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We're not here to create alarm, but the holiday season is approaching! While it might not seem like it's the moment to begin decorating and bringing cheer to the season, the most joyful time of the year will arrive sooner than you think.
In reality, close to <a href="https://nrf.com/insights/holiday-and-seasonal-trends/winter-holidays/winter-holiday-faqs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">40% of individuals</a> commence their holiday shopping prior to Halloween. This indicates that the present moment is the perfect opportunity to initiate your holiday marketing strategizing. And, of course, what's a strategy without some concepts to experiment with?
Get your sales sizzling with these holiday promotion ideas and marketing campaigns that you can start now or save for later!
<h2>Festive Marketing and Holiday Promotion Ideas in 2023</h2>
Consider implementing these holiday promotion concepts to attract fresh customers, enhance engagement, and position your business for a successful holiday season!
<h3>Offer Discounts</h3>
Yes, it may seem extremely basic and cliched, but it most definitely works. Offering discounts to your customers is the best, easiest, and most effective way to start your festive marketing campaign. The trick in this is to offer discounts that do not affect your business. Create multiple types of promotions based on your products and customer groups. There are multiple types of discounts that you can set up depending on your business. Whether you have a physical store or an online shop, you can set discount offers to appeal to customers and generate revenue.
Some of the most popular discount types are:
<ul>
<li><strong>Fixed discount</strong>: Certain brands and sellers provide vouchers for a set reduction, such as a €10 discount. Coupons are gaining in popularity, with the global mobile coupons market estimated to reach $14.8 trillion by 2027.</li>
<li><strong>Percentage off</strong>: This represents a simple discount that provides customers with a percentage reduction from the cost of a product or an entire order. For instance, a company could provide a 10% discount on all purchases exceeding $50 or extend a 15% discount to customers who sign up for their newsletter.</li>
<li><strong>Role-based pricing</strong>: if you have an online store, <a href="https://woocommerce.com/products/custom-user-defined-pricing-for-woocommerce/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WooCommerce role-based pricing</a> can be a great option for you. It allows you to create different prices for different users depending on their user roles.</li>
<li><strong>Buy one get one free (BOGO)</strong>: This promotion incentivizes customers to make larger purchases than their initial intentions. Companies may provide a complimentary item when another item is purchased, commonly referred to as a "two-for-one" deal.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Give back to your customers</h3>
Generosity is a significant aspect of the holiday season. So, why not express your appreciation to your customers (and motivate them to return!) by offering a complimentary gift, a free guide, or an enjoyable holiday event?
Here are some other holiday promotions you can run as a part of your seasonal marketing efforts:
<ol>
<li><strong>Thank Customers</strong>
If you're limited on resources, expressing gratitude is always an option! Send an email to express your thanks to existing customers and inform them about your holiday events, promotions, or loyalty programs. (Explore these December email subject lines for some inspiration this season!)</li>
<li><strong>Encourage</strong>
Although the holiday season is an enjoyable time, it can also be quite demanding and financially burdensome, especially this year. Customers truly value it when a business makes an extra effort to show some affection to those who support them. Consider offering promotions, giveaways, or branded merchandise designed to assist weary shoppers during their holiday journey. You can even organize an Instagram holiday giveaway to provide additional appreciation to your customers.</li>
<li><strong>Reward</strong>
You have the option to establish holiday-themed reward or loyalty programs that span the entire holiday season. With a surge in shoppers during this time, the enticing allure of a loyalty or rewards program can make a difference in attracting passersby to your store or convincing them to select you over a competitor.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Personalize your website for festive marketing</h3>
The holiday season can account for nearly 30% of a business's annual sales, making it an ideal opportunity for a substantial boost in revenue. Therefore, preparing your website for holiday shoppers can serve as the most effective holiday marketing campaign.
A refreshed homepage design and the incorporation of Christmas holiday themes contribute to heightened engagement, ultimately enhancing the user experience. Enhancing your website can involve introducing certain elements that particularly benefit from a fresh appearance, especially during the holiday season.
Tips to personalize your website for holiday marketing campaigns
<ul>
<li><strong>Emphasize festive CTAs</strong> – Incorporating holiday-inspired calls to action is an excellent way to ignite the shopping spirit among your online customers. Ensure you dedicate time to optimize your CTAs for maximum transactions during the festive season by using the right wording and colors.</li>
<li><strong>Maintain clear messaging</strong> – Your website's messaging should be unequivocal. It should clearly communicate the benefits that customers can enjoy by purchasing your products or services.</li>
<li><strong>Incorporate personalized holiday greetings</strong> – Utilize personalized greeting messages and attention-grabbing elements within the live chat widget to capture the attention of website visitors and encourage them to explore your holiday deals.</li>
<li><strong>Utilize banners and pop-ups</strong> – Create visually appealing banners and pop-ups that provide information about significant site-wide sales or substantial discounts within specific product categories.</li>
<li><strong>Enhance website loading speed</strong> – Even a one-second delay can lead to a 7% decline in conversions. Page loading speed significantly impacts the experience of website visitors, especially during the hectic holiday season.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Arrange a holiday referral contest</h3>
Another fantastic holiday promotion idea is to run a referral contest. Even if you already have a referral program in place, a holiday-themed referral contest can infuse some festive spirit into your referral outreach. Offer an enticing reward to the individual who refers the highest number of customers to your business, and provide smaller prizes for second and third place as well.
During the holiday season, people are actively sharing recommendations on where to find the best deals and the most unique gifts. Seize this opportunity by providing your customers with an extra incentive to spread the word about your business.
<h3>Give early access to VIP customers</h3>
Show your appreciation to your subscribers by offering them exclusive early access deals before the holiday rush begins. This tactic can entice customers to make purchases ahead of the holiday season. Subscribers will feel valued knowing they can access significant discounts before the general public.
