During the holiday season, consumers tend to increase their spending, making it a crucial period for companies and brands. As a result, a significant portion of annual sales occurs by the year’s end. In recent years, the online marketing and sales landscape has become increasingly competitive. Even though it’s mid-December, there’s still ample time to enhance your holiday marketing efforts. Here are some tips that could prove beneficial.
Give gift suggestions
A significant number of individuals postpone gift purchases until the final moments. Aid them by offering gift suggestions on your website, eCommerce platforms, and through email communications. Incorporate compelling calls to action, such as “Buy Now,” and include shoppable links directing them to your website. For a more personalized touch, tailor your gift recommendations based on their past purchases or items in their shopping cart. Consider providing discounts and incentives for bundled purchases
Incentivize customer loyalty
Although pursuing new customers is a prudent strategy, it’s important to recognize that loyal and repeat shoppers remain the backbone of your sales. Therefore, don’t underestimate their value. Instead, maintain a connection with them and provide special incentives, such as an exclusive preview of a new product or a substantial discount.
Offer free shipping
Offering a free shipping promotion is a smart move at any time of the year. However, it becomes particularly crucial during the holiday season, given the substantial volume of items shoppers purchase. When providing free shipping, ensure that it’s prominently displayed – even emphasized – in your marketing materials. Highlight it in every social media post and every email you send to customers
Use video marketing
A well-executed one-minute video can significantly enhance your marketing campaign. Connect with your customers on an emotional level by launching a heartwarming short video with a relevant message. Humanize your company by featuring some of your employees and having them share their cherished holiday memories. The key is to leverage video marketing to establish your brand’s authenticity and provide customers with a compelling reason to choose your products
Prioritize customer success
Achieving customer success implies that your shoppers can attain their desired outcomes when utilizing your products and services. A well-crafted customer success plan guarantees that all your customers will come back to you for their holiday shopping. After all, they would prefer to gift their friends and family with a product that has been proven and tested this Christmas.
Help out and be a holiday partner
The holidays can be hectic and stressful for most customers. A good marketing strategy is taking some of the load off your shoppers. It can be a liquor delivery service with free recommendations. It can also be a free gift-wrapping service when you buy gift bundles or a minimum number of items
Utilize paid social
The festive season presents an optimal opportunity to allocate resources to paid social media channels such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. As customers seek ways to sidestep the holiday rush, maintaining visibility on social media can significantly benefit your marketing strategy. Tailor your ads to align with the preferences of your target audience and the specific platform on which they are displayed. Thoroughly analyze your customers’ preferences, interests, and previous purchasing history. Implement best practices when designing your ads.
Engage and encourage discussions
You can ask questions on your social media and let your customers react. It can be as simple as “what do you want for Christmas?” or nostalgic, like “what holiday dish from childhood do you miss the most?” When customers comment, make sure to respond gleefully and acknowledge their answers. If there are negative comments, make sure to respond as well. Deleting or leaving comments unanswered will give a negative impression.
Let your online shoppers “see” your products
A common challenge in online shopping is the desire for additional item visuals. While a physical showroom allows customers to closely inspect items during in-person shopping, for the online shopping experience, you can introduce a “webroom.” This virtual space enables customers to view the item from multiple angles. If your platform is built on Shopify, you have the option to incorporate this feature into your Shopify development. This way, customers gain a more comprehensive understanding of their purchase, allowing, for instance, a detailed view of the fabric for clothing items.
Final thoughts
Level up your marketing efforts for the holiday season. It’s not too late – many customers are last-minute shoppers, so take this chance to get your brand out there for them to notice. Follow the tips above to increase your chances.
