The holidays will soon be here, so it’s time to start thinking about holiday marketing. Cyber Monday and Black Friday are just around the corner.
The most important thing about holiday marketing campaigns is to plan. Campaign success is dependent on planning.
You can overcome shipping delays, supply chain hiccups, and limited shipping capacities by planning. This means that you need to plan your marketing strategy now. Here are 10 tips for holiday marketing.
#1: Audit your previous holiday campaigns
If something worked last year, there’s no need to recreate the wheel. You don’t have to duplicate something that did not give you the best ROI. Auditing your holiday campaigns is the first step in creating your marketing strategy.
Keep the good stuff, discard the bad ones, and try to improve on ideas that have had moderate success. We loved creating holiday campaigns for The Dogist in support of their 2019 e-commerce launch. To generate +80% sales growth and +1200 email subscribers, we used email marketing and social media advertising.
This year, we are working with The Dogist once again and found that reviewing our past efforts was a great way to plan for our current and future efforts to support them during the holiday season.
#2: Keep It Simple
Keep your holiday campaigns simple for a few reasons. It is simpler for you and requires fewer resources. Focus on the channels and platforms that your buyers are most likely.
The second is to ensure that customers don’t get mixed messages or are confused. Simpler campaigns are easier for customers and potential customers to identify and associate with your brand. Holiday marketing is simple.
#3: Be flexible and ready to adapt
E-Commerce is constantly changing. Shipping capacity can change over time. Changes in travel restrictions, supply chain changes, and other factors could mean that your campaign promises may not be fulfilled.
Flexibility is key to being able to adapt your message to changing times and find ways to communicate clearly with potential buyers in a way that inspires loyalty.
#4: Influencer marketing is a good idea
Keep your brand in mind and ask the following questions:
- Do you know of any influencers who could and would spread the word about your brand to others?
- They will reach potential customers.
- Are you able to afford the marketing plan necessary to bring them on board?
- Is there a micro-influencer who can bring the same or even more value to your business than a major influencer?
Explore all options and consider adding influencer marketing to your campaigns.
#5: Influence early marketing
Another method that is highly effective for holiday marketing is influence marketing, or earned media. This process must be started early and not wait for the holiday season. What is influence marketing? Influence marketing is PR or media attention that your brand earns by offering something of unique value to the public. This is often something you will share on your blog.
It could be the results of a survey you did or had done with consumers, or an innovative product or partnership that you established that is noteworthy. This type of marketing can make a big impact. Although it is more expensive initially, the long-term ROI is usually higher than other marketing efforts.
#6: Get ready for the competition
Prepare. Every marketing opportunity is crowded with more brands trying to grab consumers’ attention. You must be unique to make your brand stand out. This includes your messaging, offers, and the frequency and style of your emails and communications. Be unique, creative, and true to yourself and your brand.
#7: Show a true sense of urgency
We all know what it means to receive an email or message that gives the impression of urgency. When words like “last chance” or “never again sold” are repeated too often, they lose their validity. Your customers stop believing in you. Give your customers a reason to act now. To get people to buy, you can use shipping times, production times, and other real problems.
#8: Timing is the Key
What week is it before Cyber Monday or Black Friday? It is time to increase your email marketing. If each email contains a unique offer, it’s fine to send more emails than usual. Emails with the same offers every day are quickly ignored or sent to junk mail. For the best open rates, time your emails, create unique offers, and don’t send too many messages or emails. Emails that are too often a top reason for unsubscribing are a common problem. Don’t give potential customers any reason to stop receiving your emails.
#9: Target and Retarget
Keep in mind your customers who are already on your website. You may be able to target them and their audiences if you have their email addresses. Cross-platform tracking data is not lost. Target customers who have previously interacted with your brand and retarget customers who may purchase again.
#10: Genuinely Partner With a Nonprofit
It is often a great way for you to expand your reach and increase sales by partnering with a nonprofit. Your partnership must be genuine. You should partner with a nonprofit that you are passionate about and that aligns with your customer base’s values. Don’t be ashamed to give and show genuine gratitude.
