14 New Year Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses

New Year, new you. Right? How about a new marketing plan, too?

New Year's is one of the best times to launch a marketing campaign. It marks the end of the holiday season, and people are starting to get back to their daily routines. It's a timely opportunity to present new ideas and re-engage buyers with your business.

In this post, I'll break down the best New Year's marketing ideas for small businesses. We'll review different strategies and look at brands that have launched successful New Year's marketing campaigns. By the end of this post, you'll have everything needed to start the year with success.

New Year Marketing Ideas

Here are 10 ideas for New Year marketing campaigns. I've also provided examples of each so you can see it in action.

1. Wish your customers a "Happy New Year."

If you're looking for a quick and simple marketing strategy, the easiest thing you can do is wish your customers a "Happy New Year." Not only is it a nice thing to do, but it re-engages existing customers and increases brand awareness for your business. People will see your message and think about your products and services.

Bonus points if you add links to your website or a special offer or discount code. Your festive greeting will grab customers' attention, while your exclusive deal will draw them to your business.

New Year's Marketing Example: Petco

I'm biased, because if you put a dog in a photo, you already have my attention - but this email does a great job of spreading some holiday cheer and attracting customers to the business. The picture is at the top, and below it is a personalized message written by the CEO. It wraps up with a 50% off coupon for a product I had previously purchased. Petco's email caught my eye with pictures of cute pets, then sealed the deal with an enticing offer at the bottom.

2. Celebrate the New Year on social media.

Social media is one of the most cost-effective ways to promote your business. Social media platforms are free, and your followers are already interested in your company. That makes crafting effective marketing messages that promote your products and services easier.

You can use social media to post updates, share deals, and entertain customers with fun and compelling content.

New Year's Marketing Example: John Deere

Here's a simple idea for social media content that any small business can create. Design a festive graphic for your business, then share it on social media with a wholesome message. Wish your customers a "Happy New Year," and subtly feature your products to boost brand awareness. I like how John Deere's post is short and to the point, and the imagery shows off one of its tractors in action.

3. Start an email campaign.

Email is a go-to marketing channel because you can control when messages are delivered to customers. Most people check their inboxes daily, so you can send timely messages that engage them at just the right moment. It's great for New Year's Day because email automation sends emails for you. You don't have to spend your holidays typing away. Instead, you can create a series of emails that automatically send to customers once you schedule them.

New Year's Marketing Example: Valvoline

Valvoline uses email to connect with customers and remind them about upcoming services. This email features a 20% discount and information about the brand's holiday schedule. This marketing email is effective because Valvoline is constantly sharing deals like this. When I get an email from them, I know it includes a discount or special offer, giving me the incentive to keep opening their emails over time.

4. Host a New Year's Eve party.

Event marketing is effective because it helps you connect with new and existing customers. You get to engage customers in person, helping you make a lasting impression and potentially closing a deal. Many people host parties to ring in the New Year. End your holidays with a bang and host a party that gets people talking about your business. It will help you grow your professional network and have a little fun, too.

New Year's Marketing Example: Chunky's

Here's an ad for a New Year's Eve party hosted by a small-town movie theatre. There's comedy, food, drinks, and even a dueling piano show. The takeaway from this example is the importance of knowing your audience. This event appeals to its customers because they're already looking for entertainment. Chunky's is just adding a new spin to it by offering live performances in addition to movies.

5. Send a New Year's text message.

Text messages provide the same benefits as email and have an even higher open rate. It's generally hard to ignore a text, so it's effective for marketing your business.

Schedule a "Happy New Year" text for the first or second day of the year. I would avoid texting people on New Year's Eve because a lot of people are busy or trying to enjoy the last hours of the holiday season. Like email, your text should include links to your website and exclusive offers and discounts.

New Year's Marketing Example: MUD\WTR

MUD\WTR is a coffee alternative that uses a mushroom supplement instead of caffeine. This company loves to use text messaging - I know, because I get a text from them every few weeks. I really like how creative this text is and the timing of when it was sent. Many people forget about their New Year's resolutions - not that there's anything wrong with that - so this is a great way to communicate with customers in a fun and lighthearted manner.

6. Share a New Year's resolution.

Marketing is all about connecting with customers and creating meaningful relationships with them. If you're constantly pushing your products and services, it makes you look ingenuine because it's clear that you want to sell something. Don't get me wrong, there's a time and place for that, but you can't forget to mix in some interesting content purely for education or entertainment.

You can relate to your audience by sharing your business's New Year's resolution. Talk about specific goals and ask customers to share their resolutions as well. You can do this on social media or write a blog post and share it via email.

New Year's Marketing Example: Ashley Galvin Yoga

This yoga instructor shared her resolution to release a video series to her customers. While it's clearly an ad, it does a great job of teasing the launch of a future product. It gives her followers something to look forward to and a reason to keep engaging with her content.

7. Promote your customer referral program.

A customer referral program is an initiative that asks existing customers to refer your business to new ones. It's effective because customers trust other customers more than they do advertisements. If someone has an awesome experience with your brand, their recommendation is much more compelling than you talking about how great your products and services are.

A good customer referral program rewards customers for successful recommendations. You should incentivize people with special discounts or free products and encourage them to recommend your business. It's a great way to increase loyalty while attracting new customers to your brand.

