The holiday season is coming, and there are sales to be made. How will you make them? Use these 10 holiday marketing tips to weave some holiday magic around your business.
\nThe holidays bring fierce competition but also plenty of opportunity to capture new customers. In 2017, the winter holiday sales brought in $138.4 billion of revenue online, with in-store sales adding up to $691.9 billion.
\r\nTo help you have your most successful holiday sales season yet, follow these 10 tips.
\r\n2018 consumers are savvy shoppers. They know that businesses are competing for customers, and they are on the lookout for discounts and sales. Now is an ideal time to strategize ways to take advantage of the hunter instinct. You could offer a single, valuable discount to draw in bargain hunters or plan a series of short-term promotions that change each week, giving shoppers an incentive to return.
\r\nIt's only going to get more hectic from now until the holidays. Make things easy for your customers. Prepare your email campaign with your best gift ideas and include Shop Now buttons in the email that click straight through to the product page.
\r\nIt's even better if you can offer unique gift suggestions or show ways to bundle more than one product into the perfect gift. Consider offering a discount on your gift bundles too.
\r\nEditor's note: Looking for an email marketing service for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.
\r\n\r\nStand out from the crowd by sending thank-you cards to your loyal customers at Thanksgiving instead of waiting until the traditional Christmas and Hanukkah card-giving season. It makes your customers feel that they are truly appreciated, and they will keep you in mind as they are shopping for family and friends.
\r\nThe holidays are surrounded by a glow of memories of childhood and magic, times when the snow was thicker and Santa Claus was real. Why not design your holiday marketing campaign to tap into holiday nostalgia?
\r\nConsider using black-and-white pictures, old-style fonts and nostalgic photos from times gone by. Whether you're planning an in-store display or an online landing page, nostalgia can guide your campaigns this year.
\r\nAlthough you're eager to attract new customers, don't neglect your loyal shoppers. Repeat customers are responsible for at least 40 percent of your sales, so it's worth it to keep them connected.
\r\nTake the opportunity to offer a special gift to your best customers, like a valuable discount. You could also send handwritten holiday cards to your loyal customers through the mail, the old-fashioned way. This strategy will garner your customers' attention and show that you care.
\r\nMobile marketing has become increasingly important for e-commerce in the last couple of years. Over $17 billion of sales were made by mobile in the 2016 holiday season and over $35 billion in the 2017 season. In 2018, mobile sales are predicted to surpass desktop sales for the first time. It's vital, therefore, that your marketing campaigns are mobile friendly and that your online store is optimized for mobile devices.
\r\nIf you sell online, free shipping is the best special offer you can possibly present year-round, but it's especially important if you want strong sales this holiday season. Offer free shipping for all holiday purchases and make sure your customers know about it. Feature it in your marketing emails and make sure it's prominently visible throughout your online store.
\r\nConsumers aren't just shopping for gifts, they also want plenty of holiday spirit as well. Give them what they want. Update your window display, homepage and landing pages with warm holiday scenes and plenty of sparkle.
\r\nYou could also offer a holiday gift-wrapping service, both in-store and online, or market a special limited edition product that's only available during the holiday season.
\r\nYou're probably already using social media marketing on Instagram and Facebook, but have you considered other channels? Social media networks like Quora, Reddit and Pinterest don't get as much attention as Instagram, but they each hold millions of loyal users waiting for your content. Choose one that fits your product and reach out in a different way.
\r\nVideo marketing is on the rise, allowing you to market your brand, not just your products. Consumers love behind-the-scenes videos relating to their favorite brands. This holiday season show the human face of your company by asking employees to share their favorite holiday memories or giving customers a peek into what's involved in preparing your business for the holidays. Further, a cute or funny holiday marketing video is a great opportunity for non-product-related businesses to tap into the holiday season. Even insurance companies, plumbers and construction companies can record a holiday video or message to share with customers.
