We’re closing in on the end of the year, and Q4 can mean many things for businesses, including potential profit gain. It’s a time in which consumers spend more money, advertising dollars and marketing campaigns kick into high gear, and companies attempt to finish the calendar year strong. Strategic marketing for small business in Q4 can be the difference between a successful close and a less-than-satisfactory decline at the end of the year.
Keep reading to learn how to hit your business objectives and win this quarter.
Set meaningful Q4 goals
Before you’re able to complete goals, you must have a solid idea of what they are. Enter Q4 with a marketing plan that aims to improve your company’s standing in noticeable ways. Crafting meaningful marketing campaigns starts with clear goals.
Get “SMART” with your goal-setting so that you’re marketing with intention. When crafting your plan, use the SMART outline to create:
Specific goals that outline what you’re accomplishing and what it will take
Measurable goals that use data, analytics, and results that you can track
Achievable goals that push your business without biting off more than you can chew.
Relevant goals that align with your company’s vision and purpose, while serving customers
Time-bound goals that are contained and on a trackable timeline of progress
Setting goals with this level of direction prevents wasted time, money, and effort. Coupled with percentages based on your business, examples of SMART Q4 marketings goals you might choose to address include:
- Increasing your profits and sales margins
- Growing social media engagement and followers
- Boosting conversions for sales pages, email marketing, or other campaigns
- Growing website traffic
Exchange ideas with key decision-makers in your company to make certain that you’re aligned with expectations and have created a funnel of goals to address your small business’ most pressing needs.
Don’t neglect email marketing
People are more likely to pay attention to their email inboxes and receive marketing messages in the fourth quarter. Shopping season is underway and people are eager to use coupons, promo codes, and information from the stores and brands they like doing business with.
Revisit your email list and make sure that you’ve removed people who aren’t engaged. Get familiar with the lists at your disposal and segment them into sub lists for the most effective targeting and messaging.
As you track your email marketing plans, pay particular attention to key performance indicators (KPIs) such as:
- Your overall return on investment (ROI)
- Open rate
- Conversion rate
- Bounce rate
- Clicks by link
- Spam complaint number
- Unsubscribe rate
Add shopping cart abandonment emails into your strategy to retain customers who may still be making purchase decisions.
Your company can make significant leaps in marketing and brand awareness from Q4 of 2022 to Q1 of 2023 by staying steady and focused with your campaigns. Retention is a crucial initiative because it ensures that you can carry over potential customers into the new year, rather than losing their interest amidst the shuffle of the holiday season.
By engaging with people at the end of the year, you’ll have them primed for any New Year promotions or objectives you’re putting together.
Stock up on customized packaging and marketing tools
Give yourself enough time to order customized packaging for any mailings and shipments that you send out. Invest in marketing tools like business cards and postcards with QR codes that you can include with any physical mailing or handout.
Include some freebie promotional items, as well. Something as small as including a customized pen and business card holder to go with your business cards can create a strong impression and make your brand more memorable in the minds of your customers.
Target specific customers and clients with your promotional products, and follow up with a personalized call or an email to see how they enjoyed their package. The fourth quarter is when people and businesses wind down and focus on holidays and gearing up for the next year. This is the perfect time to reach out to customers or clients you haven’t heard from in a while, or to start new conversations with fresh faces.
Set your calendar and stick to it
Start your campaign objectives on the first day of Q4. This season will fly by before you know it, and as a small business, you shouldn’t waste any opportunity to gain ground on your competition.
Fill your master planning calendar with events and bullet points that will move your marketing plans along. Mark down the vital Q4 business and promotion dates and make sure you have optimized your marketing strategies around them, including:
- Oct. 31 – Halloween Day
- Nov. 24 – Thanksgiving Day
- Nov. 25 – Black Friday
- Nov. 26 – Small Business Saturday
- Nov. 28 – Cyber Monday
- Dec. 14 – Free Shipping Day
- Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve
- Dec. 25 – Christmas Day
- Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve
Use enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools to manage your marketing budget, set meetings and alerts, and collaborate more easily across multiple channels. Consistency will help you gain momentum with your marketing efforts so that you’re making progress.
Create meaningful discounts and promotions
People have shopping on their minds right now, so you can capitalize and create new business with well-timed discounts and promotions.
Make sure any discounts offered are substantial and worth customers’ time. Use creative, shareable promo codes that inspire people to spread the word with their friends, family, or colleagues. After all, it’s the season of giving, and in Q4, people are likely to not just take advantage of your promos and discounts, but also to spread the news to others within their network.
Use your content marketing strategies to help push your promotions. An up-to-date, quality blog or social media channel can bring in fresh traffic, and the links can bring awareness and attention to your discounts to garner more leads and, eventually, conversions.
End the year strong with Q4 marketing for small business strategies
Marketing for small business will help you put a pin in the year with some meaningful wins. Since there are more than 32 million active small businesses in the United States, it’s important to put the time and effort into a thoughtful strategy that will enable your brand to stand out.
If you’d like to grow your profits, gain notoriety for your company, and set yourself apart from other small businesses, start with the tips above. When you’re looking for promotional items to power these campaigns, choose a promotional products partner that guides you through your options for a tailored, highly-effective marketing strategy. Myron has an extensive selection of customizable promotional items to leave a lasting impression for your brand. Visit our website to learn more.