Once the holiday hustle is over, the world tends to slow down a bit in Q1. But for small businesses, this is actually the perfect time to get ahead and lay the groundwork for a strong start to the new year.
Here are 5 ways you can start marketing now to ensure your Q1 is anything but slow:
1. Build Relationships Through Follow-Up: Reach out to your holiday shoppers with a simple thank you. A little gratitude goes a long way, and you can use this as an opportunity to offer a special incentive for them to return in January. People love feeling valued, and a thoughtful follow-up can help turn one-time buyers into loyal customers. Plus, frankly, it reminds them that you exist after they’ve had all of that hustle and bustle of the last few months distracting them.
2. Create a Post-Holiday “Reset” Promotion: After the holidays, people are often looking to reset—whether that’s focusing on health, organization, or simplifying their lives. Tailor your marketing to tap into this mindset. Whether you offer products or services, find a way to position what you do as the perfect post-holiday solution.
3. Ramp Up Your Content Calendar: Start planning your January and February content now. Use this quieter time to focus on educating and engaging your audience, rather than hard selling. Content that gives value (like tips, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes looks) will keep people interested in your brand even when they aren’t actively shopping.
4. Engage With Your Community: Q1 is an excellent time to focus on local connections. Sponsor or participate in community events, or even run an online “new year, new you” challenge to boost engagement. You’ll build trust and relationships that will pay off as things pick back up in the spring.
5. Get Organized with Ad Strategies: With fewer businesses advertising in Q1 (especially after a crazy election season), it can be the perfect time to run ads at a lower cost. Start creating your ad strategy now, focusing on building brand awareness and retargeting holiday visitors. You’ll keep your brand front of mind and create new opportunities for sales.
If you want even more ideas and strategies to make Q1 your best yet, our Q4 Ultimate Toolkit has everything you need to finish the year strong and set the stage for a thriving start to 2025. It’s packed with step-by-step guidance, ad strategies, social media prompts, and more.
The world may slow down after the holidays, but your business doesn’t have to! Start planning now, and you’ll hit the ground running when January comes around.
Grab your Q4 Ultimate Toolkit and make sure your Q1 is set up for success!