Ah, the holidays.
They begin with Halloween and from there, it seems there’s hardly time to take
a breath before the end of the year is here. For freelancers, this can be an
especially challenging time for juggling assignments, closing old projects,
planning for the New Year and spending time with family. Amongst the
Thanksgiving turkey, the Christmas shopping, various holiday festivities plus
business duties, it can be all too easy to forget to say thank you to those we
deal with day in and day out: our vendors, suppliers, clients, and partners.
This holiday season, here are three holiday tips to help you show your
appreciation – without losing your sanity.
Send Out Cards
This is a real
sanity saver for gifts, cards, and all manner of products no matter what your
need. The program allows you to send individualized gifts and cards based on a
payment structure with three tiers of options. No more driving all over town or
mass ordering the same holiday cards to send to your contacts. You can send your
gifts through their system without ever licking a stamp, sealing an envelope or
picking up a pen.
Phone Calls Still Matter
Sometimes, a quick
phone call to say “thanks” can go a long way during the holiday season. Doing
it in conjunction with a gift is even better. Be sure to be sincere in your
appreciation and resist the urge to conduct business. Keep it a social call and
brief.
Avoid Marketing No-No’s
During the holiday
season, it is socially acceptable to scale back your marketing. Nowadays it’s
pretty much expected as everyone is getting bombarded with advertisements from
every direction. Generally, it’s recommended to keep marketing relevant to the
holidays, particularly if you’re a service business that does not offer holiday
related products. If you are going to be marketing, avoid putting out coupons
with a Christmas theme that are an obvious attempt to drum up sales unrelated
to the holidays
.
For example, a $10
discount on air conditioning repair for being a valued customer is not nearly
as meaningful as a $10 gift certificate that doesn't expire for a year. When
giving, make sure there are no unnecessary strings attached that might offend
your clients. Remember, these are people who buy from you
the rest of the year, now’s your chance to help them remember why they do.
Charity
Kountz is a Marketing Mastermind with over 15 years business experience and
owner of Kountz Marketing Group. A successfully published author, public
speaker, and trainer, her passion is helping other small businesses succeed.
Kountz Marketing Group specializes in traditional and internet marketing
including website development and management, SEO, social media, and much more.
To learn more, contact Charity via www.linkedin.com/in/charitykountz.
