Many home services business owners close up shop during the annual holiday slowdown. After all, not many people seek out home services like construction projects or schedule electrical work around the holidays. 

You might be surprised to learn that this time of year offers many unique holiday marketing opportunities for home services businesses. All it takes is a little creativity and holiday spirit. Not sure where to start? Here are 17 marketing ideas to help you get the most out of the holiday season.

1. Leverage your offseason slowdown

Consider the authentic approach. Customers are more likely to empathize with an honest disclosure that business is slow over the holidays. Here are a few compelling ways you can connect with prospects during your offseason:

• Offer a unique bonus for customers who contract with you over the holidays, like a gift card to a local store they can use for holiday shopping. You can also keep it simple and offer an X percent off sale.
• Team up with another home services business to offer a holiday bundle deal. This win-win approach will help you both through the slow season while creating a valuable partnership that you can leverage for referrals in the future.
• Give something back to the community. Take a paid day off with your employees to volunteer at a soup kitchen, clothing drive, or other charitable efforts in your community. This effort will generate goodwill among potential customers while helping out those in need.

2. Target repeat customers

Use your customer data to create tailored marketing messages for previous clients. For example, you could offer a “holiday discount” based on the price they spent on their last service. Customize your emails to include exclusive discounts using dynamic content. Explain that you want to reward your loyal customers with a one-time-only deal that’s just for them. 

3. “Buy” your customers’ holiday gifts for them this year

For this holiday marketing idea, position a discount on services as a gift with purchase. If a client spends $10,000 on a project, you could give them $500 back in the form of a gift card. 

Market the bonus as paying for the client’s holiday shopping: “We want to pay for your holiday gifts this year! When you sign up for a XX or XX project, you’ll earn a bonus gift card you can use to cover your holiday shopping — on us!”

4. Offer an end-of-year special

Advertise a special discount for customers who book a service within a specified timeframe. You can offer specials like:

• Discount on services booked by December 31
• A bonus gift certificate to use toward a service next year 
• Book by December 31, choose from three bonus gifts (a discount, a service add-on, or a related product, for example)

5. Offer a holiday season special offering

Put together a service offering that can help clients during the holiday season. A construction company could offer a holiday light installation package or specials on projects like installing heated driveways to melt snow and ice. 

If you perform landscaping services, consider adding some winter-related services like snow and ice removal. 

6. End of year check-up

If your service menu includes a maintenance element, the end of the year is a great time to remind customers to schedule a check-up. Craft a social media post or email to stay top of mind with your customers.

Bonus tip: Consider adding self-scheduling to your website. Customers respond well to digital self-service options. It will save you time and eliminate the risk of playing phone tag. 

7. Send a holiday email

Send a holiday email thanking your customers for their past business. You can offer a discount or send a card as a goodwill gesture to help grow your customer relationships. 

8. Make a unique video 

Take your customers behind the scenes by giving them a video tour of your office space or warehouse. You could also record a holiday message from your whole team or from your family to theirs. 

Use your video in email marketing campaigns, social media posts, and as part of your web content. Instagram videos can be especially effective.

9. Host a virtual holiday open house 

Create an ad campaign to invite your clients and prospective clients to a virtual holiday open house. Visitors can join the call during a specific time frame to catch up and enjoy some holiday cheer. 

Set up a few display easels with large photos of projects you’ve completed this year. You could also give each guest a goodie bag with a discount coupon and a few small gifts. 

Don’t forget to set up an event on Facebook and share the open house details on your social media platforms.

10. Sponsor a community donation project

Participate in a toy, food, or coat drive for your community. Work with local businesses to distribute barrels around town where people can drop off donations for a local charity. When you advertise your donation drive, be sure to include all the pertinent details:

• Where people can donate
• What people should donate
• Where the donations will end up
• Where people can donate money instead

Behind the scenes, you’ll be forging essential relationships with other local businesses. 

11. Hold a social media contest

Have your followers compete for the title of “Best Ugly Christmas Sweater” or fill a stocking with small candies for a “guess how many” game. Be sure to choose enticing prizes! 

12. Tweak your logo for the holidays

Add some sparkly lights or holly to your regular logo and update your social media feeds and your website. Your festive logo will add a nice touch to mailers and email campaigns, too. 

13. Create gift certificates for volunteers

Partner with a local charity to offer gift certificates for volunteers performing services during the holidays. Most communities have organized efforts to serve a Thanksgiving meal, wrap presents for kids in the hospital, and conduct other philanthropic activities. A small gift certificate or discount coupon is a great way to support your community and build goodwill for your brand. 

14. Decorate your fleet

If your company has a fleet of vehicles, dress them up for the holidays. Add reindeer antlers to the front of your trucks or print high-quality signs with holiday messages you can display in the back window. 

15. 12 days of Christmas

Fire up your social media accounts and start counting down to the holidays or New Year’s. Offer a new, one-day-only discount or gift with purchase each day. Start small and build up anticipation for what the final day will bring. Offer something significant and exciting on the 12th day. 

16. Create a festive door hanger with a bonus

Put together a holiday-themed door hanger campaign that serves as an advertisement for your business. You could offer a list of holiday gift ideas, include a magnet or other branded swag, or suggest a few festive drink recipes. 

17. Hold a Black Friday or Cyber Monday sale

Just because your business focuses on services instead of products doesn’t mean you can’t capitalize on two of the busiest shopping days of the year. Offer special discounts and gifts with purchase for clients who sign up for a consultation on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. 

Make the most of your holiday season slowdown

Don’t be afraid to try more than one of our holiday marketing ideas for home services. Your annual holiday slowdown can be an opportunity to try some creative new ideas. You can also put in some time strengthening your relationship with the local community and touching base with your valued customers. 

The post 17 Ideas for Marketing Your Home Services Business this Holiday Season appeared first on Constant Contact.