Boost Christmas Sales with these digital marketing ideas

It’s never too early to start preparing for the busy season – Christmas! Since it’s the merry season, people tend to go all out and spend more on gifts, food, décor and more. Inevitably your sales can soar during the Christmas season. However, those that plan their campaign strategies see the rewards through increased revenue; be reminded no Christmas campaign is complete without a strategy. Christmas is not exclusive to business to customer brands (B2C); if you are a business-to-business brand (B2B), you just need to have a better idea of what your target audience is waiting for. B2B Christmas adverts will have a different approach, feeling and purpose. Competition is very tight at this time of year so here’s to putting on your thinking hats and making your brand shine with effective Christmas digital marketing ideas:

Define your goals and plan- Before we dive in, it’s critical to have a clear goal in mind. Without defined goals, your marketing ideas will go to waste. By now I am sure you are familiar with S.M.A.R.T. goals – this acronym stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. Once you have outlined your goals, figure out how to achieve them. Example, if your goal is: more sales; then your S.M.A.R.T. goal can be: To increase overall gross profits between November and December compared to the same time in 2022. Then, the next step is to determine: how will you do that? You might decide to increase your social media activity or your conversion rate or you may pair up with an influencer. Whichever way you decide, ensure the activity helps you to reach the goal.

An advert is a drop in the ocean – Your Christmas advert is not a stand-alone item.
Your advert, whether radio or online, should be supported by a strong campaign. It should be translated into content for your social media pages (this doesn’t mean a graphic or flyer, but content related to your theme or promotion), follow-ups among other things. It’s critical to create a campaign around your Christmas concept- give it a place on your socials, brochures. Your target audience shouldn’t be searching for your campaign on social media. The worst thing you can do is have a great advert with no results.

Sell the solution, not the product – Show how your product/service improves the quality of life for your customer. For example, if you have a special pricing on pot sets this season, how does a new pot set improve the life of a customer this season?

Use that information to inform the content of your messaging- show how it solves problems by showing it in use. How about if you sell ice cream, you may think that Christmas doesn’t apply to your product. However, imagine someone in and out of stores doing holiday shopping, won’t it be nice to grab an ice cream and cool down? After the hectic work week plus shopping, doesn’t ice cream have its place as a reward?

Create a digital catalogue with ideas – Most people today may not spend the time to browse a printed catalogue. However, if it’s a digital catalogue, you will be able to engage existing and potential customers. Professionally taken, well-crafted photos and quality design are great ways to highlight your products/services the way a physical catalogue does.

Dress up your site – This is something that I have noticed that many SME’s in SVG refrain from doing. Anyone that visits your site or social media pages should know you have a Christmas promotion in motion. Simply placing a Christmas graphic promoting the sale isn’t enough; update your Facebook cover. How about adding a Christmas flair to your logo? Easy to read, Christmas themed banners on websites with a key message about the promotion will go a long way.
Publish holiday themed blogs/vlogs/articles- The public enjoys vlogs/blogs on festive ideas, holiday décor, Christmas recipes etc. Even if you offer e.g. a rum which can be used in a Christmas recipe, why not do a reel that shows it in use along with a Christmas drink that it’s used to create? People are always looking for expert advice. You can do a video showing gift wrapping techniques or how certain items can transform a space.

Partner with influencers – People tend to trust their friends and people they look up to or that they find interesting more than an advert or salespersons. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have an advert or incorporate direct sales, but people tend to seek online advice in addition to what they see or hear in advert or from a sales clerk. Influencer marketing utilizes softer sales techniques and leverages social proof. Consider collaborating with influencers who are compatible with your brand or the initiative that you are pushing; they can promote the offering to their base that already trusts them.

• Candice Sealey is the Founder & Principal Consultant at Ignite! a Full-service Marketing & PR Consultancy that helps businesses/brands to stand out and communicate the right message to the right people at the right time through Strategy, Marketing, Media services and Design solutions. She is also a freelance content writer, advertising copywriter, voice-over talent, media personality. Follow us on FB & IG @igniteresults Phone:784-432-2223. Email: igniteresults@gmail.com.