Tips for Ramping Up Your Marketing for the Holiday Season
As we ease into the month of October, we start to see stores fill their shelves with holiday décor and we all think? Its only October is it really that time of year again?! For most of us, the temperatures are still just a little below 90 degrees and we can’t even think about the holiday season. In the marketing world, we want to make it very clear that YES! It is that time of year again and it’s so important that you have a marketing strategy in the plan for the holiday season. For just about every business, sales skyrocket during this time of the year and having a powerful marketing plan will help to maximize sales. We have some tips to help ramp up your marketing for the holiday season.
Tip #1: Get in the spirit with content
If you are familiar with the latest trends in marketing or keep up with our blogs, you may be aware of how important content is. Companies are competing to create the most innovative, original content so they keep their audience engaged. The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to catch your audience’s eye.
Perhaps it’s the holiday cheer that catches consumers’ eyes but something about incorporating holiday spirit in your content boosts engagement! Including holiday content gives you the chance to personalize your messages.
Most companies offer some sort of special during the holiday season. If you are offering free shipping, in-store pickup, sales or discounts- don’t be afraid to be clear that these are all holiday specials. If you’re sending out your monthly e-newsletters include “holiday specials” in the subject line or title. Include all of your holiday specials in your social media posts. Be loud and proud when it comes to your holiday-specific content.
Tip #2: Don’t compare during the holiday months
We can’t reiterate how important it is to analyze your marketing efforts. If you don’t keep track of your marketing efforts, you would never know exactly what is successful in your marketing strategy and what is not. However, during the holiday months, results are always skewed. For example, your sales will not look the same in July as they do in December. With that being said, holiday marketing requires you to create new measurable goals for your holiday-specific content.
Tip #3: Build Relationships with New Customers
Keep in mind that during the holiday season, you will get new and different customers. While you will still have your loyal, consistent customers, you will most likely attract new customers. The holiday season is great for the increase in sales, but you need to recognize all the new business the holiday season is bringing. It’s a chance to grow your customer base. What’s your plan to keep these new customers that the holiday season has dragged in?
We suggest giving them an incentive to join your e-newsletter, or if they follow you on social media. But don’t forget your loyal customers! Offer them some sort of exclusive offer to make them feel like a valued customer.
Tip #4: Start early
Whether you think October is too soon to begin your holiday marketing or not, you should be sending out your holiday crafted messages three or four weeks before the start of the holiday season.
We know what you’re thinking – That is SO soon. Don’t panic. With a team of marketing experts on your side, you can have a holiday marketing strategy set up in no time! We are not telling you to bombard your audience’s inbox with tons of messages each day but gradually increase as the holiday season approaches.
Tip #5: Test New Channels
If you have been wanting to expand your reach and haven’t had the chance to test new channels, the holiday season is a great opportunity. Your holiday content will attract customers from all over. If you have had good luck with Facebook but have been hesitant to try other channels such as Instagram, this may be your chance.
Tip #6: Craft Holiday Themed Messages
If you are going to take advantage of the holiday season for your content creation, why not go all out? In addition to crafting holiday messages, use holiday templates and graphics. It’s not unusual to see websites change during the holiday season. While changing your website theme may require a lot of effort, changing your email campaigns and social media graphics to make them more festive is simple and quick.
Tip #7: Take Advantage of The Time
Have you ever noticed a consumer consistently visiting your site but not make a purchase? Maybe they even added a product to their online cart and never pulled the trigger and actually made the purchase. Well, the holiday season is the perfect time to give your buyers the push they need to make the purchase.
Offering a discount will attract many people and will encourage them to take advantage of the limited time offer. Taking advantage of time and creating urgency will help to boost sales because no one will want to miss out on the limited time offer.
Tip #8: Host a contest
Social media is booming with contests during the holiday season. Have you ever wondered why? Most people are more likely to make a purchase during the holiday season, especially from companies they have never purchased before. The holiday season is a great chance to grow your following and increase web traffic to your site.
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and you don’t want to be the business that scrambles the last minute for a holiday marketing strategy. If you want to make the most of this holiday season by growing your following, boosting sales, and increasing website traffic, now is the time to work with a team of marketing experts. Whether you have a marketing strategy in place but want to enhance it for the holiday season or if you don’t have a marketing strategy in place at all and want to start out strong with a holiday marketing strategy, contact our team at Joseph Studios so we can help create a powerful marketing strategy to help you reach your goals this holiday season.
