How do you describe the last four months of the year? The last lap, the final slog, Q4? However, you choose to describe the final quarter of the year. The last four months of any year is generally a great time for the majority of businesses.
Q4 is traditionally a busy time for gifting
Historically from my time in business and marketing, many businesses have their most profitable period in the final months of the year. The reason for this period being so successful is that Q4 is traditionally a busy time for gifting. For instance according to Mintel Reports, 86% of consumers purchase Christmas gifts in 2020, the same level as 2019.
Quarter four holds opportunity
The final quarter holds great potential opportunity for a wide range of businesses including food, beverages, jewellery or watches, events, electronics and books businesses. This sales quarter has the potential to conclude what type of financial year the business has had and positions a business for future prospects.
Tips to get the most out of the final quarter
1. Make a Marketing Plan
One of my favourite quotes is ‘a goal without a plan is merely a dream’. To take advantage of the opportunities at hand create a marketing plan to assist in keeping track of goals, to turn your business dreams to book up your diary, selling more stock, securing more orders, getting more referrals into reality.
2. Start marketing now, avoid leaving it to chance
Now is a great time to plan and begin executing marketing plans for the next three sales orientated months leading up to the busiest time of year for consumer consumption.
Marketing has the potential to steer you forward through this quarter whether you are a retail business or an online business. I would recommend keeping your marketing planned and consistent over the next few months, this includes your online Social Media presence, Sales Campaigns, Email Marketing.
For instance in 2021 there were record online sales in Q4 2020, with sales up 59.9% to reach £37.5bn. Growth peaked in November (+80%), with Black Friday and store closures helping online to take a record 36.2% of all retail sales.
3. Build momentum
As a small business owner, momentum can be low having worked tirelessly throughout the year. However, keep the motivation and enthusiasm levels up; this is particularly important for sales teams or other members of staff.
Q4 is commonly interrupted as the time to slow things down, which can be true for the latter months such as December, but for months such as September, October and November it’s an important time to keep Marketing and overall motivation going with the areas which work well for your business.
Do you now have a different view on the next few months?
Upon reading this blog how do you view the next 4 months? Will you now create or review your marketing or business plans? Which marketing techniques will you now consider sales campaigns, social media optimisation, email campaigns? In addition, to support you as a business owner, what will you do to build momentum.
Send me an email to info@nurturedigitalmarketing.co.uk and tell me know how you will now drive through to the next 4 months.
As a marketing professional by day, my passion is to support businesses with Marketing especially small businesses who aim to grow but may not have the budget for pricey marketing agencies. Therefore, if you require assistance in your business from any of the services available, do feel free to get in touch.
All the best this final quarter! I also aim to respond to email at the earliest time possible.
Makaela, Marketing Consultant
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