Prepping for Q4 - Part 1

Q4 is just around the corner so the next couple of posts will focus on planning and setting you up for year-end. Whether you're a product-based business stocking up early or a service provider analyzing projections, the next few months are important.

Let's start preparing and moving

August: Start looking at your inventory needs. What do you need to order more of? Can you shore up your stock? Start planning out your holiday content calendar - even if it's just a sketch of the type of promotion you're thinking of. If you are service-based, are you taking the last month off? Are you offering a holiday campaign blitz?

My colleague Tara of Avaans PR offers a PR Sprint for product-based businesses in the Fall and Spring. If you want your product to get in front of a lot of media, give her team a ring.

September/October: Prepare engaging content that speaks directly to your target audience. You can keep your content calendar loose for now, and update as we get closer to your launch date. While it's not an election year, there may be some hiccups (like tariffs), so keeping your plan about 80% done is good. You can adjust if the market changes.

October/November: Kick off your promotions, update all digital touchpoints like your website and active social media platforms, and make sure everything is SEO-optimized. This is the time to engage with your customers through well-timed campaigns and updates. If you're not getting a lift in sales or conversation, that is on you. You can't just set up and sit down. Reach out and be active.

December: Focus on fulfillment and any last-minute promotions. Keep your customers informed with regular updates about shipping deadlines and product availability. Wrap up the season by sharing the impact their purchases have made, potentially highlighting community contributions or sustainability efforts.