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Happy
Chrismukkwanzah
SPARKers! Okay, okay, we know that’s not a
real holiday, but as of right now
Hanukkah has officially begun, there are
exactly 19 days until Christmas, 20 days
until Kwanzaa, and 26 days until the New
Year. We tell you this not to stress
you out, but rather to let you know that
there is still time to launch a holiday
marketing campaign. You’ve got to act
quickly, but it can be done. So grab the
reigns and jump aboard Santa’s sleigh, as we
show you 5 ways to generate some
holiday PR buzz in less than 3 days!
1. Show the Media what Turtle Doves
and French Hens have in Common
Connecting with your customers is all about
finding a common link between your company
and them. During this time of year, try
highlighting a part of your business to show
a connection between your business and the
holidays, perhaps turning it into an
inspirational story. For example, a law
firm with a special practice devoted to
predatory lending might leverage that into a
story about how they are helping to fight
homelessness for the holidays. Next the
firm would want to contact the news media
and offer one or more of the Partners as
experts on the subject. Smart, huh? We
think so. (Wow, did we just give that
away for free? Oh well, it’s the holidays!)
2. Be an Angel and Donate a Portion of
Holiday Sales to Charity
Another quick way to drum up some PR buzz is
to donate a portion of your December
business sales to charity. Try writing a
short press release about how much of a
donation your team was able to contribute.
In addition to mentioning heavily
what your company does to make those
sales in the first place, include
information about where the proceeds are
going, and include any relevant photos
(i.e., check presentations). All it takes
for some great media coverage is a few quick
news blasts, and you’ve got yourself a great
story wrapped up and tied in a red bow.
3. Spread your
Good Cheer by Holding a Holiday Contest
Holiday contests are fun, easy,
cost-effective, and make for some great
publicity! Hold a holiday drawing and ask
your clients to enroll at your place of
business or online for the chance to win
timely gifts like baked goodies, spa
certificates, an island getaway, or some of
your Company’s services. Another
bright idea is to hold a “Random Acts of
Kindness” campaign where you ask customers
to log-on to submit random acts of kindness
they have done or witnessed in 2007. Post
the results on your website, in your blog
and ask your local newspaper to publish
them.
4. Put on your
Snow Boots and Go Volunteer!
We love to volunteer because it’s a great
way to make a positive impact, and it just
makes us feel so gosh darn good to give to
others. Great ideas include: partnering
with a local non-profit to distribute free
turkeys; lending a helping hand in a soup
kitchen; or hosting a clothing or toy drive.
The next step is to contact your local news
media and invite them to come out and take
photos of your volunteers in action. (Make
sure you wear those Company-logo parkas for
the photo-op!!)
5. The North
Pole Doesn’t Shut Down in the Summer and
Neither Should Holiday PR
Don’t be dismayed if you don’t get as much
press exposure this year and keep trying for
the coverage even in the off season.
Holiday PR truly kicks-off around Father’s
Day, when the media begin to plan their
story ideas about 6 months in advance. So
begin to compile your story angles in the
New Year and keep at it year round.
Chrismukkwanzah
will be back around again before you know
it! |