\n","docType":"article","guid":"articles_24a4b33ee52901ef69a863d500b3a8c4","lastModified":"2018-10-17T07:00:00.000Z","published":"2018-10-17T07:00:00.000Z","structuredData":null,"subtitle":"Strong holiday sales begin with early preparation. Here's how to have your best year yet.","template":"v1","title":"10 Marketing Strategies That Will Boost Your Holiday Sales","type":"article","author":{"avatar":null,"bio":"As Head of Acquisition at insurtech company Next Insurance, I specialize in performance-based marketing through a variety of online channels. I have worked in companies spanning the tech world, from e-commerce through to travel, personal finance, and insurance. With skills garnered in my 13+ years of experience in online marketing and growth hacking for these diverse companies, I now lead Next Insurance’s acquisition efforts to create a global brand.","name":"Evyatar Sagie","image":null,"slug":null,"social":{"facebook":"","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/evyatar/","twitter":null,"website":"https://www.next-insurance.com"},"status":"enabled","title":null,"type":"New BDC Member","user":{"imagePath":"https://staging.business.com/images/uploads/user/profile/5c167ca1e1b34adb40d31cb24baa5daa57ccc.jpg","profile":{"company":"Next Insurance","jobTitle":"Head of Acquisition","website":"https://www.next-insurance.com"}}},"breadcrumbs":null,"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Marketing","slug":"marketing"},"sub":{"name":"Marketing Strategy","slug":"marketing-strategy"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"The holiday season is coming, and there are sales to be made. Use these holiday marketing tips to weave some holiday magic around your business.","title":"Successful Holiday Marketing Strategies - business.com"},"parsedContent":{"toc":[{"id":"1-determine-the-type-of-discounts-you-want-to-offer","title":"1. Determine the type of discounts you want to offer."},{"id":"2-provide-gift-suggestions","title":"2. Provide gift suggestions."},{"id":"3-say-thank-you-ahead-of-time","title":"3. Say thank you ahead of time."},{"id":"4-tap-into-nostalgia","title":"4. Tap into nostalgia."},{"id":"5-focus-on-customer-loyalty","title":"5. Focus on customer loyalty."},{"id":"6-make-the-most-of-mobile","title":"6. Make the most of mobile."},{"id":"7-offer-free-shipping","title":"7. Offer free shipping."},{"id":"8-go-large-on-holiday-spirit","title":"8. Go large on holiday spirit."},{"id":"9-tap-into-niche-social-media-channels","title":"9. Tap into niche social media channels."},{"id":"10-turn-to-video-marketing","title":"10. Turn to video marketing."}],"json":[{"component":"p","children":["The holiday season is coming, and there are sales to be made. How will you make them? Use these 10 holiday marketing tips to weave some holiday magic around your business."]},{"component":"p","children":["The holidays bring fierce competition but also plenty of opportunity to capture new customers. In 2017, the winter holiday sales brought in ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://marketingland.com/adobe-reports-2017-holiday-e-commerce-revenue-climbed-108-2b-beating-forecasts-nearly-1b-232193","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["$138.4 billion"]}," of revenue online, with in-store sales adding up to ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/holiday-retail-sales-increased-55-percent-2017-exceeding-nrf-forecast-and","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["$691.9 billion"]},"."]},{"component":"p","children":["To help you have your most successful holiday sales season yet, follow these 10 tips. "]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"1-determine-the-type-of-discounts-you-want-to-offer"},"children":["1. Determine the type of discounts you want to offer."]},{"component":"p","children":["2018 consumers are savvy shoppers. They know that businesses are competing for customers, and they are on the lookout for discounts and sales. Now is an ideal time to strategize ways to take advantage of the hunter instinct. You could offer a single, valuable discount to draw in bargain hunters or plan a series of short-term promotions that change each week, giving shoppers an incentive to return."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"2-provide-gift-suggestions"},"children":["2. Provide gift suggestions."]},{"component":"p","children":["It's only going to get more hectic from now until the holidays. Make things easy for your customers. Prepare your email campaign with your best gift ideas and include Shop Now buttons in the email that click straight through to the product page."]},{"component":"p","children":["It's even better if you can offer unique gift suggestions or show ways to bundle more than one product into the perfect gift. Consider offering a discount on your gift bundles too."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Editor's note: Looking for an email marketing service for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information."]}]},{"component":"RfqWidget","props":{"className":"bz-form-widget","id":"bz-form-widget-0","widgetCategoryId":"10123"},"children":[" "]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"3-say-thank-you-ahead-of-time"},"children":["3. Say thank you ahead of time."]},{"component":"p","children":["Stand out from the crowd by sending thank-you cards to your loyal customers at Thanksgiving instead of waiting until the traditional Christmas and Hanukkah card-giving season. It makes your customers feel that they are truly appreciated, and they will keep you in mind as they are shopping for family and friends."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"4-tap-into-nostalgia"},"children":["4. Tap into nostalgia."]},{"component":"p","children":["The holidays are surrounded by a glow of memories of childhood and magic, times when the snow was thicker and Santa Claus was real. Why not design your holiday marketing campaign to tap into holiday nostalgia?"]},{"component":"p","children":["Consider using black-and-white pictures, old-style fonts and nostalgic photos from times gone by. Whether you're planning an in-store display or an online landing page, nostalgia can guide your campaigns this year."