Now that we are in the final months of this year, many people are excitedly anticipating the holidays and traditions we celebrate during this season. Holidays are not just about family and friends and long-honored traditions, they are also a prime time to employ holiday-themed marketing strategies to extend your reach and connect with new and old customers.
Is holiday-themed marketing all that it’s cracked up to be? We think it is. According to KeywordsEverywhere, “Holiday Marketing Campaigns” gets 1600 searches per month, revealing that marketers are looking to use holiday campaigns to boost sales and reach.
How to use holiday-themed marketing
The opportunity for creativity during the holiday season is tremendous, you can use holiday-themed marketing to offer customers:
- Personalized experiences
- Exclusive offers
- Holiday-themed content
- Charitable partnerships
- In-person or online holiday events
Personalized experiences make customers feel special and seen (a treat in today’s automated world). Using your customers’ names in an email, message, or mailed holiday card thanking them for their loyalty and support can make a big difference.
Exclusive offers can make anyone’s day—discounts, sales, lower membership prices, and customer gifts are a way you can treat your customers and add to the good opinion they already have of your business.
Holiday-themed content is eye-catching and stands apart from your content during the rest of the year. You can use festive phrases, inside jokes, and traditions to engage your customers’ sense of humor.
Charitable partnerships are a beautiful way to give back, connect with a larger community, and communicate your values to your customers. Partnering with a charitable organization and donating a portion of your sales and services, or creating built-in giving opportunities for your customers is a win-win to spread the love and your brand awareness.
Hosting a holiday party on location or virtually is an excellent way to connect with your customers, offer prizes and discounts, and get the word out about your business.
Where to use holiday-themed marketing
You can use holiday-themed marketing everywhere:
- Social media platforms
- Email campaigns
- Mailing list
- Pay-per-click ads
- Blog and website
Social media platforms are more fun during the holiday season, and your business can be a part of that. Customers enjoy festive graphics, videos, and ads during the holidays. Make sure your advertising is consistent across all platforms, if you share special promotions or offers for your business, keep the graphics and message clear and consistent.
Email lists have great potential during the holidays. 68 percent of customers pay more attention to holiday-themed emails. Communicate about offers, events, charitable partnerships, or even a simple “thank you” to your faithful customers and well wishes for their holiday season.
Mailing materials have staying power that digital advertisements do not. A customer may scroll past your Instagram ad a few seconds after viewing it, but a beautiful holiday card in the mail may make it to their refrigerator door or kitchen counter. Using both digital and physical advertising materials covers all the bases.
Begin your holiday search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns as early as possible. This will help you rank higher in search results during the peak time when customers spend money during the holidays.
Holiday-themed blog posts are a great time to share more about the heart of your business, customer base, and review past victories or achievements. You can also promote special events/sales, charitable partnerships, and cast vision for the upcoming year.
Make a connection
Marketing is the act of satisfying and retaining customers, and this is never more possible than during the holiday season. Customers have more open hearts, minds, and yes, wallets during this season, and you want your business to become a part of their holidays.
Holiday-themed marketing is powerful and full of opportunities for your business. And let’s be honest…it’s just fun. Happy holidays!
JRS Mar/Com is a leading marketing and communications agency dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that drive business growth. With a commitment to excellence and a focus on emerging technologies, JRS Mar/Com empowers businesses to achieve their marketing goals in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
