Running a discount during the holiday season is a great way to draw customers into your store and boost sales during this busy time of year.

But it’s not the only way to offer something of value to your customers.

If you want to run a successful holiday promotion, without discounting your product, consider one of these ideas:

1. Free gift wrapping

There are a lot of folks out there who absolutely despise gift wrapping! Some have a natural touch for it, while others just can’t seem to figure it out. Free gift wrapping is a really nice gesture that will make your customers’ lives a little bit easier during this crazy time of year.

2. Tips and tricks

Product, service, or industry-related tips and tricks are quick, digestible pieces of information that your customers will l love.

If you are a service business like a spa, you could offer relaxation tips that will help your customers get through all the holiday stress. This is a great way to showcase your services too.

These work really well on Facebook or Twitter, and can also make a nice addition to any holiday emails you send out.

3. Guides

You are an expert in your field, so why not share what you know with your customers? The best gift really is the gift of knowledge! Create an educational guide that teaches your customers about your product, service, or industry, and post it on Facebook or send it out in an email.

If you are a retail business, you could create a shopping guide that helps customers navigate the hectic holiday season.

4. Free shipping

More and more people are shopping online these days because they just don’t have time to make a trip to the store, especially during the holidays. Make your ecommerce emails stand out by offering an incentive like free shipping to make your customers’ last-minute purchases that much easier.

5. Holiday contest

Run a holiday contest to get customers excited about the prize you plan to give away. Your free gift could be as small as a branded holiday ornament or as big as a gift basket. Offer what makes sense for you.

Promote your contest on Facebook to boost engagement and fans. You can run a Facebook Ad to get your contest in front of an even larger audience.

6. Checklist

Create a helpful checklist that customers can have on hand during the busy holiday season.

Your checklist could help customers prepare for holiday shopping so that they go into the process focused. Don’t be afraid to have fun with this one too! If you are a restaurant owner, include stopping at your restaurant to refuel as part of your checklist.

7. Holiday recipes

Give your customers a special holiday recipe to add value without offering a discount. If you are a restaurant owner, this is perfect for you because you probably already have so many tasty recipes on hand.

Put your own twist on the recipe or add in a secret ingredient to really make it unique. The best part about offering a holiday recipe is that it takes little to no time and effort to create.

Tip: To design a recipe card, use holiday image tools to create something seasonal and on brand.

Get creative this holiday season!

When it comes to giving your customers something of value this holiday season, all it takes is a little elbow grease and some creativity. As powerful as discounts are, sometimes it is nice to change things up a bit.

These seven value offers will keep your business top of mind when it comes time for holiday shopping. Keep your customers and prospects informed of your holiday happenings and promotions in your next email.

Log in to check out our new holiday templates. 

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Looking for more holiday marketing advice?

Check out these 30 Creative Ideas for Your Holiday Email Marketing.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2013 and has been updated for relevancy and accuracy. 

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