The holidays are in full swing, and while some businesses have been meticulously planning their social media strategies for months, others might find themselves scrambling to catch up.
Whatever the case may be, it’s not too late to spread some holiday cheer and make a splash on social media. This guide is packed with quick wins and actionable social media marketing tips that will help your brand make the most of the season
Why Your Social Media Strategy Needs a Holiday Twist
Perhaps you are asking, “Why bother with a separate holiday social media strategy? Can’t we just keep doing what we’re doing?
The answer is a resounding no! The holiday season brings a unique set of opportunities and challenges that require a tailored approach. Here’s why.
1. Jump on the Holiday Bandwagon
The holidays are a time when people are actively looking for gift ideas, festive inspiration, and ways to connect with loved ones.
By embracing a holiday-themed social media strategy, you can tap into this heightened interest and position your brand in front of eager audiences.
2. Cash in on Changing Customer Habits
Consumer behaviour shifts dramatically during the holidays. People are more likely to make impulse purchases, try new brands, and engage with festive content. A social media strategy that reflects these changing habits is bound to see more results.
For example, one survey showed that three-quarters (75%) of consumers are willing to buy more from a website that allows them to message an expert to ask questions and get help making purchases.
3. Reach New Audiences
The holidays are a time for gatherings and celebrations, which means your content has the potential to reach new audiences through shares and word-of-mouth. By creating engaging and shareable holiday content, you can expand your reach and attract new followers.
4. Build Brand Loyalty
The holidays are a time for giving and showing appreciation. By incorporating a charitable element into your social media strategy or simply spreading holiday cheer, you can build goodwill and strengthen relationships with your audience.
Top 7 Holiday Social Media Marketing Tips
Now that we’ve established the “why,” let’s look at some of the actionable social media marketing tips that brands can implement
1. Craft a Holiday-Themed Campaign
It’s November, which means the holiday season is officially in full swing! Kick things off with a festive social media campaign that captures the spirit of the holidays and resonates with your audience.
Themed Campaigns
Create a campaign with a central theme, such as “12 Days of Christmas,” “8 Days of Hanukkah,” or “7 Days of Kwanzaa.” Each day, unveil a new offer, product highlight, or piece of engaging content related to the theme.
Holiday Storytelling
Share heartwarming stories, customer testimonials, or behind-the-scenes glimpses that capture the essence of the holidays and connect with your audience on an emotional level.
Interactive Advent Calendars
Create a virtual advent calendar on your social media channels. Each day, reveal a new surprise, such as a discount code, a product sneak peek, or a fun holiday fact.
No matter what approach you choose, maintain a consistent visual theme throughout your campaign to create a cohesive and memorable experience for your audience. Use festive colours, fonts, and imagery that align with your brand and the holiday spirit.
2. Host a Holiday-Themed Photo Challenge
A holiday-themed photo challenge is a fun and interactive way to get your audience involved and spread holiday cheer.
Encourage your audience to participate in a holiday-themed photo challenge to generate user-generated content, boost engagement, and a sense of community. The approach is particularly valuable during the holiday season. It also helps to strengthen your brand’s relationship with its followers.
Themed Campaigns
Choose a theme that is universally applicable and relevant to the holiday season, such as “Festive Fun,” or “Holiday Traditions.” Offer daily prompts to inspire your audience. For example, “Day 1: Share a photo of your favorite holiday decoration.”
Dedicated Hashtags
Create a unique hashtag for your photo challenge to make participation easy and to find each other’s submissions. To further incentivize participation, consider offering a small prize or reward for the most creative or engaging photo submissions.
Partnerships
You can also partner with other businesses or influencers to co-host the challenge and reach a wider audience. Don’t forget to showcase the best submissions on your social media channels to highlight your audience’s creativity and build community.
3. Curate a Holiday Gift Guide
Gift guides are basic during the holidays, but you can make yours stand out by thinking outside the (gift) box.
Instead of simply featuring your products or services, consider a broader approach that provides more value to your audience and positions your brand as a helpful resource.
By taking a creative approach to your holiday gift guide, you can provide valuable content to your audience, strengthen your brand image, and even promote local partnerships or charitable causes.
Here are some gift guide ideas to get you started
Gift Guide for Experiences
Showcase local experiences, activities, or events that make great gifts. This is perfect for businesses that don’t sell physical products or want to promote local partnerships.
A spa could partner with a local restaurant to create a “Relax and Dine” package while a fitness studio could collaborate with a health food store to offer a “Wellness Getaway.”
Gift Guide for Different Personalities
Create a gift guide categorised by personality types, like “The Foodie,” “The Goal Getter,” or “The Homebody.” This adds a fun and engaging element to your gift guide and helps your audience find the perfect gifts for their loved ones.
A clothing store could create outfits for different personality types, a bookstore could recommend books for different interests, or a tech store could suggest gadgets for different lifestyles.
