It’s December, which means the holiday season is officially upon us!

Keep reading for five holiday marketing ideas that will keep you top of mind through this holly, jolly season (and beyond).

Surprise your clients with something sweet

CLICK HERE to view our many free, customizable gift tags, candy wrappers, and more that you can use with gifts or leave during a client pop-by.

This holiday season, most of your competitors will try to stay top of mind with things like greeting cards and postcards.

While it’s incredibly important that you connect with your clients around the holidays, sending a run-of-the-mill greeting card isn’t exactly memorable.

If you’ve got money burning a hole in your pocket, you might consider buying a gift card for all your clients. The problem with this approach is that it’s difficult to scale—meaning some people on your list are bound to be left out.

Take our advice: a little chocolate will go a long way.

First, go to your favorite store and stock up on a variety of candy bars. (You’ll probably find some good deals when you buy in bulk!) Then, download our free Holiday Candy Wrappers. You can customize them with your name and contact information in the editable PDF file.

From there, print out as many copies of the Holiday Candy Wrappers as you need to go with all the candy you just bought. Finally, pop by to see your favorite clients, and give them their choice of candy bars.

Your clients will remember your thoughtful visit long after all those greeting cards have been recycled.

Create homemade gifts for your raving fans

Think about the people who are totally invested in your success.

Some people call them raving fans. Others refer to them as advocates. Inman influencer Sean Carpenter calls them his “bullseye.” They don’t even have to be paying customers—in many cases, they’re simply the most vocal members of your sphere of influence.

Whatever you call them, these people are willing to go the extra mile for you. And during the holiday season, you’ll want to go above and beyond for them.

Luckily, this doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. By spending a little time on a homemade gift, you’ll convey exactly how much you care without having to spend a fortune.

So, what do you make? Start with your hobbies and interests.

Are you into crafts? Design something nice specifically for your biggest fans. If you’re good at baking, make them a batch of delicious cookies. Maybe you could make someone a personal mix on Spotify.

These personal gestures will go a long way toward showing your clients how important they are. When you do that, they’ll be much more likely to remember you at their holiday parties—when someone inevitably mentions they’re looking to buy or sell in the near future.

Participate in a holiday bazaar

It’s the season of giving, and many of the people in your area will be attending Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holiday-themed bazaars. These community events are amazing networking opportunities.

Do some holiday shopping, and introduce yourself to the vendors (as well as other shoppers). Have copies of your business card or other promotional items handy, because you never know when you’ll meet a relevant lead.

Depending on the nature of the event, you might even be able to set up a table yourself. Hand out free refreshments, and take the opportunity to have meaningful conversations with the people you meet. Learn about them. Let them know that you’re available if they’re looking to find their dream home (or if they know someone else who is).

If you can’t find a holiday bazaar to attend, you can try this same approach at other community events. Parades, holiday concerts, and even tree lightings are excellent chances for you to meet potential customers.

Be the star of your holiday potluck

Whether you’re attending someone else’s holiday party or hosting one yourself, you’ll want to leave a memorable impression. One of the best ways to do that is by making something delicious.

American Lifestyle, Start Healthy, and Good to Be Home have plenty of seasonal recipes—from appetizers and entrees to drinks and desserts. You can print out copies of these recipes and attach your business card to each one. Give out the recipe cards to anyone who asks. When they go to make the dish later on, they’ll definitely remember who gave them the recipe.

Better yet: if you’re a ReminderMedia client, you can make one of the recipes from the holiday issue of your magazine. (Not a client? Request a free PDF of our most recent issue.) Be sure to bring along some promotional copies to your party. That way, you won’t just be handing over a recipe—you’ll also be giving guests a high-quality publication that they’ll hang on to for weeks to come.

The real power behind this gesture is that your magazine is branded to you. It’ll keep you top of mind, and leave you poised to capture referrals in the weeks and months ahead.

Give back to a local charity

Not every holiday marketing idea has to yield an immediate return for your business. Sometimes, it’s better to do good things simply for the sake of doing them.

If you have a local charitable cause that’s important to you, carve out some time this month explicitly for that. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen, or collect canned goods or toys for needy families. Make a donation to a non-profit organization, or create a short video on social media urging your followers to donate.

You can even go a step further by asking your clients and prospects to recommend charities for you to support. Most people will be more than happy to do this, and you’ll have a meaningful, memorable interaction. Then, once you’ve actually donated or volunteered, you can follow up to thank them for their suggestion.

Whichever marketing ideas you try this holiday season, remember the golden rule: it’s far better to give than to receive. And, down the line, your kind gestures will be returned to you tenfold in the form of referrals and repeat business.