Holiday Marketing 101: What, Why and How?
Everyone loves the holidays, including marketers. Surprised, why? Because it's a golden opportunity for marketers to connect with new users and engage existing users with their products and services. But getting users' attention during the holidays is as difficult as herding cats during fireworks shows.
However, if you follow the right techniques, you have a favourable chance of engaging users even on holidays. Leave all the worries behind and get ready with us to learn more about holiday marketing. What it is, why it is important, and how it works—everything is covered in this blog.
Let's get started!
What is Holiday Marketing?
Holiday marketing refers to the strategic efforts and campaigns that businesses undertake to engage users during holiday seasons and cultural and religious celebrations.
The purpose of this type of marketing is to promote the products and services of a company. Further, the business or company can use multiple channels to connect with their customers.
Why is Holiday Marketing Important?
Holiday marketing is crucial for businesses across various industries. These holidays can include major events like Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's, Halloween, Valentine's Day, and others, depending on the cultural context.
Here are five reasons why holiday marketing is important:
1. Increased consumer spending:
During holidays, people tend to be in a more festive and giving mood. They like to buy gifts, decorate their homes, and more on special occasions. By aligning with the marketing calendar for 2024, businesses can start by sending warm New Year wishes.
The festive season sees a significant rise in consumer spending, presenting a prime opportunity for businesses. To make the most of this, consider offering special promotions, discounts, or exclusive holiday-themed products.
This approach not only attracts customers but also boosts overall sales, capitalising on the heightened holiday spirit.
2. Heightened consumer engagement:
Holidays create a sense of community and celebration. In such times, businesses can also tap into this by creating engaging and festive marketing campaigns. To simplify the process, consider utilising automated messaging services like Notifly. This platform enables you to schedule notifications for any desired date, streamlining your holiday marketing efforts.
Ensure these campaigns resonate with your target audience. Especially by creating interactive and visually appealing content that can capture consumers' attention. Further, it also encourages them to interact with the brand.
3. Building brand loyalty:
Holiday marketing provides an opportunity to strengthen the emotional connection between a brand and its customers. When a brand connects with positive holiday moments, it helps build strong loyalty from customers.
This could mean sending special holiday messages, giving rewards to loyal customers, or showing the brand's values by doing good things during the festive season.
4. Competitive advantage:
During the holidays, lots of businesses launch special deals and marketing efforts. This makes the market more competitive.
Getting involved in holiday marketing helps a business stay competitive and stand out from others. It's a way to grab attention in a busy marketplace. Creating unique and creative campaigns can make a brand different and catch the eye of consumers amid all the competition.
5. Seasonal trends and themes:
Holidays often come with specific themes and trends that resonate with consumers. So, adapt marketing strategies to align with these themes. This will allow businesses to stay relevant and connect with their audience on a more personal level.
Further, tailoring products, services, and content to fit the holiday spirit can make a brand more relatable and appealing.
How to Prepare for Holiday Marketing Campaigns?
How do you plan your holiday campaign? There can be different ways, but to start with, you can follow these steps:
1. Prepare a plan:
Outline your holiday marketing strategy. Define your goals, target audience, and key messages you want to convey during the holiday and festive seasons.
2. Identify marketing channels:
Choose the platforms where you'll promote your holiday campaign. This could include social media, email marketing, online ads, or even traditional methods, depending on your audience.
3. Gather your audience data:
Understand your audience by collecting relevant data. This information can help you tailor your campaign to meet the specific needs and preferences of your customers.
4. Create a marketing campaign (SMS or email):
When pressed for time to create campaigns, opt for SMS or email marketing. Develop engaging content tailored to your chosen channels. Whether through festive emails or SMS messages, make sure your content captures the holiday spirit while staying true to your brand.
5. Launch the campaign at the right date:
Timing is crucial. Launch your holiday marketing campaign at the optimal date to maximise its impact. Consider the lead time required for your audience to engage and make purchases during the holiday season.
Maximise Your Impact: Post-Holiday Marketing Strategies
There's no strict rule about creating campaigns only during holidays or festivals. Even if Christmas has passed, the approaching New Year offers opportunities for post-holiday marketing campaigns. The key is to ensure that your campaigns are effective and resonate with your audience. Start early, concentrate on your targeted audience, and run campaigns designed to yield results.
