The holiday season is once again upon us, and with it comes another slew of elaborate holiday marketing campaigns from big name brands. From the commercials meant to tug at your heartstrings to the memorable holiday mascots, the fight for screen time is getting more expensive. As a business owner it’s easy to feel discouraged in the presence of such grandiose, high-budget spectacles that always accompany the season. Luckily, thanks to social media, leveraging the holidays doesn’t always require a massive advertising budget. Here are some ways you can create engaging and effective holiday campaigns on social media.
- Showcase your product
The holiday season is a better time than most to show off your wares. Most people are already making wish lists and searching for the perfect gifts for loved ones. Make sure your product is at the forefront of their mind by using Instagram stories, Facebook videos, and dark ads focused on important product benefits and discounts. If you do a contest or giveaway, make sure it revolves around your product.
- Play on Heightened Emotions
Whether it’s because of the childhood memories, religious overtones, or the spirit of giving that permeates this time of year, nearly everyone gets emotional around the holidays. Without being too cliché, find a way to use these emotions to your advantage. Heck, your audience may really dislike the holidays, but rancor is an emotion you can capture as well. You could make fun of the consumerism or family squabbles that people so often despise.
- Tailor to Your Audience
Make sure your message is targeted to your particular audience. Too many people put out generic holiday posts. They’re usually lovely and sometimes shareable, but they tend to lack the personal touches that really make an impact on consumers. Show your customers you know them and your social media engagement will improve.
- Research Relevant Hashtags
Though hashtags tend to have more importance on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, it’s always important to know what is trending. Because so many posts are tagged with generic hashtags like #MerryChristmas or #HappyHolidays, it’s easy for your posts to get lost. See what hashtags are trending at the time and tailor your holiday messaging to what people are already talking about.
- Ask Customers to Share
Most people on social media are there because they like to share. They share selfies, political opinions, memories, and funny cat videos. Why not take advantage of their giving nature? Ask users to share photos of themselves in ugly sweaters, use Facebook reactions or a Twitter poll to vote for their favorite holiday films, or leave comments with their favorite Christmas memories.
- Adjust for Platforms
Remember that all platforms are different. What may be successful on Facebook may not translate well to Twitter. Instagrammers may be more interested in seeing photos behind the scenes, while Twitter users may be more apt to engage on posts that ask their opinions. Familiarize yourself with each platform and adjust your media and messaging accordingly.
- Call Them to Action
Once you’ve created the perfect holiday post for the perfect target audience on the perfect social platform, make sure you include a call to action. Don’t go through all the trouble to get your audience’s attention, only to leave them in the lurch. If they’ve engaged, they’ve already shown interest in your brand. Try linking to your online store or sharing a time-sensitive voucher code to seal the deal.