With less than a month to go before the Christmas break, it’s your last opportunity to communicate with your existing or prospective clients and business associates. So what can you do to engage with these different groups? Here are some simple Christmas marketing ideas you can implement (fairly) quickly:
The 12 days of Christmas competition
Run a competition on your social media platforms where people have to register to enter for the chance to win a prize. Each day, over the course of the 12 days, which could finish on your last day before the Christmas break, a winner will be drawn at random. The prize can be different each day, but suggestions could include gifts such as a hamper, tickets to a local pantomime or sporting event taking place over the Christmas or New Year period. Or you could offer prizes such as a free tax consultation, a discount on the next year’s fee, free training on MTD software and so on. Encourage people to like and share your competition posts, so you increase your social media connections.
Tax return incentive
For those clients who are habitually late in getting their financial records to you for Self Assessment, offer an incentive or discount if they bring their completed records to you before Christmas. As and when you do get to meet with these clients, check out our helpful blog on how to ‘Make tax season your best sales opportunity‘.
Meet Santa’s little helpers
Use your newsletters, website, social media or emails to introduce different members of your team. Staff profiles that highlight the type of work they do, how they help clients and what they like to do outside of work can help communicate the culture of the firm and make you seem more personal, fun and approachable.
Festive open evening
Organise a ‘mince pies and mulled wine’ evening, inviting a mix of clients and business associates. If you’re located in a town, this could coincide with a late-night shopping night. If you’re located in a serviced office or on a business park, invite other businesses in the same building/park, it’s a great way to expand your network (and your client base).
Christmas charity appeal
Identify a local charity and organise a fundraising event with staff, but try to include clients and business contacts where possible. This could tie in with the open evening mentioned above. Also look at ways that you could support the charity, over and above financial support. E.g. a group of you from the office helping out at a soup kitchen for the homeless, taking dogs at a local pet shelter for a walk, asking for provisions to be dropped off at your office which would be distributed to local food banks. Any activities you carry out should be highlighted on your website, social media and emails to encourage people to donate (money, time, provisions) and where possible should link to the charity’s website and social media.
Don’t forget the obvious things
A Christmas card and personal message are always warmly received by clients. Printed and posted cards tend to be more personal than email, but a personal email message can also be effective.
A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to staff is always welcome.
Plus, it wouldn’t be Christmas without the obligatory ‘Christmas jumper/onesie/sock day in the office!
Finally, don’t forget to tell your clients and contacts what your Christmas and New Year opening hours will be.
