6 Ways To Make Your Business More Visible in The Festive Season

Julie Starr • December 14, 2021



If we’re being honest, we’d rather not acknowledge it: Christmas is upon us, and that means one thing for business owners: increased earnings. Many businesses have this in mind during the holiday shopping season when customers’ wallets are more open than usual. In such a competitive environment, how can you ensure that your company stands out from the crowd when every other business person has the same idea in mind? How can you ensure that customers choose your products/services over those of your competitors? Check out some great advice on how to make your business stand out throughout the Christmas season!

Social media

Social networking is one of the fastest and most effective ways to get your name out there, regardless of whether you like it or not. Make an account on each site for your business if you haven’t already, and consider these ideas to increase it even more:

  • Set up giveaways or freebies on your social media pages to encourage participation. In the long run, this will help you get more people to see your posts. Everyone loves a freebie, so your posts will go further than you think. Please be aware of and adhere to the regulations of each social networking platform you use, or you may find yourself in an awkward situation.
  • To put it frankly, people will not follow you simply for the purpose of following you. You must provide them with a compelling reason to click on the “like” button , which means publishing on a frequent basis and uploading stuff (videos, photographs, etc.) that people will love seeing. It’s important to think about who you want to reach when you choose what to post so that no one clicks the unfollow button.
  • Promote any upcoming sales on your social media accounts. Also, it is the quickest and most powerful means to communicate. With social media, you can use images to really make your posts more interesting; why not post images of the green dot stickers you’re using to mark which products are sold, for example? This will give your followers a sense of urgency and sales should skyrocket.
  • Find a company with which you can exchange services. If you sell makeup, find a business that sells hair or nail products and advertise them. A wider reach means more customers for your business!
  • It’s a smart idea to use a scheduling tool like Hootsuite to handle all of your social media postings so that you don’t have to do it yourself all the time. As well as during the holiday season, this can be a year-round marketing tool for your business.

Boost your marketing tactics

As previously said, the holiday shopping season is a critical time for marketing because of the increased willingness of consumers to spend money. Because of this, it’s critical to make sure that your marketing strategy is on target. Here are a few ideas for marketing your business:

  • Online content marketing is currently one of the most profitable marketing tactics. Because almost everyone these days is on the internet, it is the most effective method of gaining the attention of new clients. As a business owner, you can’t afford not to have a link to your website or one of your products prominently displayed on relevant blogs.
  • Use specialized services for your industry. For example, HVAC digital marketing could dramatically help improve the reach and visibility of your website, so it’s worth the investment. 
  • Advertising your business with banners and billboards in high-traffic locations is a good idea now that everyone is out and about doing their Christmas shopping.
  • This is the perfect time of year to create a TV commercial for your company since everyone wants to curl up in front of the TV with a blanket and a fire. It is a tremendously effective method of reaching consumers all over the country rather than just locally.

More merchandise, please!

Printing your company’s name on anything and everything is a great method to spread the word about your brand. Whether you want to give out free products at events or sell it in-store, think of how you can elegantly print your brand on these items. A few things that people like:

  • People are always drawn in by pens, lanyards, notepads, or anything else that is stationary. However, free stationery is regularly given away at events, so choose cautiously.
  • Glassware. Everyone enjoys a new glass to sip their favorite beverage from, especially around the holidays. Consider corporate glasses as a printing medium.
  • There is always a winner when it comes to clothing, like t-shirts, hoodies, and caps. Create a stunning piece that everybody will want and they will fly off the shelves.

Create irresistible offers

As previously stated, no one is able to turn down a freebie. Consider linking this into holiday advertising and discounts to entice clients. Winter is a great time to put on special promotions , such as a buy-one-get-one-free or spend a particular amount and get a free item.

Check out what your competitors are doing this Christmas to improve your own promotion. The only thing to keep in mind is that other businesses might be doing the same thing as you.

Organize an event

Hosting an open-to-all event is another wonderful approach to improve sales this time of year. Face painting, games, drinks, and entertainment might all be included in this event. People will be more likely to visit your establishment and have a good time if you do this. And while they’re there, perhaps try your goods or services? In any case, it’s a terrific way to get your name out there while still having fun!

Switch up your work attire

While it is crucial that you and your staff members present a professional image, Christmas is the ideal time to let down your guard and show potential clients that you have a Christmas spirit. Including festive attire in your uniforms or allowing employees to dress up during the holidays can ensure that your company is noticed. Let’s face it: wouldn’t you prefer to shop at a store that is festively decorated than one that isn’t? Even if it’s as simple as putting on a Santa hat, you’ll have more clients than before!

As you can see, with a few simple tactics, you can significantly increase the visibility of your company, especially during the holiday season. Put these suggestions into action, and you’ll quickly witness an increase in sales and earnings!

 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.