Let's talk holiday marketing!
Brands are starting to plan now. If you still need to plan your holiday marketing, you're in for a ride. Let's talk about why it's important to plan now, a few ideas to incorporate, and the importance of a timeline.
It might seem unthinkable - the task of strategizing your holiday marketing plan while sweat is still dripping from your forehead to your toes and fighting for a pool chair is your weekend activity - but the reality is, it’s time. Holiday marketing is crucial; to have the best strategy, you must start planning today.
Here are some of our best tips to capture your consumers this holiday season.
Create a content calendar. Now
Repeat after us - content calendar is king. Having a detailed calendar lets you know exactly what content will be posted during the holiday season. Scheduling it in advance allows you to make your list, check it twice, and cross things off before the season officially begins.
There are many platform options where you can schedule posts now and have them go out in November and December. A few of our favorites are Agorapulse, Loomly, and Later. To take some of the pressure off, you can create infographics and posts today so you don’t have to scramble to pull something together in the heat of the gift-wrapping season.
Be strategic
What do you want your holiday promotions to look like this year? Will you be offering discounts, flash sales, or hosting a giveaway? Thinking about this now will make it much easier for you to be prepared as the shopping season draws closer. If you start teasing your big sale at the end of the summer, consumers will make mental notes and be more aware of your brand as they begin to think about their upcoming purchases.
If you’re considering partnering with content creators, now is the time. Setting up partnerships takes time. From shipping products to content production, starting now will give you ample time to set these relationships up for success.
Create holiday gift guides
Posting gift guides highlighting your product makes your consumers see what you are selling as the perfect gift. Make your customer know what you sell is a fantastic gift to give or receive!
This is also an opportunity to highlight a target audience for your product. Call out a specific demographic - like “Dads who love to be outside” - and someone who has been on the hunt for a gift for that person will thank you!
Plan Your Social Media Campaign
Incorporate your offerings, partnerships, gift guides, and content calendar into a single holiday social media campaign. This is the perfect opportunity to create a hashtag to encapsulate your brand and holiday offerings. Don’t be afraid to be creative and think outside the box! A couple of things to think about - do you want your campaign to evoke nostalgia? Or perhaps you want it to have more of a sense of humor. Either way, give it a thought and make sure it ties back to your brand voice.
Keep it visual
The holiday season is busy and overwhelming. People don’t have the time or the patience to fork through pages of an email newsletter or read an overcrowded Instagram caption. Pair down the main message of your promotion and keep it visual and simple.
Dig into nostalgia
Holidays are a time of tradition and family. Use old-school holiday music in the background of your Instagram stories and use clipart of beloved holiday characters in your email newsletters to create a sense of warmth and community.
Some dates to think about and prepare for
Black Friday is November 24th, 2023
Small Business Saturday is November 25th, 2023
Cyber Monday is November 27th, 2023
Hannukah, December 20th, 2023
Christmas is December 25th, 2023
These dates mark the beginning of the Holiday shopping season for many people. Ensure you are at the forefront of buyers' decision-making by getting your deals and promotions ahead of time.
It may seem overwhelming, but following these tips will create a fantastic marketing campaign this holiday season! What are some of your favorite holiday marketing tips and tricks? Share with us because we‘d love to hear from you!
Need help with the holiday szn? We’ve got you! Head over to the contact form to get in touch today!