Every year around this time, entrepreneurs and marketers scramble for holiday content marketing ideas. You might be looking to run a major marketing campaign or simply have some content pre-scheduled for over the break. In either case, stealing some of these ideas should help you get a leg up on your holiday content marketing.
Holiday Revenue
In 2021, retailers raked in over $700 billion, and 2022 is expected to generate even more holiday revenue. Clothing, gift cards, and food were the best-selling categories, but that doesn’t mean other industries can’t benefit from a solid holiday campaign. All it takes is knowing your audience and offering them something they value.
Some hyper-organized folks are used to the annual grind and may already have their content planned. But if you’re not one of them, we’re not judging. The end of the year often feels like a pressure cooker with much to do and little time to do it. Fortunately, your holiday content marketing ideas don’t have to be super elaborate. They don’t have to take a lot of time to execute either. So without further ado, here are 20 brilliant holiday marketing ideas (and examples) delivered to you on a silver platter.
20 Holiday Content Marketing Ideas for Businesses
1. Big-Picture Theme
Some of the biggest brands focus their holiday content marketing around one all-encompassing theme. The products they offer play a key role in the background, but they are communicating a deeper message. Examples include Apple’s Christmas commercial and Ikea’s letter project. Even if you don’t have the time or resources for something this in-depth, you can still weave an overarching theme through the content you put out.
2. Retargeting Ads
The holidays are a time when shoppers may actually appreciate retargeting ads more. Online shopping has become the preferred method for gift-buying, and most shoppers are scrolling around and comparing deals. You can remind shoppers of a specific item they were considering and jog their memory about why they wanted it.
3. Gift Guide
Do you offer a variety of products that you can organize into a guide? Shoppers are looking for ease and convenience. If there’s a way to get their Christmas shopping done sooner without sacrificing quality, they’ll be interested. Marketers can organize a guide into a blog post or email.
4. Early Access
Are you releasing a product right before or after the holidays? This is the perfect time to run an early bird special. Show appreciation to those who pre-order your product or sign up for your service as soon as it becomes available.
5. Market to Givers
Maybe your typical audience isn’t likely to capitalize on your holiday specials – but what about their friends and family? Gift-givers are eager to find quality gifts, especially when their loved one is hard to shop for. Try running a campaign targeting those closest to your target audience. They’ll be relieved you did.
6. Discounts
Discounts are a simple, no-frills way to show appreciation for your customers. If some of your followers were considering making a purchase, they’re much more likely to pull the trigger with a discount. You can offer discounted products or services during a set period of time, or to a specific segment of your audience.
7. Free Gift-Wrapping
If you operate a brick-and-mortar store, this is the perfect time to host a holiday event. Providing free gift wrapping is a way to give back to customers that have supported you all year. It’s also a great way to get new foot traffic and get on the radar of those who didn’t know about your business.
8. Work with Influencers
If you’re already working with influencers, now is a good time to brainstorm with them. No matter what kind of business you run, there’s a way to tie in a holiday theme. Look for fun and natural ways to collaborate with influencers.
9. Social Media Giveaway
You can’t go wrong with a good giveaway. It vibes with the spirit of the season and highlights what you have to share with your community.
10. Custom Graphic Design
Holiday content marketing doesn’t have to be about big discounts or complicated sales emails. Instead, you can lean into your brand and build a deeper connection with your audience. Custom, holiday-theme design is a classy way to do something different and memorable in December.
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11. Flash Sales
A flash sale is a quick, surprise sale announced days or weeks beforehand. Depending on your hours and capabilities, you can run flash sales for just an hour or two on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day. This is especially nice for digital products. Customers can enjoy the purchase on their day off and not have to wait for shipping.
12. Gag Gifts & Campaigns
Ugly Christmas sweaters are all the rage, and everyone can use a good laugh during the hectic holiday season. The trick is to do some audience research. Figure out what your demographic finds funny. You can use this kind of humor to design your holiday campaign or even a gag gift.
13. Year-End Wrap-Up Video
If you’re used to posting text and pictures year-round, the holidays might be the perfect time to put together a heartfelt video. You don’t have to be cheezy or cliche, but it may be a time to express something deeper than you would at any other time of the year. This is an ideal opportunity to tell some of the deeper story of your brand.
14. Local Holiday Party
Business is all about networking, especially for B2B companies. If you’re hoping to branch out and generate new leads in the new year, you can kick things off early with an end-of-the-year holiday party. There’s no need to be extravagant, over-spend, or over-stress. Instead, aim for a simple get-together full of people you want to get to know better. These could be potential clients or even potential business partners.
15. New Year Focus
The theme of the new year often gets buried in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. But if your audience consists of go-getters and ambitious folks, they may be far more excited for the new year than they are for the holidays. Consider framing your marketing campaign around this theme. How can your brand help them get off to a good start in the new year?
16. Bundles or Gift Sets
Do you have several products that go well together? Is there an easy way to bundle several of your offerings into one? Gift sets and bundles are a great way to up your revenue around the holidays while providing additional value. Custom Christmas cards are one way to spruce up a holiday gift bundle.
17. 12 Days of…
The Twelve Days of Christmas is a hallmark of the holiday season. It builds anticipation and entertains with a new topic each day. Creating a sequence of 12 posts is a spirited holiday content marketing idea that keeps the momentum going.
18. Holiday Packaging
Think about the journey your product takes to get to the intended recipient. Along the way, party-goers may see and interact with your packaging, even if it’s not their gift. The more noteworthy your packaging, the more it becomes a conversation starter. Consider temporarily packing your items in a different way. There are plenty of ways to reduce packaging waste too.
19. Audience Segmentation
Is your audience diverse? Whether you’re marketing via email, social media, or even snail mail, you may have multiple audience segments. Consider splitting your holiday content marketing campaign into two or more unique offers. Each offer and the associated messaging should be tailored to that audience segment.
20. Omnichannel Marketing
Omnichannel marketing is all about creating a smooth customer experience across every touchpoint. If your marketing has previously been disjointed across channels, this may be the perfect time to experiment with a more cohesive campaign. When it comes to the holidays, omnichannel marketing is all about making products visible and available both in-store and online.