Additionally, you can motivate your loyal customers through targeted email campaigns featuring generous discounts exclusively for them. Consider offering exclusive deals to customers who engage by sharing their stories, photos, or reviews. Running early-bird discount promotions on social media can also help generate excitement and anticipation before the official start of the holiday season.
<h3>Collaborate with other businesses</h3>
Another effective holiday promotion strategy that encourages spending during the season is to collaborate with other small businesses. According to Google, 66% of people intend to increase their shopping at local businesses during the holiday season. Facilitate customers' support for local businesses by partnering with others in your community.
This approach works especially well when you team up with businesses that complement each other or naturally align, such as the paper shop and design studio mentioned earlier. For instance, if you own a spa, you could partner with a local wine shop to offer a "spa day and bottle of wine" package. A package like this may entice customers to purchase one for themselves and another as a gift for a friend, ultimately boosting sales for both businesses.
<h3>Do a holiday social media giveaway</h3>
Another enjoyable holiday promotion to consider this season is organizing a social media contest. Facebook giveaways and Instagram contests can be effective in expanding your social media audience. Infuse a holiday theme into your social media contest by offering a unique holiday-related prize, granting winners two prizes (one for them and one for a friend), or creating a delightful holiday experience, such as a carriage ride to view festive lights accompanied by a holiday picnic basket.
Make sure your holiday social media contest post includes:
<ul>
<li>How to enter the contest</li>
<li>When and how winners will be announced</li>
<li>The prize</li>
<li>Anything else you want entrants to know</li>
</ul>
Effective social media contests typically involve encouraging users to follow your business, like your posts, and tag friends. This approach not only helps in growing your social media following but also boosts engagement with your business.
<h3>Turn to video marketing as holiday promotions</h3>
Incorporating video into your holiday marketing strategy is highly beneficial for several reasons:
<ul>
<li><strong>Effective Communication</strong>: Video is an excellent medium for conveying holiday messages. It allows you to evoke emotions, tell stories, and create a more immersive experience for your audience.</li>
<li><strong>Brand Promotion</strong>: Video marketing enables you to promote your overall brand identity, not just specific products or services. This helps in building a stronger and more lasting connection with your audience.</li>
<li><strong>Increased Order Value</strong>: Video campaigns have been proven to boost average order values. When done effectively, they can encourage customers to make larger purchases, which is particularly valuable during the holiday season.</li>
<li><strong>Influence on Purchase Decisions</strong>: A significant percentage of consumers (64%) have reported that watching a marketing video on platforms like Facebook has influenced their purchase decisions. Video content has the power to sway consumer choices.</li>
<li><strong>Holiday-Specific Messaging</strong>: Incorporating holiday-specific messaging into your video campaigns is crucial. It aligns your brand with the festive spirit and can lead to higher engagement rates. For example, QuickFrame Video Intelligence saw up to a 58% higher engagement rate during the holiday season when they used holiday messaging in their social video ads.</li>
</ul>
In summary, video marketing during the holidays is a powerful tool for conveying your brand message, increasing sales, and connecting with your audience on a deeper level.
<h3>Offer free shipping</h3>
For online retailers or businesses that offer online ordering, the idea of providing free shipping during the holidays can be a game-changer. Free shipping is a significant incentive for customers and can be the deciding factor in whether they choose to order from your business or a competitor. If offering free shipping for every order isn't feasible, you can still make it attractive by running limited-time promotions for free shipping or setting a minimum spend amount that benefits both your business and your customers. To achieve this more smoothly, you can use the <a href="https://woocommerce.com/products/free-shipping-bar-for-woocommerce/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WooCommerce free shipping over amount</a> plugin.
<h3>Implement a holiday PPC campaign to increase website traffic</h3>
If you're seeking a holiday marketing campaign that can swiftly position your business in front of searchers, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is an excellent choice. Whether individuals are searching for the ideal gift or seeking information on home repair services, it's evident that people rely heavily on search engines during the holiday season. Therefore, ensuring your presence with a search ads campaign is essential for capturing the attention of these holiday shoppers.
PPC campaigns are a valuable tool for positioning your business in front of customers actively searching for your products or services. How does it work? Through customized search campaigns on platforms like Google and Bing! However, it's crucial to remember that there's no one-size-fits-all solution in the realm of search marketing.
<h3>Grow your audience with Facebook advertising</h3>
During the holiday season, social connections extend beyond parties and gatherings. It's essential to prioritize social media with a two-pronged approach: organic posts to build community and boost awareness for your business, and a paid campaign to reach a new audience.
Start by expanding your audience through Facebook ads that utilize compelling messaging to target potential customers and clients. This approach can help you attract new and interested individuals to your business during this festive time of year.
<ul>
<li>Educational videos that explain your business differentiators.</li>
<li>Posts highlighting sales, end-of-year deals, and anything else you’re offering.</li>
<li>“Unboxing” content that allows people to see your products/business up close.</li>
<li>Reviews praising your services, employees, and business.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Final thoughts on the festive marketing campaigns</h2>
The holiday season offers a unique opportunity to forge a deep emotional bond with your target audience. To capitalize on this, consider a multifaceted approach.
Start by segmenting your customers, allowing you to create highly personalized campaigns that resonate with their specific preferences and behaviors. Next, craft content and campaigns that are not only engaging but also easily shareable across various platforms, encouraging your audience to spread the word about your brand and holiday offerings. Lastly, maintain consistency in your messaging and deals across all your marketing channels, fostering trust and recognition among your audience. By employing these strategies, you'll position your business for maximum success during the upcoming holiday season while simultaneously building enduring emotional connections with your customers.