‘Tis the Season to Get Creative: Using Social Media for Holiday Marketing
October 27th, 2017 by
Many of your customers are gearing up for numerous holiday festivities that involve family, friends, and coworkers. This time of year also inspires lots of shopping. According to a study done by Deloitte, the average American will purchase 15 gifts during the holidays with the months of November and December generating 30 percent more revenue than non-holiday months. With all the gift giving and celebration, a stellar online presence, particularly on social media, is key to your business having a shining season. Keeping your customers engaged and informed of specials, events, and general happenings in the behind-the-scenes aspect of your business builds trust but also can build sales. In 2015, 75 percent of shoppers used the internet to research which gifts to purchase. So, don’t be afraid to get creative and light up your customers’ timelines with compelling copy. Need a little inspiration of your own? Here are some social media marketing tips that will get you in the holiday spirit.
Deck The Halls…With Lots Of Images
Photos, videos, and other images are paramount to a healthy social media presence and they also present the perfect opportunity to engage potential shoppers on all levels. Create an Instagram video and show quick, behind-the-scenes clips of your store or showcase a new product or one of your lesser-known services. According to Wyzowl, 74 percent of shoppers who watched a demonstration video about a product or service subsequently bought it. So, show off your Spielberg skills and put together a product video to demonstrate how a featured item in your store is used. Remember, this doesn’t have to be a costly high-tech venture; just use a smartphone and tell a short and sweet story about how your shop is preparing for the holidays. Upload to your social media or even YouTube. If stills are more your thing, take some high-quality photos using your iPhone or a more professional camera and post images of employees who are in the holiday spirit. You can even include some shots of that huge order fulfillment you and your crew are working tirelessly on. Make the images personal and easy to share. If you are running low on your own photos, try incorporating user-generated photos from your customers.
Tinsel Everything From Wall to Wall
In other words, cover your bases when it comes to social media. Since your potential customers are more than likely shopping for other people, you are not necessarily trying to gain the attention of your traditional customer base. You may be trying to appeal to a mother buying a gift for her 20-year-old son, or a 30-something purchasing something for his niece. If dad is buying something for his daughter and your business has the perfect gift, let him know. Facebook has proven to be a wonderful resource that really does appeal to pretty much every demographic. With tools like Facebook ads, it’s becoming easier to target your potential shopper, so make sure the language that you’re using in your content speaks directly to your audience.
Spread the Joy of Your Business
Today’s consumers want to know the ethics behind the companies they are shopping with. According to a 2015 Nielsen report, 66 percent of respondents were willing to pay more for products and services that came from companies who were committed to positively impacting social and environmental issues. So, tell your customers who you are and what you stand for. Are you doing any fundraising or charity events for the holidays? Share it! Are you participating in a food drive or giveaway? Tell us about it! Does your company’s mission align with the spirit of the season? Even better. These are positive events that can not only create a space for your company to give back but also encourage trust with your customers and impact sales, too.
Give the Gift of Hashtags
Added to the Oxford Dictionary in 2010, the hashtag is social media’s way of organizing ideas, keywords, and campaigns. Search some of the current trends and see if an existing hashtag fits your company’s voice or vision for the season. If not, jump start your own! Consider running a promotion based on your customers reposting or sharing a specific photo or post. Have them use a catchy hashtag you’ve created that is personal to your holiday messaging. To incentivize their repost or share, offer participants a small discount.
Embrace All the Holidays
Facebook is a wonderfully diverse platform that will surely get you views from people of all walks of life, so don’t narrow your focus on just one holiday. Show love to each one of them and give them a shout out on your page. Let everyone know how inclusive you are across age groups, interests, and religious and cultural holidays alike. Take the time to wish your current and potential customers a happy holiday season and welcome them to your store.
This time of year, after all, is about love, celebration, and gratitude. Let your customers know you care with a thoughtful social media campaign that will inspire them. If you need assistance with creating a holiday strategy and managing your social media, contact our team. We are happy to help you deck the halls with holiday content that will get your customers into the spirit of the season!
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