As October comes to a close, the holiday season is upon the marketing industry. Consumers everywhere know what that means: the iconic Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas displays, Macy’s holiday day parade, Starbucks’ holiday cups, and a worldwide shopping frenzy to score on black Friday and other seasonal deals to find the perfect Holiday gift.
Brands need to be competitive while remaining mindful of the consumer: the holidays are not the same across cultures, and marketing plays a crucial role in promoting a brand’s inclusivity efforts.
We have compiled a list of do’s and don’t for successful holiday marketing campaigns
DO’s
Define Your Flavor: What’s the essence of your campaign? Should it be aspirational, emotional, funny, or daring? Once you’ve chosen a theme, center all your marketing objectives around it. This helps you pinpoint your target audience and channel your efforts effectively.
Stay Goal-Oriented: How many leads should your campaign generate, and by when? For what product or topic? Regardless of your campaign’s direction, it should be aligned with your brand’s overarching message.
Unleash Creativity: Step away from the traditional holiday marketing playbook and dare to embrace creativity!
Create a Content Calendar: Plan your holiday content ahead of time. A well-organized content calendar can help you maintain consistency and ensure you don’t miss any dates or events.
Leverage User-Generated Content: Encourage customers to share their holiday experiences with your products or services. User-generated content adds authenticity to your brand and fosters a sense of community.
Offer Personalization: Tailor your marketing messages and offers to individual customer preferences. Personalization can significantly boost engagement and conversion rates.
Use Social Media: Make the most of social platforms to engage with your audience. Run holiday-themed contests, share behind-the-scenes content, and leverage influencer collaborations.
Say thank you! Show appreciation to your customers with thank-you messages, exclusive offers, or small gestures of gratitude. It fosters a positive brand perception.
DON’Ts
Don’t forget to proceed cautiously: the holidays don’t follow a one-size-fits-all model, and speaking to diverse audiences, your brand should keep inclusivity in mind.
Don’t overwhelm your customers with promotional emails; this is a turn-off for potential buyers.
Don’t neglect mobile users, and make sure your holiday campaign is friendly across all your communication channels.
Steer Clear of Last-Minute Rush: Start your holiday marketing preparations early. Waiting until the last minute can result in rushed, less effective campaigns.
Don’t forget about the Post-Holiday season: After the holiday season, continue to engage with your customers. Share post-holiday content, offer promotions for returning customers, and keep the festive spirit alive as long as possible.
Here are some great Holiday Marketing campaigns that got it right to give you some inspiration.
Apple’s “Share Your Gifts”: Apple’s holiday campaign for 2018, “Share Your Gifts,” focused on encouraging creativity and sharing personal talents with the world. The heartwarming animated short film was a central piece of this campaign.
John Lewis & Partners’ Christmas Adverts: Each year, John Lewis & Partners, a UK-based retailer, releases highly anticipated holiday advertisements. These ads are known for their emotional storytelling and have become an integral part of the UK’s Christmas culture.
REI’s “Opt Outside”: Outdoor retailer REI has gained attention by closing its stores on Black Friday and encouraging customers to spend the day outdoors instead. The “Opt Outside” campaign promotes the idea of experiencing the holidays in nature.
Hershey’s “Bells, Bells, Bells”: Hershey’s created a memorable holiday campaign with their classic “Bells, Bells, Bells” commercial, featuring the unmistakable ringing of Hershey’s Kisses in a festive arrangement.
Amazon’s “Give a Little Bit”: In 2020, Amazon’s holiday campaign focused on acts of kindness and giving back. The “Give a Little Bit” campaign highlighted the spirit of generosity during the holiday season.
At Hylink, we believe that the Holidays are a time to focus your marketing efforts on creating memorable customer experiences. Our teams are here to help you develop a seamless holiday campaign that resonates with your brand’s message from start to finish.