As the leaves change color and the air turns crisp, we approach the most magical time of year: the holiday season. While it may seem premature to start planning, now is the strategic moment for businesses to embrace the excitement and cater to the demands of their valued customers. To ensure a seamless and successful holiday season, we have compiled a list of crucial considerations to help you prepare your business for the festivities ahead:

1. Start Early & Strategize

Timing is everything. Planning your holiday strategy ensures you’re not scrambling at the last minute. Evaluate last year’s performance, set goals, and make sure your marketing goals are locked in.

2. Consider Holiday Promotions

• TIPS: 
  • Set Clear (SMART) Goals: Decide if your focus is increasing sales, boosting brand awareness, or acquiring new customers. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound—for example, a goal to increase holiday sales by 20% over the previous year. Learn more about SMART goals here. 
  • Implement a Plan: Create a detailed plan for your holiday promotions, including when they start and end and your specific goals for each promotion. This will help you track your results and measure the success of your marketing efforts.

Customers are actively searching for deals during this time. Service providers and retailers can capture attention through seasonal promotions, exclusive discounts, and themed bundles. Retailers should consider offering early-bird specials or last-minute rush deals to cover different shopping behaviors.

• TIPS:
  • Christmas is a great holiday to excite your customers with promotions, such as “12 Days of Deals,” during which a different product or service is discounted each day.
  • Promote gift cards as last-minute options or offer loyalty rewards for purchases made during the holiday season, encouraging repeat business.

3. Improve Your Customer’s Experience

To make shopping easier and more enjoyable, offer free shipping, quick turnaround times for service providers, or easy return policies. A personal touch goes a long way—think about using customized email campaigns to send special holiday greetings and offers.

• TIPS:
  • Prepare your customer service team for increased inquiries and consider extending return windows for holiday shoppers, e.g., offering returns through January to ease customer anxiety.
  • Offer limited-time holiday packaging or exclusive holiday products. For example, Starbucks releases seasonal cups and drinks every holiday to create urgency and excitement.
  • When planning your holiday email campaigns, focus on unique customer engagement approaches. Consider segmenting your email lists to tailor messages to specific customer groups based on their interests. Offer early access to your most loyal customers and create a “Holiday Gift Guide” for your email subscribers, providing personalized recommendations and inspiration for holiday shopping.

4. Maximize Your Online Presence

Ensure your website is optimized for high-traffic and mobile users. Approximately 50% of visitors will be viewing your site on mobile, so prioritize checking your mobile responsiveness to mitigate bounce rates. Many consumers will be shopping online, so ensuring your site loads quickly and functions seamlessly is crucial. Add festive visuals to your site and social channels to get customers in the holiday spirit.

• TIPS:
  • Implement a chatbot to assist with holiday gift recommendations.
  • Update your product pages with keywords like “gift for mom” or “best Christmas gifts.”

5. Engage with Social Media

Social platforms are buzzing with holiday activity. We suggest running seasonal content like themed giveaways, contests, and posts. Encourage your customers to share their holiday experiences with your products, creating a sense of community around your brand.

• TIPS:
  • Run a “12 Days of Christmas” giveaway on social media. Each day, feature a different product or special offer and randomly select one lucky interactor to receive a freebie.
  • Promote user-generated content by inviting customers to share photos featuring your products in their holiday celebrations.

At OneTeam Marketing, we have a track record of creating hundreds of successful websites, launching captivating products and brands, and developing effective social media strategies. We are here to assist you, regardless of the season. Are you ready to take your brand to new heights? Let’s collaborate and embark on this transformative journey together!

Here’s how it works: 

1. Book a Discovery Call Here
2. Team Up 
3. Lead the Market

Happy Holiday Planning!