Nick Hill, director of Hillster Marketing, divulges 10 easy ways to keep the people who matter most to your company happy.
1. Have some fun: Any business can inject a bit of life into their marketing and even the most corporate can get away with being light-hearted over Christmas. How about getting the team to video a karaoke thank you to send instead of a Christmas card, or gift wrapping all December proposals?
2. Social media never goes on holiday: Even when they are on holiday, people will still be surfing the web and using social media. If nothing else, make sure you are monitoring any requests or comments so you don’t miss out – or worse, come back to find unhelpful comments have gone viral.
3. Sort out a project: Use the holiday time as an opportunity to complete that project you’ve been meaning to get around to for ages. If you are a service provider, try offering to undertake a project for your client while they are on holiday.
4. Recognise your people: Most businesses do give their people some kind of Christmas bonus or gift to say thanks. If you don’t, you should. Why not do something different this year like buy a family pass somewhere or even just give people an impromptu half-day shopping afternoon?
5. Thank your business partners and clients personally: Sending that typical bland Christmas card with just an illegible signature, or an impersonalised e-card, screams: ‘I really don’t care about you much’. If you are going to buy cards/presents, make the effort to personalise them properly – you could even use your own handwriting!
6. Catch up for a coffee or a beer: While many people are away, there are still lots of us who are still working. With less phone calls and emails flying around, often people have more time for a physical catch up.
7. Do some planning: Time away from the business is perfect for working 'on' the business rather than 'in' the business. Sitting on a sunny veranda with a beer in one hand and a pen and paper in the other can be remarkably fruitful.
8. Make a seasonal offer: That isn’t just a typical holiday sale. How about delivering an ice cream to everyone in the office for a purchase? If it’s a big account, get an ice cream van to turn up.
9. Gear up for February: Everyone comes back to work with a nasty bump after the holiday period. Preparing your next marketing campaign so you are ready to push the button, as soon as your prospects are back will put you a sleigh ride ahead of your competitors.
10. Take some time off: If you are one of those business people who never stop working, treat yourself. Recharging the batteries will help reinvigorate you for the New Year ahead.
