Year after year, consumers are bombarded with hundreds of holiday marketing messages. So, how can your company stand out and create a successful holiday marketing campaign?
We discuss some of the best tips to follow that will help your holiday marketing message stand out and make an impact with your target consumers.
Get the Timing Right
Consumers look forward to the cheer of the holiday season all year long, but blasting them with holiday marketing messages about sales or new products too far in advance will take all of the excitement out of the end of the year and only add annoyance. However, companies still want to get their message out with enough time to make an impression on consumers and give them enough time to make purchasing decisions.
A great option is to begin promoting your campaign about one-to-two months before the actual event, and continue to mix up the messaging to make sure it doesn’t get tired. Adding words like “coming up,” “happening now” and “last chance” are all ways to express the same excitement and importance at different stages of the campaign.
Incorporate Meaningful Messages
For most companies, the goal of a holiday marketing campaign is to increase sales, brand awareness or company engagement. However, consumers are commonly less receptive to messaging that is all about the deal. People react well to “realness,” so a message from a heating and cooling company encouraging consumers to update their furnace to ensure they can stay warm and cozy with the family this holiday is much more enticing than simply announcing furnace price reductions. It’s important to communicate the emotional benefits as well as the rational.
Holiday marketing messages not meant to drive sales can still succeed in creating customer loyalty and brand recognition. Find ways to be creative and personal when wishing your customers a happy holiday. Depending on the nature of your business, something as simple as an email with a warm holiday message can be just as effective as sending out a personalized gift. Think about what approach best fits your business and brand and go from there.
Don’t Forget About Digital
Whether much of your sales come from e-commerce or not, it is important to have your online marketing efforts match flawlessly with your direct marketing strategies. Consumers tend to conduct online research about companies, products, sales and more before taking action or making a purchase. If your company website doesn’t reflect what your holiday marketing messaging is saying – or if the website is of poor quality – your marketing efforts might go to waste. Keep your website up-to-date and optimized to ensure a seamless transition from marketing message to website for your users.
Use Social Media to Engage Customers
Sharing all of your holiday marketing messaging on social media is one of the best ways to engage and expose your customers to your message. If you send your customers or clients holiday gifts, encourage them to post and share photos online and tag the company. If you’re featuring a holiday sale, create an incentive around someone getting the most likes or shares on a post to receive extra discounts. There are many ways social media strategies can be incorporated into your messaging to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction and help boost your sales.
Whether your strategy is to increase product sales, promote a specific sale, or simply thank your customers and wish them a happy holiday, it’s best to create the best holiday marketing campaign possible. Sending out meaningful messaging at the appropriate time in the appropriate fashion is key in making sure your campaign, and your company in general, resonates in the minds of your consumers.
The season is upon us, so be sure to contact the team at GREENCREST with any questions you may have about your holiday marketing messaging!