The holidays are here! The season may fill you with dread as you stare down a long shopping and baking list. Or they may be so packed with parties and outings that you can’t help but feel that things are magical and cozy.
The holidays can be so busy that it’s hard to buckle down and keep working. At SJC Marketing, we’re here to bring a bit of magic to your marketing so that you can keep moving forward while making the most of the season.
So, pour yourself a hot chocolate with extra marshmallows and a bit of whipped cream. Crook a candy cane on the side. Then settle in for a little holiday marketing story. It’s about a cute little reindeer that was a surprisingly fantastic marketing specialist. We’re here to tell you the tale of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Marketer.
It’s got quite a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Okay, not great. But here we go anyway…
Once upon a time, there was a new business owner named Rudolph who had a charming quality. Every time he was excited, his nose would light up! If you weren’t looking closely, you might think it was simply the wrong skincare routine, but no. Rudolph had rhinolightitis. Weird name, right? Doctors were perplexed, too.
At first, Rudolph would try to hide his nose so that people wouldn’t make fun of him—especially potential customers. His ride-sharing and courier service was just taking off and he didn’t want anything to limit its success.
But Rudolph’s nose plagued him. When he was at networking events, it would light up just as he was being introduced to a new potential business partner. At happy hour, it glowed nearly the entire time. Even in staff meetings, someone might mention a new idea and his nose would light right up! His employees would try to be discreet, but he could hear them chuckling.
Then Rudolph remembered the famous story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and he knew he had exactly the right nose to make his business a success. He started listing the ways a reindeer could show him lessons for growing his business.
Let’s take a look!
Know Who You Are. Rudolph realized that his red nose made him different, but different tends to be a fantastic quality in marketing. In fact, some companies have a hard time defining what makes them different. Rudolph had no such problem.
Rudolph decided to turn his red nose into his calling card. He featured pictures of himself on social media, taken when he was really pumped up about something and his nose was all aflame. He started making sure that Rudy’s Racers, as his company was known, was increasingly identified with a shining red light. He even started calling his company Rudy’s Red-Nosed Racers. Along with his red nose, he was careful to develop some messages about his business.
He wanted his potential customers to know that they could trust his Racers to get themselves or their deliveries to their destination on time.
Keep Playing Those Reindeer Games. Rudy’s Red-Nosed Racers was a new business, so networking was critical. At first, Rudolph would hold back because his nose was such a noticeable quality. Then, Rudolph became bolder, signing up for charity golf games and trivia nights. But he would struggle to join a golf foursome or a trivia table. People just weren’t welcoming.
Then, like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, who finds friends among the misfit toys, Rudolph realized he was surrounded by people who wanted to network with him. They just happened to be volunteering at the local dog shelter and food bank. Then he joined a bowling team. He was connecting with people who wanted to connect with him!
Sometimes, marketing isn’t just about connections, but the right connections.
Be Consistent. In a flash of confidence, Rudolph installed a red light on the nose of each vehicle in his fleet. He had a body shop paint “Rudy’s Red-Nosed Racers” on the side of every vehicle. Rudolph knew that, in order to make the most of his brand, he would have to consistently embrace it.
Soon, everyone in town was watching not just for their loved one to arrive, but for that tell-tale red light to start nosing its way down the street. People waiting for a delivery knew to keep an eye out for a red glow. Rudy’s Red-Nosed Racers become synonymous with reliability and timeliness and everyone loved to see that bright red light arrive.
Even the company’s charity work made the most of its branding. During the holidays, you could spot Rudy’s fleet decked out with reindeer antlers, making their way across town delivering food for the food bank and collecting toys for dogs at the shelter. People know to flag down a Rudy’s vehicle if they have a donation, and Rudy’s team will get it where it needs to go.
Everyone Needs a Guide. In the reindeer story, Santa needed a guide on a foggy night. Rudolph the business owner also needed a guide—and in this case, just his nose wouldn’t work so well! Rudolph needed a comprehensive marketing plan. He was already on his way because he knew what made his company different and he knew to be consistent with his messaging.
But when someone suggested a new social media and an email marketing campaign, Rudolph realized he needed someone with a bit more marketing expertise.
Rudolph brought his marketing questions to SJC Marketing, where we helped him in a few areas:
- A mobile-optimized, accessible website that works to convert visitors to customers.
- A social media strategy and email drip campaign that connects his messaging with his audiences.
- New videos designed to showcase that famous nose across all marketing channels.
Now, Rudolph can focus on directing his team, coaching his managers and planning his next vehicle purchase because SJC Marketing is handling business growth for him. And when he tells his friends about how his business is going, his nose even starts to sparkle just a little!
Merry Christmas from the team at SJC Marketing!