Christmas > 12-month 2005 Marketing Calendar that Boost Sales

12-month 2005 Marketing Calendar that Boost Sales

The following is my 12-month promotional marketing calendar. Keep it handy, as you'll need to refer to it throughout the coming year when forecasting your promotional messages. By no means is this list exhaustive. In fact, you should add to it based on your industry-related activities. There are many holidays throughout the year that may be a natural tie-in with your product or service, such as National Book Week in January, if you're an author or editorial-related service or American Heart Month in February, if you sell health-related services or products.

My calendar list focuses on the major holidays when most Americans have been trained to spend extra money or participate in a ceremonial activity. Generally speaking, you want to link your marketing promotions to a time of year when customers have their wallets out. Thus, you're simply positioning your product or service as the perfect gift or solution for the celebrated event. Be PreparedYou can never be too early in preparing your marketing campaigns. For example, in order for the typical small business owner to prepare for a Valentine's Day direct mail campaign, you'll need to get most of your materials printed and ready to go by the third week in January and in the mailstream by the last week in January, certainly no later than the first week in February.

I recommend you plan two months in advance. Thus, you should start planning your Mother's Day campaign in early March. Obviously, the more involved the campaign, the more lead time. What's more, some advertising vehicles have extensive lead times, specifically magazines that need your camera-ready ad approximately 6 weeks [possibly more or less] before publication, and newspaper inserts also require a reservation approximately 6-8 weeks before publication. Unique AngleYour promotional angle is the key to standing out from your competition.

People are going to buy gifts at Christmas, without a doubt. But what makes your service or product so interesting, that shoppers should hand over their money to you instead of the myriad of other stores? Find a creative answer, and you'll grow your business. JANUARY

FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER .

Sharron Senter is a New-England based marketing consultant, speaker, writer and founder of Senter & Associates, a marketing communications firm that helps small businesses deploy low-cost online and offline marketing tactics. Senter is well known for her free monthly emailed marketing tips found at http://www.sharronsenter.com

HorseToys.com -- Online Retailer Previews New Plush Toys And Children's Books Available For This Christmas Season

(ContentDesk) October 12, 2005 -- www.HorseToys.com, an online childrens retailer, is pleased to introduce for the Christmas season, the new children's book, Bradford and the Journey to the Desert of Lop, named as one of the "best childrens products of 2005" by industry analyst Dr. Toy. The new line of children's non-violent toys and books empower children with cancer and raises awareness for the endangered wild Bactrian camel. The wild camels living in the far away Gobi Desert may offer a possible cure for illness based on preliminary research. The book teaches us that, One small boy with cancer can change the world if you listen." The accompanying cute and cuddly plush toy, Judy the wild camel, is a mascot for the wild Bactrian camels.

Product Info: http://www.horsetoys.com/products.html Plush Camel: Meet "Judy", a plush,...

HorseToys.com -- Online Retailer Previews New Plush Toys And Children's Books Available For This Christmas Season
Christmas > HorseToys.com -- Online Retailer Previews New Plush Toys And Children's Books Available For This Christmas Season

Santa Claus May Not Be Coming To Town, But Amazon.com Steps In To Save the Day

(ContentDesk) December 2, 2004 -- A new survey has revealed that a staggering 1 in 3 children in Britain no longer believe in Father Christmas AKA Santa Claus.
With us being Christmas killjoys, does the 21st century mean the end of Santa? Grant Dain, Co-founder of ?Father Christmas Letters' commented; "Parents can now take matters into their own hands and encourage the belief by guaranteeing their child will receive a personalized letter from Santa Claus via our association with Amazon.com by going to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00062RMP8 ".Toy retailer, Nigel Dawson recently commissioned independent research into whether children still believe in Santa Claus.
The results highlight that only 60% of kids under the age of 8 still believe.The shock findings report that just 29% of parents encourage their children to leave a stocking out for Santa to fill.
Poor Rudolph is...

Santa Claus May Not Be Coming To Town, But Amazon.com Steps In To Save the Day
Christmas > Santa Claus May Not Be Coming To Town, But Amazon.com Steps In To Save the Day

Last Minute Shoppers May Opt to Download a Gift

(ContentDesk) December 19, 2004 -- Last minute shoppers can still find some unusual gifts without the hassle of traffic and mall shopping by going online. Many merchants offer products that can be downloaded or accessed online, such as music software, gaming software, and e-books.
Shoppers can also buy e-gift certificates for traditional brick-and-mortar stores that can be sent by e-mail or printed out and given in person. Shoppers can find a list of many such online merchants at www.ShoppingTimeLeft.com."An e-gift certificate saved me last year," says Ginia Dible, creator of the website.
Dible freely admits she is a procrastinator when it comes to Christmas shopping.

"It seems to sneak up on me," she says.
"The shipping deadlines always get the best of me, especially when shopping for people out of town."As a result, Dible finds that shopping online helps her get her Christmas...

Last Minute Shoppers May Opt to Download a Gift
Christmas > Last Minute Shoppers May Opt to Download a Gift

Atlantic Soul Bodyworks Pampers the Diva Within Us All

Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia (ContentDesk) September 28, 2005 -- We all have a bit of a diva living within us.
Atlantic Soul Bodyworks helps bring her out to the forefront with a great line of handmade bath and body products to pamper you and your hidden diva, by launching their new and improved website and product line.
Owner, Suzy Atwood, creates, develops and produces all her own bath and body products in the kitchen of her Nova Scotia home.
Fuelled with a passion of creating new products to help women feel good about themselves and get excited about pampering themselves, Suzy makes each product in small batches, ensuring a fresh, high quality line.
Just in time for the Christmas rush, you'll want to pamper yourself and all the ladies in your life with great products such as Atlantic Soul's Body Parfait, a lotion and gel in one great pump bottle.

Scented in three decadent scents, it's like a dessert in a bottle, only it's for your skin. Atlantic Soul Bodyworks Pampers the Diva Within Us All
Christmas > Atlantic Soul Bodyworks Pampers the Diva Within Us All

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Christmas 12-month 2005 Marketing Calendar that Boost Sales Christmas 12-month 2005 Marketing Calendar that Boost Sales

This May, Skin Cancer Awareness Advocates Give Tip of the Hat to Headwear

North Conway, NH (ContentDesk) April 30, 2006 -- May is national Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and advocates are giving a big hats off to people who keep theirs on.According to the Center for Disease Control, skin cancer prevention is not to be taken lightly. The center published this statement on their website (www.cdc.gov): Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays appears...

Christmas 12-month 2005 Marketing Calendar that Boost Sales Christmas 12-month 2005 Marketing Calendar that Boost Sales
Christmas > This May, Skin Cancer Awareness Advocates Give Tip of the Hat to Headwear