Gift Guide for Charitable Giving
Highlight charities or non-profit organisations that people can donate to in the spirit of the holidays. This is a great way to give back to your community and showcase your brand’s values.
Any business can participate in this by choosing a cause they believe in and encouraging their audience to donate or volunteer. Share information about the charity, its mission, and the impact of its work to inspire your audience to give back.
4. Share Last-Minute Holiday Hacks and Tips
Position your brand as a helpful resource for those scrambling to finalize their holiday preparations.
Instead of solely focusing on selling, offer valuable advice and practical tips that make your audience’s lives easier. This establishes your brand as a trusted source of information and builds goodwill.
Here are a few things to do;
Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas
Share creative and unique gift-wrapping ideas that go beyond the traditional paper and ribbon. Demonstrate how to use unconventional materials like fabric scraps, maps, or even recycled items to create personalized and eco-friendly gift wrapping.
Festive Recipes and Cooking Tips
Offer festive recipes, cooking tips, or entertaining ideas to inspire your audience and help them create a memorable holiday experience. Share easy-to-follow recipes for holiday treats, provide tips for hosting a stress-free holiday gathering, or showcase creative table-setting ideas.
Stress-Free Holiday Travel Tips
If travel is relevant to your audience or industry, share tips for stress-free holiday travel. Offer advice on packing efficiently, using airports, entertaining kids on long journeys, or finding the best deals on flights and accommodations.
For example, if your brand is in the tech industry, share tips on how to use technology to simplify holiday tasks. If your brand is in the finance industry, offer tips on budgeting for holiday expenses, managing holiday debt, or finding the best deals on gifts and travel.
5. Use Interactive Content
The holidays are a time for connection and celebration, and interactive content can amplify that spirit on your social media channels. Encourage your audience to participate, share their thoughts, and connect with your brand on a deeper level.
Polls and Quizzes
Create engaging polls and quizzes related to holiday traditions, favourite gifts, or festive activities. Polls and quizzes are a fun way to gather insights about your audience, spark conversations, and encourage participation.
Ask Me Anything (AMA) or Q&A Sessions
Host a live “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session with a relevant expert or influencer. AMA sessions allow your audience to ask questions, gain valuable insights, and connect with your brand on a more personal level.
The other option is to host a Q&A session where your audience can ask questions about your products, services, or holiday promotions.
“Caption This” Contests
Share a funny or intriguing holiday-themed image and ask your audience to “Caption This.” This encourages creativity, generates engagement, and can lead to some hilarious and memorable interactions.
Behind-the-Scenes Peek
Give your audience a behind-the-scenes look at your business during the holiday season. Show them how you’re preparing for the holidays, introduce your team members, or share a glimpse of your holiday decorations.
Virtual Holiday Party
Host a virtual holiday party with games, music, and festive cheer. Encourage your audience to participate by dressing up, sharing their holiday traditions, or submitting questions or comments.
6. Run a “Holiday Fails” or “Holiday Wins” Campaign
Encourage your audience to share their funny or relatable holiday mishaps (or their heartwarming holiday wins!) using a dedicated hashtag.
Laugh at Holiday Fails
Everyone has a funny holiday story to tell, whether it’s a burnt pot of rice, a tangled string, or a hilariously awkward family gathering. Encourage your audience to share their holiday mishaps with a dedicated hashtag like #HolidayFails. This creates a lighthearted and relatable atmosphere on your social media channels.
Celebrate Holiday Wins
Balance the humour with heartwarming stories of holiday wins. Ask your audience to share their moments of joy, gratitude, or kindness using a hashtag like #HolidayWins or #SeasonOfGiving. This can create a positive and uplifting space on your social media channels.
Fuel the Fun
Provide prompts or questions to inspire your audience and encourage participation. Ask, “What’s the most disastrous holiday cooking experience you’ve had?” or “What’s the most heartwarming holiday message you’ve received?”
Once the responses start coming in, feature the most engaging or creative submissions on your social media channels. You can also create a dedicated highlight reel on Instagram or a pinned post on Facebook to showcase the best “Holiday Fails” or “Holiday Wins.”
7. Partner with a Local Charity
Give back to your community by partnering with a local charity during the holiday season. This is a great way to spread holiday cheer, demonstrate your brand’s values, and build goodwill.
Choose a Relevant Charity
Select a charity that aligns with your brand’s mission and values. For example, a pet store could partner with an animal shelter, or a bookstore could support a literacy program.
Promote the Partnership
Announce your partnership on social media and encourage your audience to get involved. Share information about the charity, its mission, and how people can donate or volunteer.
Offer a Matching Donation
Consider matching donations made by your customers or followers to incentivize further giving and demonstrate your commitment to the cause.
Conclusion
Even if you’re a last-minute marketer, it’s not too late to make a splash on social media this holiday season. By implementing these social media marketing tips, you can capture the spirit of the holidays, engage your audience, and achieve your marketing goals.
Need help making this season into a resounding success for your brand? Contact GrowTally today to get started.
