In light of the pandemic situation, it is important to note that online shopping is here to stay. People are shopping online for security reasons. It’s also convenient to buy a gift and ship it directly to the recipient if you can’t visit them.
The real challenge is to entice both traditional and online shoppers. On top of that, your brand must stand out among a slew of competitors, both old and new.
Use the following holiday marketing ideas to increase sales and profits.
Work with influencers
The holidays are the best time to partner with established and engaged influencers. Data shows that 8 out of 10 consumers bought after an influencer recommended it. This explains why for every $1 spent on influencer marketing, the average return is $18.
Best yet? You’ll benefit long after the holidays. Ready to jump? Keep in mind the following when selecting and working with an influencer:
- They must be knowledgeable and passionate about the product, brand, or industry.
- Their values and target market should match yours.
- Engagement > Fans. But don’t rely on likes. Observe how they respond to comments and other metrics like post shares and saves.
- Examine the results of past sponsored posts.
- Make sure they haven’t gotten themselves into trouble or partnered with your competitor.
In addition, they must show why your products should be on their followers’ holiday gift lists.
Take it a notch up with gamification
Incorporate game elements like points/levels, challenges, rewards, leaderboards and badges to instantly increase customer engagement.
Then there’s the social element. Players can’t help but brag about their achievements on social media to gain peer approval and affirmation.
According to research, gamification can increase online customer activity by 68% and social sharing by 22%.
So focus on ‘achievement’ to keep your audience engaged. At the same time, don’t make it too difficult or too easy for them to lose interest.
Go green for eco-minded customers
Holidays equate to wasteful consumption. According to Stanford University, Americans throw out 25% more trash from Thanksgiving to New Year’s than any other time of year.
But people are becoming more eco-aware and conscious shoppers. This shift in their shopping habits is frequently reported in the media, forcing several brands to adapt.
But you don’t have to do it overnight. See if it is economically viable. So be it if it all points to the urgent need for green initiatives.
Run contests on social media
One reason people enter contests is to win. Using this marketing strategy to attract new customers can be a great way to save money. People will flock in droves, generating excitement for your brand.
Then make sure the contest prize is exciting and relevant to your target audience. You’ll also get quality entries from people who will interact with your brand after the contest.