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With fewer than two months left in 2009, time is running out to execute your last minute marketing campaigns. Marketing in November and December is a different beast than during the rest of the year. If you are like many advisory firms, you might find it difficult to set appointments with prospective clients during this time.
This slow period, however, doesn’t mean you should halt your marketing efforts. You need to adjust your strategies and take advantage of the unique opportunities that are available during this period. Here are five tips to help make the most out of your end-of-year marketing.
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Write your 2010 marketing plan
Now is the time to write your 2010 marketing plan so that you can come out of the gate running in January. Document your objectives and strategies for next year and write down how you plan to accomplish them. Pull out a calendar and schedule the specific dates when you wish to accomplish each activity. This will provide you with set deadlines to ensure that you are systematically and consistently marketing. Marketing plans take time to create and executing campaigns takes even longer. If you wait until January to write your plan, you’ll be playing catch up. Worse, you many miss out on great marketing opportunities in January, which is traditionally a receptive time for prospective clients.
Meet with CPAs
From now until the end of the year is a slow period for CPAs. Take this time to nurture your relationships with these professionals for the purpose of generating referrals in 2010. If you host continuing education courses (CPE) for CPAs, schedule them between now and mid-December. If seminars are not your style, schedule coffee, breakfast or lunch meetings. Once February hits, these professionals will be out of reach, so nurture your relationships now to plant seeds for referrals in 2010.
