Planning for Valentine’s Day

I just received what is probably the first of many Valentine’s Day promotion. It came in the form of an email from Apple to my iPhone. The promotion’s subject line is “Show the Love. Give iPod Nano this Valentine’s Day“

The email offers me free engraving of an iPod, gives me links to a Valentine’s Gift List from the Apple Shop and explains why an iPod as a gift will bring me adoration from the recipient.

I’m telling you all this, not because of any promotion of Apple, but because the email reminded me that all big businesses will have decided on their Valentine’s Day promotions month’s ago… and you’ll start seeing them rolled out them over the next four weeks or so.

The question is, have you got a Valentine’s Day promotion planned?

If you’re quick you might still have time to get on the bandwagon, to your advantage. Ask yourself…

• How can I associate my product or service with the concept of Love?
• What about associations with Giving?
• Can I come up with a zany connection with Valentine’s Day

Gift Certificates, 2 for 1 Offers (one for you and one for your loved one), Bonus product/discount from now until Valentine’s Day – just because we love you all spring to mind. But, with a bit of thought, I’m sure that you’ll be able to come up with an idea relevant to your business which will positively impact your bottom line in the coming weeks.

Don’t just think in terms of additional sales (although in these times more sales are not to be sneezed at), but also think about taking this opportunity to gathering new prospects for future sales when times get even tougher. Think also in terms of showing some love to your most important asset, your existing clients.

And, if your business does not fit well into the pink, feel-good February 14th, or if you simply won’t have time to implement a promotion on such short notice, why not look a bit further ahead and start planning now for an Easter Promotion.

Above all, there is an adage that I always try to remember if I am tempted to summarily discard a suggestion for change…

If I keep doing the same as before … I’ll keep getting more of the same results.

Or …

If you want to change the outcomes, change the inputs!

Tags: seasonal promotion, seasonal sales, valentine s day