If this year’s Super Bowl ads got your creative marketing juices flowing, it’s time to put ideas into action. Not sure where to begin? Consider creating holiday marketing themes based on seasonal holidays to get started.
The year is still young and, with Valentine’s day around the corner, there’s no better time than now to start implementing revenue-boosting campaigns. Whether your business is just getting off the ground or forging full speed ahead, a little inspiration from these brands is sure to help any business flourish.
Show the Love as a Part of Your Holiday Marketing Efforts
Just because Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and you don’t have much time to plan, doesn’t mean you should skip it altogether. This holiday is all about taking the time show appreciation for the people you’re grateful for. For business owners, that means showering your customers with random acts of gratitude.
If anyone knows how to treat their customers (a.k.a. fans) right, it’s a pop star, Taylor Swift. The Grammy-winning superstar has become known for rewarding fans at random with hand-picked gifts. Most recently, Swift delivered a hand-painted picture, a necklace, and $1,989 (a tribute to her 1989 titled album) to one of her many die-hard fans.
No rockstar budget? No problem, you can still implement the same tactics to wow your customers. For instance, Valentine’s Day delivery of wine or chocolates with a note thanking your clients for their business will make their day. They may even spread the word to everyone they know.
Spook Social Media Holiday Marketing
Halloween is the perfect time to have a little fun with your marketing. Chipotle Mexican Grill’s 2014 “Boorito” campaign nailed it with a combination of online and offline marketing. The annual contest is twofold:
- in-store, customers are encouraged to dress in costume and arrive at any Chipotle store for a $3 menu item;
- meanwhile, online participants were asked to upload a photo of themselves in costume at a Chipotle to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #ChipotleBooritoContest.
The winners get awards in the form of cash prizes and catering. The takeaway here is to have fun with holiday traditions.
Generating a buzz both online and offline creates the community. The community arms your company with non-intrusive opportunities to introduce products and services to a mass audience.
✋ Warning
Don’t overestimate the possibilities that can give you affiliate marketing for your success.
Spread Christmas Cheer
December is the time to reflect on the success your company has seen over the past year. To show gratitude, round up the troops and give back to your community. Macy’s “A Million Reasons to Believe” campaign calls for help from Saint Nick to promote its charitable endeavors. Acting as postmaster for the North Pole, children can visit the department store and hand-deliver their Christmas wish list letters to Santa. Embracing the true spirit of the season, Macy’s donates $1 for each letter to the Make a Wish foundation.
For small business owners, simply giving your customers an option to donate to a worthy cause goes a long way. Using a simple website check-out tool like Paypal Donations, customers can contribute to a worthy cause with the click of a button.
What customers want is to stay connected with the products and services they’ve come to love. Make it easy for them to do so with simple tactics like discounts or free gifts. Add an element of fun with interactive contests and show them your grateful side by giving back to the community.
