tactics to Try in the New Year

With the New Year comes a lot of new possibilities. Once the holiday season is over, people are likely to spend the money they received during Christmas. So this is the time of year when you can take advantage of it and boost sales with new marketing tactics.

Since the New Year is when people start anew, this gives you a chance to implement unique marketing ideas that incorporate refreshing changes.

Give these six marketing tactics a try this New Year.
 

1. Create a Referral Program

If you haven’t already started a referral program, this is the perfect opportunity to create one. These programs are popular because they encourage repeat business from loyal customers. 

And with loyal customers comes more referrals.

So start rewarding your customers and create a New Year campaign to promote it. These campaigns should mention the benefits that program members receive. Use social media and other marketing channels to tell your audience about it.

Ensure you ask them to share it so they can spread the word.

2. Promote New Products and Services Using Email Marketing

Email marketing is a tried and true way to keep in touch with your audience. No matter what industry you’re in, you likely have customers who love your products or services and want to hear from you regularly.

But while email marketing can be an effective way to stay top-of-mind with existing customers, you can also use it to attract new ones.

Consider ringing in the new year by emailing about a new product or service. Ensure you personalize the email by including your recipients’ contact information and dynamic content that caters to their interests. You can easily automate this using the right marketing tools to segment your audience.

By personalizing your emails, you start the New Year off right by creating authentic brand interactions and standing out.

3. Promote Gift Cards

Retailers often need to pay more attention to the opportunities that gift cards can bring to their businesses. They’re a great way to increase customer loyalty, boost sales and acquire new customers.

People love gift cards because they’re easy to purchase and use for any occasion. Customers can buy them online or in person for any amount. And consumers can spend it on any product or service a business offers. 

To promote your gift cards post-holiday season, consider the following ideas:

• Add a gift card promotion banner on your homepage.
• Display it as an option when a product is out of stock.
• Offer loyal customers a gift card instead of a discount.
• Send reminder emails about buying a gift card for upcoming holidays.

4. Increase Sales With a New Year Marketing Promotion

Many businesses hesitate to promote discounts for their products or services right after the holidays. But since customers are ready to spend, implementing a new promotion can be a great way to generate sales and brand awareness.

You can offer a discount on any of your offerings, including these ideas:

• 5% or 10% off one item or bundle.
• 15% off all items or bundles over $100.
• 50% off clearance items.

As many look forward to a fresh start, it’s important that you play into this spirit using New Year’s phrases when offering a promotion.

As with any new promotion, ensure you create a sense of urgency so that customers are more likely to take advantage.

5. Find Your Voice and Use It

Your brand’s voice is the personality of your business. A strong brand voice can help you connect with customers and build trust — leading to higher conversions, repeat purchases and referrals.

The key to crafting an effective voice is being consistent in how you speak — not only in language but also tone and style. 

You can also use visuals like graphics or user-generated video content to tell the story behind your product or service. Doing so gives people an idea of what makes it unique without being overly wordy.

When using your brand voice on social media, keep it consistent. That way, your followers become used to it when they see your posts in their newsfeeds. Consistency builds familiarity over time — and familiarity builds trust with consumers.

And once you build trust, they’ll want to do business with you because they know you well enough from previous interactions.

6. Create Impulse Purchases at Checkout

Every retailer — whether online or in-store — understands the importance of impulse buying. It’s one of the best ways to increase sales.

A good way to do this is by adding product recommendations when they’re ready to check out. You can add this option on your website or in-store, ensuring they stand out. That way, customers notice them before finalizing their purchase.

If you want to get creative with this tactic, try adding a discount code or coupon to make the add-on more enticing. This will drive their excitement and encourage them to buy more than they originally intended to purchase.

Another option is to offer gift cards with certain purchases. Some people like that option when buying for someone else but may still be determining what else to get for the recipient.

Grow Your Business With New Marketing Tactics

The new year is a great time to try new marketing tactics to help you grow your business. Reinventing the wheel isn’t necessary, but you can try something new to discover what works best for your company.

Whether it’s creating an incentive for customers to refer others or offering gift cards, there are many ways small businesses can increase sales this winter season.

Do you want to learn more about marketing? Become a member of The Founding Moms and gain access to live webinars, exclusive members-only resources and much more!

 

Eleanor Hecks is the founder and managing editor of Designerly Magazine. She’s also a web design consultant with a focus on customer experience and user interface. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and dogs, Bear and Lucy. Connect with her about marketing, design and/or tea on LinkedIn!

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