Many small business owners consider the holidays a prime time for increasing sales and attracting their target audiences. Be sure to take advantage of the annual spike in sales that occurs throughout December. Continue to transform your marketing campaigns into promotions that spread holiday cheer and draw in your desired target market. Here are three ways to accomplish this:

1. Get started as early as possible

The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects holiday retail sales for November and December to increase between 3.6 and 4 percent. If this hasn't motivated you to put together a holiday-themed campaign yet, you should get a move on. In fact, according to a survey by Experian, nearly 50 percent of marketers launched a holiday campaign before Halloween. 

Get your inventory moving by advertising special promotions such as loyalty rewards and buy-one-get-one deals with a holiday twist. Send out an email designed to look like a Christmas tree or frame copy with holiday lights, in addition to refreshing how you've dressed up your store for the season. 

2. Take advantage of mobile and social media

CNBC reports that according Adobe Insights, which measures 80 percent of online transactions at 100 major U.S. retailers, mobile transactions are ?hitting record highs? this holiday season.  In each of the first 22 days of November more than $1 billion in revenue was rung up online, according to Adobe.

Similarly, nearly 65 percent of shoppers use social media as one of their primary sources for purchasing holiday gifts, according to Crowdtap, a people-powered marketing platform. Crowdtap research indicates that shoppers naturally turn to social media as they plan and make purchases. By creating ways for shoppers to share their real experiences on social, brands and retailers promote consumer engagement and build brand loyalty, as reported by Business Wire. 

3. Offer free shipping

Even if you don't offer it already, temporarily giving customers a free-shipping option will have the potential to pay off. Inc. reports a new survey finds 26% increase in the number of shoppers who plan to use free shipping or in-store pickup. 

The return on investment for free-shipping promotions is generally very high. According to a Kibo research study, 58 percent of consumers say they'll rely on the buy online, pickup in-store (BOPIS) fulfillment option this holiday shopping season, an increase of 25 percent over last year, as reported by Inc.  It's important to remember that while we're in the thick of this holiday season, even small promotions can have a potentially major impact on sales.