Harnessing the Fear of Missing Out During Small Business Season

Years ago, when Black Friday was one day and not six weeks long, I suffered from fear of missing out (FOMO) when it came to bargains. I felt (which was indeed the marketer’s goal) that I had to buy at that moment or risk being charged more later. Rarely was I ready to purchase but I did so because I didn’t want to miss the deal. FOMO is a powerful sales motivator, and the holiday season is one of the best times to leverage that tactic for extraordinary revenue. Here are some tips on how you can do just that.

How to Get More Sales Through Fear of Missing Out

Try these five effective tactics to drive more sales:

1. Limited-Time Offers:

Create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time discounts or exclusive deals. Ideas include:

Flash sales: Offer deep discounts for a short period of time, like 24 hours or until supplies last. Post them on social media or share them to just your email list. Make sure people know only your special subscribers or those who sign up for texts or follow you will know of these incredible savings opportunities.
Early bird specials: Reward customers who purchase early (or on a specific day) with a discount or bonus gift.
Pre-order promotions: Offer exclusive benefits to customers who pre-order your holiday products or give them the opportunity for exclusive first looks.

2. Limited Inventory:

Anyone who remembers the 1983 Cabbage Patch craze will remember these shenanigans and how a limited inventory can inflate prices and drive interest. (They were not cute dolls, but every girl born in the 70s was convinced she needed one.) Highlight the limited availability of your products to create a sense of scarcity. Consider these tactics:

Product countdowns: Display the number of items remaining in stock on your website and social media. When they’re gone, they’re gone.
Limited edition products: Create special edition products or bundles that are only available for a limited time.
Sold-out notifications: Let customers know when a product is sold out and encourage them to sign up for a back-in-stock notification.

3. Social Proof:

Nothing powers social media channels quite like seeing other people in your stream enjoying what you want. It’s likely half the people who went to Europe this summer and fall did so only after seeing on Instagram and Facebook how many of their friends and family were enjoying that continent.

“Listen” on the internet for mentions of you and your products/services and show potential customers that others are already enjoying your products and deals. “Everybody is doing it” is not only a reason to do something in high school but also a solid marketing strategy. Never has it been easier to convince others of this.

Customer testimonials: Share positive feedback from satisfied customers on your website and social media.
Social media buzz: Encourage customers to share their photos and experiences with your products using a branded hashtag.
Live sales notifications: Show real-time updates of how many people are purchasing your products. This is also a solid way to entice people to buy online. Go to Goldbelly.com to see it in action.

4. Countdown Timers:

Add a sense of urgency and excitement (aka “Get it in your cart NOW!) by displaying countdown timers on your website and social media. These timers can count down to:

The end of a sale
The launch of a new product
The deadline for free shipping (that’s the question that will be on everyone’s minds in a few days)

5. Exclusive Email Offers:

Build anticipation and encourage repeat purchases by offering exclusive deals and sneak peeks to your email subscribers. They’ll love:

Early access to sales: Give your email subscribers a chance to shop your holiday deals before anyone else.
Free gifts or discounts: Offer a gift or bonus item with purchase to incentivize email sign-ups.
Behind-the-scenes content: Share exclusive content, like holiday gift guides or product sneak peeks, or unboxings with your email list.

Remember, when using FOMO marketing, it's important to be genuine and transparent. Don't create false scarcity or pressure customers into buying something they don't need. You want to drive sales but not at the risk of the customer relationship. Instead, focus on creating a positive and exciting experience that encourages them to engage with your brand and become loyal customers.

Wait. Don’t go yet. I don’t want you to miss these important final tips! (See what I did there?)

Here are three bonus tips for using FOMO marketing during the holidays:

Use strong visuals and language to create a sense of excitement. Use a friendly, casual tone like you’re talking to your good friend.
Promote your FOMO campaigns across multiple channels, including your website, social media, and email marketing. Think of it as a total strategy, not a quick post.
Track your results and adjust your tactics as needed.

By leveraging FOMO effectively, you can drive more traffic, boost sales, and make this holiday season your most successful yet while building excitement among your audience.

This article published by the Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce with permission from Frank Kenney Chamber Pros Community.

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Brain Fog Is Costing Your Business More Than You Think – Here’s How to Clear It

March 9, 2026

For a small business owner, the most critical piece of equipment isn't your laptop, your CRM, or your delivery van—it’s your brain. When you are the visionary, the strategist, and the customer service department, your cognitive clarity determines your bottom line. However, "founder’s fatigue" often leads to the dreaded brain fog: that sluggish, scattered feeling where making a simple decision feels like wading through molasses. Here’s how to optimize your neural hardware for peak performance and clear the fog of overload. You do it for your equipment. You deserve (at least) the same level of care. 1. Master the "Context Switching" Fee Every time you jump from an invoice to a marketing tweet to a customer complaint, your brain pays a switching fee. Research suggests this can lower productivity by up to 40%. The Fix: Time-Batching. Group similar tasks together. Dedicate Tuesday mornings solely to social media content for the month and Thursday afternoons to invoicing. This allows your brain to stay in one "mode" and reduces the cognitive load of pivoting between these very different tasks. 2. Fuel the Biological Machine Your brain represents only 2% of your body weight but consumes about 20% of its energy. If you fuel it with erratic caffeine spikes and skipped lunches, it will underperform. The Fix: Prioritize neuro-protective fats (like Omega-3s) and complex carbohydrates that provide a steady stream of glucose. Most importantly, hydration is non-negotiable; even 2% dehydration can significantly impair tasks that require attention and memory. 3. Implement an "External Brain" Brain fog is often the result of Open Loop Syndrome—the mental exhaustion caused by trying to remember ten different unfinished tasks. Just like on your computer when you have too many tabs open, performance decreases. The Fix: Use a Capture System. Whether you use a digital app or a physical notebook, get every "to-do" or concern out of your head the moment it appears. When your brain knows the information is recorded safely elsewhere, it can stop using energy on that thought, freeing up bandwidth for deep work. 4. Optimize Your Sleep Architecture Sleep isn't just downtime. It’s when your brain’s glymphatic system flushes out metabolic waste (essentially "washing" your brain). For a business owner, a missed hour of sleep is a direct hit to your emotional intelligence and decision-making speed, not to mention it often impacts your personality and desire to do the difficult work. The Fix: View sleep as a non-negotiable business appointment. Aim for a consistent "wind-down" period 30 minutes before bed where screens are banned. Quick Tips for Immediate Fog-Clearing When you hit a wall in the middle of the workday, try these easy pattern interrupters: · The 10-Minute Walk - Increases blood flow to the hippocampus and resets focus. · Box Breathing - Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. Calms the nervous system. · Single-Tasking - Close every tab except the one you’re currently working on. · Cold Exposure - A splash of cold water on the face triggers the diving reflex, slowing heart rate and increasing alertness. You don’t need to work more hours. Instead, make the hours you work more effective. By treating your brain with the same respect you give your business finances or equipment, you'll find that the fog lifts, leaving room for the clarity and innovation that started your business in the first place. Read More: 4 Simple Management Tasks to Make More of Your Limited Time Breaking the Burnout Cycle for Small Business Success Why Having a Hobby is Great for Business -------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She’s the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within and is currently writing a book for burnt-out overachievers entitled, When Great Isn’t Good. _______________________________________ Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinametcalf5