Q4 is a wild ride; just ask any business owner or marketer. With most of the major holidays left to the tail end of the year, they can sneak up on you - and before you know it, you’re struggling to manage your marketing.

However, there can be such a thing as a peaceful final quarter; it just takes a whole lot of planning (and a good pinch of patience).

So, if you want to master your marketing in the closing months, look no further. We’ve done the heavy lifting and highlighted all the key dates you need to factor into your plan – plus some strategy tips to help bring you one step closer to your most profitable quarter yet.

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What to factor into your Q4 planning:

• Promotions – Decide on the number of discounts you are able to offer.
• ‍Marketing – Think about which marketing channels you’ll be prioritising, the types of campaigns you’ll run and whether you will be collaborating with any businesses/influencers.‍
• Delivery – If you offer a physical product, work out delivery turnaround times and holiday shipping cut-off dates.‍
• Products – Launching new/limited edition products? Think about how to create a buzz before it launches

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Key dates in Q4:

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Halloween

Halloween (celebrated on 31^st October) is one of the first major holidays to kick off the fall festivities.

Regardless of what you offer, Halloween is the perfect time to show the playful side of your business, whether that’s through Halloween-themed discount code pop-ups, giveaways on social, or spooky email campaigns.

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Diwali

Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights and is celebrated in October or November (the date changes every year!). This five-day festival is marked with meals, home decoration and gift-giving.

As a brand, incorporating Diwali into your marketing messaging could involve wishing your followers a Happy Diwali, sharing products that align with the festival or encouraging your community to share how they are celebrating.

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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is an American holiday that happens on the fourth Thursday in November. The purpose of the holiday is to unwind, reflect and express gratitude. 

When it comes to marketing, it’s important to replicate the main themes of this holiday. This may look like thanking your customers for their support with a discount code or posting what you, as a brand, are grateful for on social media.

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Black Friday

Taking place on the final Friday in November, Black Friday is a chance for brands to offer their best discounts and promotions ahead of the holiday season.

Black Friday can be an overwhelming time for consumers, so it’s essential to drip feed promotion teasers in the months prior to Black Friday so you’re at the forefront of their minds when the day arrives.

Remember that consumers value consistency, so ensure that all your marketing channels reflect the same offers. As a sustainable marketing agency, we’re big on transparency - so our advice is to avoid overpromising and be clear about what consumers can expect.

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Cyber Monday

Black Friday was created with in-store deals in mind, whereas Cyber Monday (which occurs the following Monday) caters exclusively to online promotions.

For brands, Cyber Monday is an opportunity to target anyone who may have ‘missed out’ during Black Friday. Similarly to Black Friday messaging, Cyber Monday is all about staying consistent and being open about the deals to come.

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Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is on the first Saturday of December and encourages consumers to put their money in the hands of small, local businesses rather than large corporations.

A few months prior, start to think ahead about promotions you want to offer and share your journey, brand values and BTS content.

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Christmas

Christmas is celebrated worldwide on the 31^st December and centres around family, food and gift-giving.

 While some love the thrill of a Christmas Eve shopping sesh, there are savvy shoppers out there starting as early as September. So, sharing gift ideas and promotional offers early in the quarter is a great incentive for consumers to shop with you.

On the day itself, wishing your community a Merry Christmas and expressing gratitude for their support is a nice touch.

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Boxing Day and New Year’s

Boxing Day (26^th December) is another day where brands offer sales and discounts, and these promotions generally last into the new year.

This is the perfect time for brands to clear out excess stock and for customers to spend gift vouchers or snap up items they’ve had their eyes on over the holidays - so don’t lower your marketing efforts just yet!

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As a sustainable digital marketing agency, we’re all about authentic, transparent marketing. So, if you’re ready to level up your messaging this year, let’s have a chat!