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"5-focus-on-customer-loyalty"},"children":["5. Focus on customer loyalty."]},{"component":"p","children":["Although you're eager to attract new customers, don't neglect your loyal shoppers. Repeat customers are responsible for at least ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://blog.smile.io/repeat-customers-profitable-stats-to-prove","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["40 percent"]}," of your sales, so it's worth it to keep them connected."]},{"component":"p","children":["Take the opportunity to offer a special gift to your best customers, like a valuable discount. 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In 2018, mobile sales are ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2018/09/holiday-2018-mobile-rings-up-most-purchases.html","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["predicted to surpass"]}," desktop sales for the first time. It's vital, therefore, that your marketing campaigns are mobile friendly and that your online store is optimized for mobile devices."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"7-offer-free-shipping"},"children":["7. Offer free shipping."]},{"component":"p","children":["If you sell online, free shipping is the best special offer you can possibly present year-round, but it's especially important if you want strong sales this holiday season. Offer free shipping for all holiday purchases and make sure your customers know about it. Feature it in your marketing emails and make sure it's prominently visible throughout your online store."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"8-go-large-on-holiday-spirit"},"children":["8. Go large on holiday spirit."]},{"component":"p","children":["Consumers aren't just shopping for gifts, they also want plenty of holiday spirit as well. Give them what they want. Update your window display, homepage and landing pages with warm holiday scenes and plenty of sparkle."]},{"component":"p","children":["You could also offer a holiday gift-wrapping service, both in-store and online, or market a special limited edition product that's only available during the holiday season."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"9-tap-into-niche-social-media-channels"},"children":["9. Tap into niche social media channels."]},{"component":"p","children":["You're probably already using social media marketing on Instagram and Facebook, but have you considered other channels? Social media networks like Quora, Reddit and Pinterest don't get as much attention as Instagram, but they each hold millions of loyal users waiting for your content. Choose one that fits your product and reach out in a different way."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"10-turn-to-video-marketing"},"children":["10. Turn to video marketing."]},{"component":"p","children":["Video marketing is on the rise, allowing you to market your brand, not just your products. Consumers love behind-the-scenes videos relating to their favorite brands. This holiday season show the human face of your company by asking employees to share their favorite holiday memories or giving customers a peek into what's involved in preparing your business for the holidays. Further, a cute or funny holiday marketing video is a great opportunity for non-product-related businesses to tap into the holiday season. Even insurance companies, plumbers and construction companies can record a holiday video or message to share with customers."]}]},"resource":null,"sponsorship":null,"thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/5d2/517319c658a1a1d8b45a0/1500-0-","caption":"4 PM production/Shutterstock","isBlurred":false},"bestPicks":null},"related":{"relatedArticles":[{"title":"7 Ways To Use Social Media Marketing To Grow An Email List","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/social-media-marketing-for-email-lists/","slug":"social-media-marketing-for-email-lists","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d2/6b5ae5a215ec04e8b458d/1500-0-","dek":"Connect your marketing efforts by using social media to build your email lists.","lastModified":"2018-03-12T17:22:00Z","published":"2018-03-12T17:22:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"The Survival Guide to the Decline of Facebook’s Organic Reach","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/surviving-facebook-organic-reach-decline/","slug":"surviving-facebook-organic-reach-decline","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ab/b94b092a3a448198b4593/1500-0-","dek":"Facebook's algorithm updates make organic reach difficult, but you can still be visible.","lastModified":"2018-03-28T13:40:00Z","published":"2018-03-28T13:40:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Can Direct Mail Marketing Help You Win the Holiday Season?","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/direct-mail-holiday-season-marketing/","slug":"direct-mail-holiday-season-marketing","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5b9/fd56c92a3a4ef738b459b/1500-0-","dek":"Try these seven direct mail marketing ideas to boost sales this holiday season.","lastModified":"2018-09-17T15:31:00Z","published":"2018-09-17T15:31:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"6 Social Media Weapons to Boost Your Branding and Marketing","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/social-media-marketing-secret-weapons/","slug":"social-media-marketing-secret-weapons","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5b8/406bd1039eb0c6e8b45a2/1500-0-","dek":"Don't hinder your growth by ignoring social media.","lastModified":"2018-08-27T14:30:00Z","published":"2018-08-27T14:30:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"6 Tools & Tactics to Stay On Top of Holiday Small Business Trends This Year","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/6-tools-and-tactics-to-stay-on-top-of-holiday-small-business-trends-this-year/","slug":"6-tools-and-tactics-to-stay-on-top-of-holiday-small-business-trends-this-year","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/564/e0ab23087b1d71d8b468c/1500-0-","dek":"The holidays are in full-swing. 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