Top 10 Marketing tips for Christmas.

      1. Start Planning Early

The Earlier you start planning the better, don’t leave it to the last Minute. One of our clients started their Christmas campaign in May!

2. Early Bird Discounts

Offer a discount for booking before a certain date. However remember don’t just offer a discount to the whole group – but also incentivise the party organiser. People are more likely to organise a party if they know they are personally getting something in return – This could be money off their meal or even a bottle of fizz!

3. Identify your targets!

Think about what types of people will book a party at your venue, where do they live?, where do they work?, how old are they?, How much do they earn?

Here at CFL  Marketing we have  access to 49 million records nationwide, CFL can compile a list to fit your campaign, given pretty much any profile you can think of. We have access to CAMEO profiles which can be used to further analyse your data, providing you with highly targeted campaigns. Don't think this just applies to consumer data - we can also supply business data at the same level of detail, if not more!

Whether it's topping up your own data or a complete list, we've got what you need.

4. Who Booked last year?

This is a good place to start!! Did you capture the details of the guests from last year – if not…do so this year. Capturing details is not as hard as you think especially if you use it as a January bounce back promotion – this is a notoriously quiet period.

For more tips on data capture, take a look at the following presentation - 

Data Capture - 12 tips from CFL Marketing

5. Why should people book?

What are you planning that others are not.. Is there entertainment included, what’s on the Menu, is there an after meal party. Make sure you communicate your USP quickly and easily…Remember the 3 second rule!

6. Utilise Business data.

Contacting local Business is a great way to attract larger bookings. Combining direct mail with a follow up phone call can be very effective. If you have a contact name this works even better…if not address the mailing to “Party Organiser” or “Social Secretary”.

We would suggest the business should have between 10 – 100 employees and be no further than 10 miles of your venue.

As mentioned above, CFL Marketing can supply the business data, in your area at a high level of detail or profile.

If you send 500 mailing packs at say £1 per pack, and you achieved a 5% response rate (25 Bookings) each booking had 10 people each spending £10, this equates to £2000, and a ROI of £1500. CFL have achieved a response rate of upto 25% in some cases!

7. Combine and integrate your Marketing effort.

Don’t just use one marketing method and think it will work. Combine your efforts across a number of media such as email, Direct Mail, web based, Social media,  and advertising. Remember to keep the theme and branding the same across all media.

8. Be Creative!

Christmas is not just about bells, holly and Santa. Try and be a bit more creative with your designs and artwork.

One tip is NOT to use photos of food. Unless they are professionally shot, with airbrushed food, it never looks nice!

CFL’s design studio can work to deliver any supplied brief - that's a given. Where our talent and flair really shows is when we deliver on a brief you didn't know in the first place!!

From mailing packs, to posters, banners, t-shirts and pretty much any other piece of print or collateral out there - we deliver on the strength of our ideas.

9. Make the most from viral activity and Social Media

Social Media is a great way to reach many people at low cost. Think about combining and linking your social media. However, remember don’t solely rely on it and don’t just use one platform.

CFL have Social media managers that can advise you on the best way to utilise Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in, Youtube and many more.

10.  How do they book?

You need to make it as easy as possible to book a party, using a variety of different methods – A booking line, text in number, web forms, booking forms with return address, even a fax number.

Make sure all enquiries are responded to at the earliest opportunity.

Follow all of these tips…and you will have a very Merry Christmas!.

www.cflmarketing.co.uk   01225 782669

Please see below some of CFLs Christmas designs from last year.