Holiday prompts

When considering ways to bring customers back through your front doors, think about incorporating these notable dates into your communication. 

1. Holiday shopping kicks off on Friday, November 23! This weekend is full of deals and ways to engage with your network. Below are some sample texts for the big weekend!
   1. • Week before Black Friday: Lead up to the big night with some offers that your customers can’t resist.
      • Black Friday, November 23: Invite your customers feeling hungover from the late-night shopping to drop by Saturday morning for a deal.
      • Small Business Saturday, November 24: Are you a small business owner? Encourage your customers to shop small with deals to show your appreciation.
      • Cyber Monday, November 26: Take a break from surfing the online deals to visit [your business].
      • Giving Tuesday, November 27: It’s international day of giving. To celebrate, we’re donating [insert donation] to a local charity.

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2. Veteran’s Day, November 12: Does your business offer a military discount? This is the perfect way to remind America’s finest that you’re grateful for their service.
3. Thanksgiving Day, November 23: Cheers to turkey bowls, mashed potatoes and spending time with loved ones. Be sure your customers are aware of different hours with a quick text.
4. College Basketball Starts, November 6: The road to March Madness starts here. Support your favorite local university with themed contests, offers and messages in your store.
5. World Peace Day, November 17: Doesn’t the world just need a little more peace? Spread the love with an offer that reminds your network of the good in the world.
6. All Saints Day, November 1: The Christian festival honoring all saints, known and unknown is celebrated today. It also kicks off Dia de los Muertos en México, which is a great way for Mexican restaurants to drive some business.
7. Sandwich Day, November 3: Everyone loves a good sandwich, right? Whether your customers rock a Reuben, grub a grilled cheese or bite into a BLT, bring them in with a special offer or unique new creation.

Other ideas:

First (or fifth) impressions count: It may not be an idea to bring people in, but consider things you might do to create a noteworthy experience for customers when they’re in-store. For many business owners, the holiday shopping season brings in more foot traffic than any other time of year. Pull out all the stops to make customers’ experience a good one.

Be the hero: During the busy holiday shopping season, consider your position in the greater shopping ecosystem, and look for ways to stand out. Are people coming into your restaurant for a much needed break before hitting the shops again? Maybe offer free coffee. If you own a boutique, offer cookies or hot cocoa as a way to sweeten the deal and leave them with a positive impression of your locale. 

Going the extra mile at the end of the year can really set the tempo for the next.