New Year's Marketing Example:

While it's a year-round offer, Shopify has an excellent referral program to attract new customers. You can get paid up to $150 for each business you refer, and it takes only a few minutes to sign up if you're a Shopify customer. That generates steady referrals for Shopify while keeping its most loyal customers happy and engaged.

8. Give away a free gift.

While the gift-giving season is over, it's not too late to give something free to your customers. In fact, New Year's is the perfect time to give away gifts because many people just spent money shopping for the holidays. Giving them a little something to start the new year can be a great way to re-engage customers and generate revenue for your business.

For example, your gift could be a discount or a new product sample. If you're an e-commerce store, you could offer free shipping. Professional services can provide free quotes, estimates, and consultations. There are plenty of ways you can leverage your products and services to attract holiday shoppers back to your business after New Year's.

New Year's Marketing Example: SanRemo Bakery

This Instagram post is from a bakery that gave away charcuterie boards last year. To win, you had to tag a friend - but both you and your friend had to follow the brand's Instagram page to be eligible. Or, you could purchase the board for $45. This campaign increased the company's social media followers while also promoting a seasonal offering to its customers.

9. Create an end-of-year sale.

If you want to boost your revenue before the end of the year, you could put together a New Year's sale. Some people like to shop the week before New Year's Eve because there are often good deals left over from the holidays. If you're trying to offload some inventory and make some quick cash, an end-of-year sale is an excellent option for small businesses.

New Year's Marketing Example: Camp Saver

Camp Saver is an e-commerce brand that sells camping equipment online. Last year, it held an end-of-year sale with a 20% discount on full-price items. What I really like about this offer is the deadline. Since it expires at the end of the year, that motivates customers to take action.

Tip: If you want to create a countdown timer for your website or emails, copy the code snippet below and make adjustments as needed:

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Countdown Timer by Clint Fontanella (@Clint-Fontanella-the-scripter)
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See the Pen
Countdown Timer by Clint Fontanella (@Clint-Fontanella-the-scripter)
on CodePen.

10. Release a new product.

New Year's is an ideal time to launch a new product because it capitalizes on the excitement surrounding the new year. Customers are looking for fresh ideas, and a new product may be exactly what they're looking for from your business - especially if it's an updated version of an existing product with new functions or features.

You can post about this product on social media and share updates through your email newsletter. You should also promote it on your website with a landing page that includes a description and ways to purchase it.

New Year's Marketing Example: NHL Shop

Here's an email from NHL Shop promoting its newest apparel. The subject line, "Fresh Off The Ice: New Arrivals For The New Year," immediately caught my attention and told me there were new products in the store. What I really liked about the email, though, was the personalization. It included recently viewed products and suggested other products based on my search history. NHL Shop likely used its CRM to research this information and personalize the email to my preferences.

Best New Year Marketing Campaigns

Now, let's look at some of the most successful New Year's marketing campaigns from the last few years.

11. Update your website: Lowe's

Your website is like a digital home for your business. It helps you get discovered online and is a useful resource for closing deals. It's important to keep your website updated because that signals to search engines that you're active and your business information is accurate.

Lowe's updates its website every month with seasonal offerings and limited-time deals. Its "Seasonal Savings" page features products on sale for upcoming seasons. For example, in the winter, you can buy grills and patio furniture at a discounted price. This strategy helps them sell products that are typically popular during the holidays.

12. Donate to charity: Roto-Rooter

Roto-Rooter is a plumbing brand that offers emergency services to its customers. Its website constantly has coupons like these that discount its products and services. The one that stood out to me was the "Save $75 with the donation of 1 or more canned goods."

While this is more of a Thanksgiving marketing idea, I like how creative this offer is. It's a great deal for the customer and generates good publicity for the brand. Your business can do something similar by accepting canned goods or other types of donations.

13. Publish blog content: Park West Dental Care

Blogs are good for your website for two reasons. First, it's content marketing that engages customers in a meaningful way. Blogs teach them something about your business and entertain them with facts and stories. Blogs are also useful for beefing up your website. The more pages you have, the easier it is for Google to find you.

Source

Here's an example of New Year's blog content. This dentist posted four tips to promote a healthier smile this year. The content provides useful insights for anyone looking to improve their dental hygiene and speaks directly to the brand's customer base. The post wraps up with a compelling call to action, encouraging people to call and schedule an appointment.

14. Create a customer loyalty program: Macy's

Customer loyalty is vital for any small business. After all, it costs more money to attract a new customer than to retain an existing one. That's why rewarding your most loyal buyers is important so they keep shopping with your business.

Macy's does an excellent job of rewarding customers with its "Savings Pass" campaigns. These discounts and coupon codes are given to people who subscribe to its emails and make repeat purchases. The passes must be redeemed in-store, creating even more opportunities to promote different products. It's a great way to get foot traffic in your store, especially during the holiday season.

Starting the New Year With Success

Like any other holiday, New Year's is a great time to revamp your business strategy and launch timely marketing campaigns. People want to start the new year with success, so give your customers resources that support their resolutions and help them achieve their goals. Use the ideas in this post to create compelling marketing content that attracts new customers and keeps them engaged with your business.

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