How to Thrive In Q4: Strategies for Content Creators

Don't miss this recording of our latest quarterly webinar hosted by KariAnne Wood from Thistlewood Farms.

You can also read the breakdown of the presentation and slides below.

The fourth quarter of the year is a crucial time for many businesses, especially those in the retail sector. Here's why it's essential to lean in!

Slide 1: Why lean into Q4?

• Retail spending is at an all-time high: Consumers are eager to spend during this time of year, making it a prime opportunity to maximize sales and engagement.

• Two main audiences that are spending

  • Holiday decorators

  • Gift givers

Building a strong community before Q4 positions your business as an authority. By engaging with your audience early & often, you’ll be top of mind when they’re ready to shop.

Slide 2: Set Goals

• It’s important to set goals for your business

  • Monetary goals: Determine your revenue target for the season. Understanding your financial objectives will help you plan promotions and sales strategies effectively.

  • Social goals: Use this time to increase your social media followers and engagement. Q4 is ideal for driving more traffic and interactions.

  • Email goals: Building your email list is critical. Use holiday promotions to encourage new sign-ups so you can continue nurturing your audience even after the holidays.

Slide 3: Develop An Editorial Calendar

• Plan out your content: Start by brainstorming and organizing content ideas for the season. Have a place that you can jot down ideas as they come to you so you don't forget them.

• Use a calendar: Whether it’s a physical planner or an online tool, map out your content schedule to ensure consistency.

• Look at last year’s performance: Analyze what content resonated with your audience in previous holiday seasons and plan similar content this year.

• Social and blog planning: Plan your social media content, but don't forget your blog or website articles. Keep your content varied and balanced.

  
  

  If you fail to plan, you plan to fail! A content schedule will help you stay on track.

  
  

Slide 4: Make A List Of Your Top 10 Holiday Posts

• Audit those posts: Check for broken links, outdated information, or any areas that could be improved.

• Consider republishing: Some posts might be worth sharing again with fresh updates.

• Create a round-up: Gather your best holiday posts and compile them into a convenient round-up for your audience.

• Update visuals: Adding new images or products can make a significant impact on engagement and click-throughs.

  
  

Slide 5: Plan out gift guides

Now that you have your editorial content, create gift guides to match!

• Match your editorial content: Align your gift guides with the content you’re already planning.

• Niche down: The more specific, the better. Consider creating niche gift guides like “Treat Yourself” or other personalized categories.

• Start early: Don’t wait until December—many people start their holiday shopping as early as October, so plan to launch your guides in the fall.

  
  

Slide 6: Update Your About Me Page

Your "About Me" page is a key touchpoint for your audience - new and old!

• Refresh your photos: Ensure your images are current and reflect your brand.

• Link to holiday content: Add links to your top holiday posts, gift guides, shopping pages, and any digital products.

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An updated page can help direct more traffic to relevant areas of your site.

Slide 7: Audit Your Amazon page

If you have an Amazon storefront, Q4 is the perfect time to optimize it.

• Create curations: Create and promote holiday-themed lists of products.

• Encourage followers: Remind your audience to follow your Amazon storefront to keep up with your recommendations.

• Update visuals: Refresh your profile picture and header image.

• Create gift guides: Make sure to create Amazon-specific gift guides and review videos of your orders to boost credibility.

Slide 8: Audit Your Highlights

Instagram Highlights are a great way to showcase your best content to visitors.

• Make the most shoppable highlights front and center: Prioritize holiday content that’s easy for people to shop from.

• Add new highlights: Create categories for gift guides and holiday-related content.

• Delete outdated highlights: Streamline your page by removing anything irrelevant or old.

Slide 9: Work On A Holiday Home Tour

Home tours are a great way to showcase your festive decor and products.

• Create a video tour: Whether you’re filming it yourself or hiring a photographer, capture your decorated space and share it with your audience.

• Share snippets: Break the longer tour into smaller, shareable clips for social media.

• Include affiliate links: Add LTK (Like to Know) or Amazon affiliate links to the products you feature in your tour to encourage purchasing.

Slide 10: Check Your Top Pins

Pinterest is a goldmine for holiday inspiration!

• Research top pins: Search yourself on Pinterest to see which of your holiday pins performed best last year and reschedule them for this season as soon as possible.

• Pin new content: Go through your top 10 holiday blog posts and create fresh pins with updated graphics.

• Refresh underperforming content: If some blog content didn’t do as well on Pinterest, try creating new thumbnails or graphics to give it a boost.

Slide 11: Create Top 10 Lists

Top 10 lists are a simple yet effective way to engage your community and showcase your best products. Put together top 10 lists of your favorite products likeChristmas trees, Christmas garland, stockings, door mats, ect.

• Coordinate with Amazon: Link your lists to your Amazon storefront to drive sales.

• Order products for video content: Get the products you’re recommending, create videos, and add them to Amazon’s review program.

• Promote your lists: Share your curated Top 10 collections with your audience to make holiday shopping easier for them.

Q4 is ready for you! We can't wait to see how you use these tips to maximize your reach and revenue this season.

You got this!