Your holiday marketing Top 10!

Have you started thinking about your holiday marketing yet?  I know we just celebrated Labor Day last week, but now’s the time to get focused on your holiday marketing.  And by holiday marketing, I don’t mean simply choosing what greeting card you’re sending this year.  Instead, I’d like to challenge you to use the holidays as a time so supercharge your marketing for the coming year.

Here are 10 things you can do between now and the end of the year.  Each one will make a big impact, but you don’t have to do all 10.  Pick three. Do three. Have fun. And get ready for a Happy New Year.

1. PARTY! Yes, party!  You’re going to be getting invitations for bar association events, firm receptions, and parties with friends. GO TO THEM!  Enjoy yourself.  Meet new people. Expand your networks.  Have fun!
2. Brush up your laser talk. Since you’ll have the opportunity to go to a lot of parties in the next few months, now is the perfect time to brush up on your laser talk or elevator speech.  Can you explain in three sentences how you help people, why your clients hire you, and what makes you unique?
3. Host an open house. Hey, you don’t just have to go to other people’s parties.  Throw one of your own!  Show off your office and your team.  In fact, let you team plan the party and host it. I bet they’ll come up with some ideas you would never have thought of.
4. Do something special for your best referral sources. How well do you know your best referral sources?  I hope you know them well enough to know what would be a great, personalized gift for them.  If you don’t, well then, I guess you should be taking them to lunch or dinner or coffee or the theater to find out!
5. Give back. Are you passionate about a particular charity or cause?  Is there a particular cause that might resonate with your clients?  For example, if you’re a family law attorney, would it make sense to support a shelter for women or a children’s charity?  If you’re passionate about a cause, the holidays are a great time to give back.  It might even turn into something your firm could support throughout the year.
6. Have a holiday photo contest. OK, this one lends itself more to certain practice areas – family law, adoption, estate planning.  Criminal law attorneys might want to skip this one.  You could have a photo contest and use the winners to decorate your office.  It could even become an annual event for your firm.
7. Send cards that give back. If you want to support a particular cause or charity, why not send cards that donate part the cost of the card to the charity?  Check out Good Cause Greetings or Cards That Give.
8. Reach out to former clients in a personal way. When was the last time you called a past client just to check in and see how they are doing?  What better time than the holidays to reach out?  Identify your favorite (best) former clients and give them a call.  You’ll feel great, they’ll feel great, and you might just be rewarded with referral.
9. Celebrate something different. I have one client who sends Thanksgiving cards and another who celebrates the New Year.  By focusing on these holidays you can set yourself apart from the crowd.
10. Commit to continuous improvement. OK, this isn’t so much a holiday thing.  It’s something you should be doing all year long.  Make it a habit to spend at least one hour a month learning something new about marketing AND DOING IT!

Do just three of the things on this list and your New Year will be very, very, Happy!