Kate Andersen | 11.01.23 | 4 min

Holiday Survival Guide for Small Businesses

As the festive season swiftly approaches, small businesses like yours are gearing up to make the most of the holiday rush. Along with planning the decorations, promotions, and holiday cheers, it's essential not only to ensure your business thrives but also to prioritize your well-being.

With that in mind, Modular Orange, your trusted local partner in affordable website and landing page creation, is here to provide a holistic holiday survival guide that focuses on business growth & personal self-care!

1. Start with Visualization

Before diving into the holiday hustle, take a moment to visualize how you'd like the season to go. Do you see increased traffic on your website? Happy customers sharing testimonials? A well-deserved break for you and your staff at some point during the season?

Visualization isn't just wishful thinking. This mental exercise is a powerful way to set a positive tone and provide clear intentions for your business. Once you have a vivid picture, jot down your goals and create a structured plan to achieve them.

2. Leverage Technology

The holiday season often brings an influx of inquiries, sales, and customer interactions. We recommend leveraging technology as much as possible to help manage and enhance these touchpoints. For instance:

Automate Tasks: Use tools that automate repetitive tasks, such as inventory updates, email responses, or appointment scheduling. This can free up time for you to focus on more strategic tasks.

Have a Great Website: Relying on social media alone for your marketing efforts could be detrimental. You're at the mercy of Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok algorithms whenever you post content. These platforms essentially require you to spend tons of money to show your posts to anyone - including those who already follow you. It's a bit annoying, but there is a solution. Owning your own space online is key. You need a spot where YOU control the message and the ability for people to find you. The moment you have a website, you become a contender for showing up in search results on Google, which is perhaps the greatest way to be discovered by customers. If you need a fast and affordable website, that's our specialty, and we'd love to help you.

Optimize for Mobile: Besides simply having a site, you want to be sure it's mobile-responsive. With many customers shopping on their phones, a seamless mobile experience can significantly boost conversions. That's why all our sites are mobile-friendly - at no extra charge.

3. Lean Into Landing Pages

The holiday season is an excellent time to run special promotions or highlight specific products. Creating a unique landing page for your holiday promotions can do wonders for your marketing efforts. You can offer:

Tailored Experiences: A landing page allows you to provide tailored shopping experiences, focusing solely on your holiday promotions without the usual site-wide distractions.

Increased Conversions: With clear call-to-action buttons and a focused message, landing pages can significantly boost conversions.

Trackable Data: With dedicated landing pages, it's easier to track metrics related to your holiday campaigns, giving you invaluable insights to refine future strategies.

A well-crafted landing page doesn't have to break the bank. At Modular Orange, we specialize in designing effective and affordable landing pages that resonate with your brand and drive results.

4. review your priorities

To ensure you stay on track during the holiday season, make it a habit to review your priorities, schedule, and to-dos regularly – perhaps at the beginning of each new week. Set time aside to assess your progress and make any necessary adjustments.

Evaluate which tasks are most critical and need your immediate attention. Are there any deadlines approaching? Have new priorities emerged? Is your inventory under control? Do you need to hire seasonal staff? You'll be better equipped to handle unexpected developments and keep your holiday plans running smoothly by staying flexible and adaptable.

5. Give Back to Yourself

While the holiday season is all about giving to others, don't forget to give back to yourself. You're at the heart of your business, and you need to prioritize self-care. It isn't selfish, it's essential! Here are some thoughts on that:

Set Boundaries: As much as possible, try to stick to your working hours. Let your customers know your holiday timings in advance.

Take Breaks: Regular short breaks can boost productivity. Use this time to stretch, take a walk, or even indulge in a holiday treat.

Delegate: You don't have to do everything yourself. Delegate tasks among your team or consider hiring temporary holiday staff.

Recharge: Carve out time for activities that rejuvenate you, be it a spa day, reading, or simply spending time with loved ones. While it may sound absurd to enjoy this type of luxury during the busiest time of year, it's important to be kind to yourself.

The holiday season can be both rewarding and demanding. By visualizing success, leveraging technology, selecting the right marketing tactics like landing pages, and prioritizing self-care, you'll be set for a fulfilling festive season for your business and yourself. As always, Modular Orange is here to support you with all your website and landing page needs, and we wish you the most prosperous and joyful holiday season!