8 Holiday Marketing Tips for Your Business
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The holiday season is the time of year that businesses can be made or broken. Many businesses, such as retail, depend heavily on the holiday season that runs mid-November through New Year’s Day. This is one time of year that you should not skimp on the marketing! The holidays make marketing so much fun – the contests, the deals, the relevant engagement – everyone needs to get into the spirit!
Here are some of the holiday marketing facts (source: Constant Contact):
- 20 to 40 percent of yearly sales for small and mid-sized retailers take place within the last two months of the year. (National Retail Federation)
- 38 percent of consumers are likely to shop on Thanksgiving Day. (Accenture)
- Holiday spending is expected to increase by 11 percent in 2013. (Experian)
- Online sales will increase by 15.1 percent in 2013. (eMarketer)
- Nearly half of consumers plan to buy holiday gifts online this year. (Google)
- 66 percent of 2012 Black Friday purchases were the result of a social media interaction. (Mr Youth)
- 64 percent of respondents said they have bought a product because of something they saw on Twitter. (Twitter)
- 55 percent of Twitter users discuss gift ideas on Twitter & 62 percent of shoppers Tweet about purchases they’ve made. (Twitter)
- 64.8 percent of shoppers use social media to find the perfect gift. (Crowdtap)
- 67 percent of consumers have purchased a gift they saw on social media. (Crowdtap)
Now that you know the facts, how does that factor in to your marketing plan? Here are 8 tips to help…
1. Get festive! You want your business/brand to be relevant, so that means “decorating” your social media accounts! Change out your Facebook cover photo to something Christmasy (if you celebrate that) or have your Twitter background be a field covered with snow. Show the world that you are ready for the holidays.
2. Post interactive content. Ask questions each week, share favorite holiday memories. Connect with your market on an emotional level and get to know them.
3. Give sneak peeks. People like to have exclusivity. If you are offering a deal in your brick and mortar store, offer it to your social media fans or email list a day early. If you are debuting a new product or service, leave bread crumbs so they are hungry for it when you debut it.
4. Offer a discount or special deal. You do not have to do this to be successful, but sometimes this will help you convert those browsers into customers. It can something for Black Friday or Cyber Monday. It could be a month-long discount on a product or service.
5. Utilize your email list! Your email list is almost like gold. These are people who have said they want emails from you – use this wisely! Segment it and send carefully crafted messages. Send email list-only deals. You have a captive audience, so make the most of it!
6. Give back. I believe all businesses should donate to charity (whether it’s time or money). During the holiday season, share what you support or support something new. Do boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Donate to Toys for Tots. Adopt a local foster child. Take a group of your employees and do a shift at a local soup kitchen. Show that you are more than a business and that you truly care and want to give back.
7. Use some traditional marketing. You will always have a segment of your market that is not online. Make sure to infuse your online holiday marketing plan with some aspects of traditional.
8. Have fun. It is the holidays after all. Show some holiday cheer and have fun with your fans and those who come into your office/store.
Are you ready for the holiday season? What tips would you share?
