7 Ways to Make Your Holiday Marketing Stand Out

The holiday season is fast approaching.  While there is still much uncertainty in the air, consumers are beginning to think about holiday preparations.  Companies are already starting to ramp up marketing efforts to attract shoppers.  With so many businesses impacted by the economic downturn of 2020, competition for consumer attention will be fierce. To stand out in a crowded marketplace, it’s even more important than ever for your business to take a fresh look at all marketing efforts.  To attract holiday shoppers, your company needs to get noticed to gain business.  These seven tips should help give your end-of-year marketing a competitive edge.

1. Use tactics that grab attention

Standing out requires a combination of great graphics and compelling verbiage.  You’ll also need multiple touchpoints in varying formats, both digital and print. Capturing consumer attention may require a little something extra. Enhance digital efforts (mobile advertising, email marketing, social media, etc.) with videos, gifs, and animation.  Embellish print advertising with special touches like foil, embossing, metallic inks, etc.  Learn more about specialty inks.

2. Tell your audience what sets your brand apart

Customers are drawn to unique aspects of a brand.  Determine what about your business aligns with consumers’ own values and craft content that speaks to that.  Broadcast your uniqueness in all your communications.

3. Take a customer-first approach

Shape your marketing messages around what your products and services can do for your customers.  Tap into your audience’s emotions to convey feelings and experiences they’ll have once they own your product or use your service.

4. Personalize your campaigns

Consumers like to know that brands understand them.  Creating a highly targeted campaigns designed around their wants and needs communicates clearly that you “get” them.  Understand who your audience is, what their pain points are and create content that addresses those concerns.  Craft separate types of messages for existing customer (to build trust) and for prospects (to capture attention).

5. Appeal to emotions

2020 has been a turbulent year.  Consumers are ready for the familiarity and traditions of their holidays.  Evoking feelings of celebration, togetherness, nostalgia, and gratitude can be an especially potent way to connect with customers.

6. Keep up with your content strategy

During the holiday season, consumers are inundated with marketing messages.  Sales fatigue can wear on customers and cause them to tune out these messages.  By sharing informative, inspirational, and seasonal content, your brand can stand out from the noise.  Content should be relevant and useful to break through the marketing maelstrom.

7. Share in the spirit of the season

The holidays aren’t just about selling.  Make sure you’re spreading some holiday cheer to your customers, staff, and community.  Show gratitude with personal thank you cards from your team.  Practical gifts like calendars and notepads are thoughtful ways to show your appreciation to customers (and will last long after the holidays pass).  Learn more about custom calendars.

Think strategically for seasonal marketing

Marketing during the holiday season – especially this year – requires a little extra effort to ensure your brand’s voice is heard.  By paying close attention to your audience and content, your marketing campaigns can ensure you get noticed and get business.