Christmas marketing for small businesses has a short window to work. Black Friday lands on 27 November this year, Christmas Day is on a Friday, and the shoppers who book, order and plan in the next six weeks are already scrolling. If you run a shop, restaurant, salon or service business, the question is simple: what will people see when they look for you?
This week we are putting a spotlight on a Greek List member that does exactly this for a living. BRINQQ Marketing is a creative marketing agency based in Salisbury and London, and its listing on Greek List is written in both English and Greek.
BRINQQ describes itself as a team of designers, videographers, writers and strategists, working with businesses across the UK. Its co founders are Laura Keane and Thanos G Zeppos. The agency covers a wide range of work: social media marketing, content creation, photography and videography, paid social advertising, SEO, website design, branding, graphic design, PR and launch campaigns.
It also names the kinds of businesses it knows best: hospitality, modern retail, beauty and care, professional services, membership organisations and destinations. If you sell to people who decide with their eyes and their phones, that list probably includes you.
On its own site BRINQQ shares some results from past work. These are the agency’s own figures, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise. A coffee brand reports 154% follower growth over 12 months, and a restaurant launch reports more than 100,000 video views.
Most customers do not wait until December to decide where to spend. Gift buyers compare options in November, restaurants fill their Christmas party diaries early, and anyone planning travel home to Greece or Cyprus books weeks ahead. If your name is not in front of them while they decide, someone else’s is.
The good news is that a small business does not need a huge budget. It needs a clear offer, good visuals and a few places where people can find you. Here is a simple plan you can start this week.
1. Pick one clear offer. A Christmas set menu, a gift voucher, a booking slot, a bundle. One offer explained well beats five explained badly. Put the dates and the price in the first line.
2. Make it look good. Fresh photos and a short video of your real products, your real space and your real team do more than stock images. People trust faces and places. This is the part of the work an agency with photographers and videographers can take off your hands.
3. Fix the basics people find first. Check that your opening hours, including Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year, are correct on your website and on Google. Google explains how to edit your business information on your Business Profile, and it takes only a few minutes.
4. Show up where your customers already are. Plan a few weeks of social posts in advance so you are not scrambling in the middle of your busiest days. If you use paid social ads, start early, test two versions of the same ad and keep the budget small until you see what works.
5. Tell the Greek community. Greeks and Cypriots in the UK love to support their own. A listing on Greek List puts your business in front of readers who are looking for Greek services, and an article like this one helps your name travel.
Good to know: BRINQQ is based at 14 Ox Row, Salisbury SP1 1EU and works with clients across the UK. You can reach the team through the contact form on its listing or at brinqq.com/contact.
It depends on your time. If you enjoy making content and have the hours, do it yourself and use a plan like the one above. If December is your busiest month and you cannot spare an afternoon for photos, captions and ad set up, handing the work to a team can pay for itself. Ask any agency for a clear scope, a timeline that ends before the rush, and examples from businesses like yours.
BRINQQ also offers launch campaigns, which is useful if you are opening a new place or releasing a new product for the season. A launch has one moment to land, so planning it properly matters.
Looking for somewhere to promote your Christmas offer? Greek List runs the most complete list of Greek events in the UK. Listing your event is free, and readers use it every week to plan their evenings.
More ideas for owners: read our guide to getting your website and Google profile in order and our look at how Greek businesses in London are handling rising costs.
The businesses we feature are Greek List members. More than 100,000 Greeks and Cypriots in the UK read us every month through the site, our newsletter and the Ellines sto Londino group, and member listings rank first on Google.
Have you started your Christmas marketing yet? Tell us in the Facebook group Ellines sto Londino, and share this article with a friend who runs a business.
