01 | Holiday Content Calendar Ideas for Your Handmade Biz
This article and all others on the School for Modern Makers blog are written by a lovely human - Julieanne Steedman. Please enjoy this small business advice and expertise, ideas and inspiration, plus the occasional typo (or two).
During the holiday season it's more important than ever to show up, be visible, and take up space with your handmade business! However, if you’re anything like me, you feel overwhelmed and perhaps just a little bit ‘done’ with marketing your work. Well, I encourage you to make a fresh coffee, put on a pair of cozy socks and do a bit more marketing of your gorgeous handmade goods!
No need to brainstorm for ideas about what to post or how to share your work - I complied a list of ideas about how you can do just that. These ideas can be used as social media posts, in your Instagram stories, or for use in your newsletter. Remember, your customers love your work, so help them out this season (remember - they’ll want to find wonderful gifts for their loved ones) by getting their eyes (and hands!) on your gorgeous goods!
WHEN: The Week Before Black Friday
YOUR THOUGHTS ON BLACK FRIDAY
Do you love it / hate it? Support Colour Friday instead? Let your audience know what your plans are: will you be having a sale or some kind of promotion? (You don’t have to tell them what it is yet).
WHEN: The Week of Black Friday
DAY BEFORE BLACK FRIDAY /COLOUR FRIDAY (WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE PART IN)
If you are running a promotion, share a post or an email and express your excitement about your offer. Remember, your promotion doesn’t need to be a giant discount, it can be a small discount, a free gift with purchase, or free gift wrapping with every order.
BLACK FRIDAY / COLOUR FRIDAY
Send at least one email and post about your offer on Instagram. Be engaged on your stories.
SMALL BIZ SATURDAY
Share the story behind how + why you started your business
SMALL BIZ SATURDAY + SUNDAY
Support your handmade biz friends by sharing their offers in your Instrgam stories.
WHEN: The Week After Black Friday
GIFTS BY RECIPIENT
Create a week or series of posts that share your gifts by recipient or by theme. Example: These items would be ideal to tuck into stockings, or these items are great for teachers.
WHEN: Second Week of December
YOUR #1 TOP-SELLING ITEM
People love to know (and buy!) what is popular.
SHIPPING CUT-OFF DATES
Make these clear so your customers aren't disappointed.
JUST FOR FUN
What are you listening to or watching as you are packaging up your orders? You could share a playlist or your five favourite holiday films (and ask for your audience to share theirs!).
WHEN: Third Week of December
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Once you've gone past your shipping cut-off dates, post + email to share about the gift certificate / online offers you have.
WHAT WOULD YOU GIFT YOURSELF FROM YOUR SHOP?
What item would YOU most love (from your own range) to receive under the Christmas tree?
WHEN: Christmas Week
SHARE YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS PLANS
A Christmas tradition, you wrapping gifts, a peek into you doing some baking. Encourage your audience to share their tradition/plans etc. with you.
CHRISTMAS + THANKS MESSAGE
Share a heart felt Christmas wish + thanks to your customers and audience for their support over the year.
WHEN: Week Between Christmas and New Years
GIVING BACK
Does your business support a cause or charity? This is a great time to do a recap of how you’ve supported these causes over the last year. Eg” Thanks for supporting my small business. This has meant that we’ve been able to donate XXX to [great cause you support].
YEAR IN REVIEW
Share a series of highlights from the year (along with a big ol’ thanks for all of the support from your community!)
Wishing you a festive, fun, and profitable holiday season!
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