Three ways to make the most of social media before Christmas

What's the key to standing out during one of the busiest and most competitive times of the year? Harnessing the power of social media and using it as your digital shop window.

Here’s some quick wins to help you build sales over the festive period and foster long-term relationships with your audience.

Get organised with a content calendar

Planning your content for the next few weeks will help you to create social media posts that are relevant and useful to your audience, and perhaps most importantly means that you’re less likely to panic.

Here’s a few ideas to get you started…

Small Business Saturday is this Saturday – it’s a great opportunity to tell your business story and share how you came to be where you are today
Last minute gift ideas – have you got digital gift vouchers or other digital products that can enable your audience to beat the holiday rush?
Share last order dates that fit with last posting dates
Will you be at any Christmas fairs or light switch-on events with your stall? Make sure to tag in the location of the fair, share the timings and a post afterwards to thank the venue wouldn’t go amiss!

To help you get prepared for 2025’s social media – how about purchasing my content calendar template? This will start you off with a few key dates, and each box is clickable, so perfect for adding in awareness days bespoke to your industry!

Promoting special offers

At this time of year, you’ll find yourself surround by special offers and discount codes. I love a special offer, but I’m also an advocate of only doing what you can afford to with your business. PLEASE – don’t feel pressured to do something just because your competitors are. Remember, comparison is the thief of joy.

If you do want to engage with special offers, you could hold a time sensitive promotion to create urgency – perhaps “20% off for the next 24 hours” or “orders placed before 14^th December will include a free gift”.

My special offer is all-year round: I’m pleased to be part of The TN Card, which promotes shopping locally with small businesses - take a look here.

Sharing User Generated Content

When customers purchase from you, they love being part of your story, and this is a great thing to encourage. You could create a hashtag bespoke to your business, for example #LoveHighWealdMarketing, and ask customers to use this in their posts when they share your items in use.

User-generated content not only builds a sense of community but also acts as social proof, showing potential customers that real people enjoy your products. You can repost customer photos and testimonials, which is a great way to build trust and engagement.

Conclusion: The Power of Connection

For small businesses, the run-up to Christmas isn’t just about making sales—it's about connecting with your audience. By being festive, creative, and responsive, social media allows small businesses to form deeper relationships with their customers during this joyous time.

So, whether you’re promoting a discount, engaging with festive content, or sharing your brand story, social media is your perfect companion. With a little planning and creativity, your business can stand out this season and build a loyal customer base.