Have you planned your Christmas marketing campaign yet? If not, why not...

Oh dear, we're still in August (just), yet here we are talking about Christmas. However, in marketing terms, now is the time to starting thinking about your Christmas campaign (if you haven't done so already). More people are being more careful with their household budget this year, and it's likely they'll spread their Christmas shopping over the next three months - so the sooner you tell them what you have on offer, the more likely it is they'll buy from you. Here are the things you need to think about when creating your Christmas marketing strategy:

Analyse last year's campaign to see what lessons can be learned. What went well and what didn't? The more data you can gather from previous Christmasses, the more likely it is that you can devise an effective campaign for this year.

Are you offering any deals, prize draws or competitions? Special offers are much more likely to attract attention in terms of marketing, and most people will be looking for a great deal this year.

Think about website content as well as adverts. Most people like to do a bit of research before buying online, especially for the higher ticket items, so create landing pages that will give them all the information they need... then make sure the 'Buy Now' button is visible!

The more digital marketing services you use, the more likely it is that your brand will get noticed by the search engines. Your strategy needs to include SEO and social media as well as PPC and ads.

Don't forget the design - create fun Christmas-themed design elements that can be used across all channels.