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Content Marketing Tips for the Holiday Season

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The holiday season is nearly upon us once again.    content marketing season

For some people, that means stress-filled weeks of obligations like parties, decorating and yes, shopping.

Fortunately, if you use content for marketing purposes, the season is ripe with opportunities to stimulate the desire to buy, appeal to the needs of the customer and boost your profits.

Below, you can learn several actionable strategies for shaping your content so that it makes a maximum impact this holiday season.

The three main things to keep in mind at all times are:

  1. Start forming a marketing plan as early as possible
  2. Be willing to adjust as time passes
  3. Respond to customers in relatable ways

The above principles are worth remembering whether content marketing strategies focus on the social media realm, e-mail marketing or another area.

 

Personalize Your Approach

How many times have you opened an e-mail or physical subject line to read a letter that began with the opener, “Dear Friend”? It’s not hard to understand why this practice gained prominence, especially because the very use of the word “friend” conveys a warm tone.

However, the Internet has made this practice very outdated, especially since it’s now much easier to use data and tweak messages so they at least include a person’s first name. Make sure not to overlook that step.

 

Show Understanding

Content should reflect how you understand the unique circumstances of the holiday season, and have a way to ease the burdens a person may be facing.

You can do that through a call to action, but it’s also useful to incorporate ways to let a person save money. A few money-saving methods you could use include:

  1. Discount codes
  2. Blog posts that compile the easiest ways to save on hot holiday gifts
  3. Actionable content filled with little-known tips for frugal shoppers
  4. Percentages off for people who follow your page on social media

You may not sell content directly on your own website, but affiliate marketing can be a great supplement to your income, especially during the holidays.

The suggestions above can all be used in ways that are equally effective whether you have your own online shop or are simply trying to craft content that points people in the direction of a store you’ve partnered with for mutual benefits.

 

Give Pertinent Information

Although some people diligently prepare for the holiday season for months in advance, it always seems there’s a far greater number of individuals who wait until the last minute to take care of holiday necessities.

Attend to that reality by making it as easy as possible for people to understand what you’re offering and how it could benefit them.

Perhaps you’re trying to write a blog post that’s relevant for today’s consumers. In that case, think about making a top ten list of the most in-demand holiday toys or gadgets. Instead of just listing the names and descriptions of products, include extra helpful information, like:

  1. Price range of the product
  2. Which age group the product is intended for
  3. Which stores are selling the product
  4. Where you can purchase the product online

Any and all pertinent information you can find on the product, include it in your post. Consolidating information in the holiday season is extremely beneficial because people don’t have the time or patience to find all that information themselves.

 

Adapting the Concept for E-mail

The suggestion you’ve just read about can also be easily adjusted for use in e-mails.

Keep in mind how people are much more likely to receive unsolicited e-mails during the holiday season, and while you may automatically think that people will just ignore your email, that’s not always the case.

Make your subject line stand out from the rest by cutting out unnecessary words and keeping it concise.

Good: Need a last-minute gift? We’ve got you covered.

Bad: Happy Holidays!! It’s time for our Big Holiday Sale!!! Whether you’re shopping for your daughter, husband, or mother, we’ve got a gift for you!

Explain why readers should open the e-mail in quick and simple terms. Free time always seems to be short during the holidays, and people will appreciate if you make your content reflect that reality.

 

Use Pictures to Cause Action

Mixing up content so it relies on text, graphics and sounds is great to do any time of the year, but graphics can be especially effective during the holiday season, a time when people are already in the mood to spend money.

If a product you’re discussing within a piece of content has a distinctive characteristic that could stimulate the desire to buy, don’t hesitate to take a picture and share it with the world.

Doing so can quickly help you create a buzz, especially since image-heavy websites such as Instagram have captured worldwide attention.

 

Experiment With a Re-Engagement Campaign

If you’ve been thinking about using tactics to encourage people who have responded to your content in the past but have been quiet in recent months, the holiday season is a great time to put those plans into action.

This is especially true if the products you carry are very specialized and there aren’t many competitors for people to go to instead.

Whether you’re typing a Facebook status about why a used backhoe loader is the perfect gift for dad, or you’re writing a blog post on how to clean the recycled jewelry you sell in an online shop, don’t forget to reach out to the people who haven’t recently made a purchase.

Tip: Short-term discounts and low-cost fast shipping options are two great ways to attract new customers during the holidays.

Now you have some effective ways to adjust content so it more readily meets the climate of the holiday season. The great thing is, they can all be used across a variety of platforms, so you can start incorporating them into your marketing strategy today.

 

Michelle is a blogger and freelancer with a passion for social media and blogging. She loves how social media connects people across the globe, and appreciates that blogging gives her the opportunity to voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience. Follow her on Twitter and Google+.

52 thoughts on “Content Marketing Tips for the Holiday Season”

  1. Nice review Michael Chibuzor. I tell you, I’m loving your blog more each day. I definitely will be featuring you in a blog post very soon.

  9. This idea works best during the busy holiday shopping season. Find places that are likely to have long lines—stores that open particularly early, movie theaters, restaurants—and have a group of teachers or dancers perform for the people waiting in line. The more costumed and dressed up the dancers are, the better, and they should perform as full-out as possible. (Option: ask observers to join in.) Use traditional Nutcracker music or holiday tunes to keep the mood light.

  10. Really you have good explains in your Post about content marketing tips for the holiday season. In my opinion content marketing is one of the best way to expose your business and blogging is totally depend on content so content is king.

  13. Hello Mike,

    This tips of yours are awesome. For some time now, I’ve always been spell bound with any newsletter that used my first name…most often, for taking that extra effort, I’m more inclined to take action.

    I’ll adopt the strategies mentioned. Thanks for sharing them.

    Mike, do have a great day!

    – Terungwa

  16. Good deals will always get consumers spending, however make sure that you apply a sense of urgency by including an expiration date (ex. January and February are normally slower months in the salon industry, so make sure the client uses the promotion before then). Shanon Fletcher , our booth rental winner of our SalonVoices 2012 holiday promotion, offers an add-on special that included a free haircut, deep conditioning or five accent highlights, when a client books a color appointment during the holiday season. “This doesn’t cost me much, but my clients absolutely LOVE IT! This promotion comes along…and I am always booked to the brim!,” explains Shanon.

  17. Such a great subject you have shared with us Micheal.
    I would say, most content marketers and bloggers start with a post idea, write it up, and then try to come up with a viral headline that will blow people away. This is all backward.
    I strongly advise you to take a look at the most viral headlines on the web. Just copy the headline & swap out a few words to make it relevant to your industry. If there is only one thing you do to improve your headlines, (not to mention your entire content marketing strategy) do this.
    If you change only one thing about the content itself, this should be it. Toss a few stories and examples into your blog posts to justify what you are saying. People will instantly take you more seriously.
    Moreover, thanks for the effort you have given on such an applauding post. Keep posting ahead.

    • Thank you Alon for the comment and extras. As for headlines, I’ve a lot in store I can use. In fact, I crafted 100 fresh, and never used powerful headlines in the past and gave it away to my readers. As a copywriter, I don’t have problem coming up with viable headlines. The post you just read isn’t mine – it’s a guest post and I just decided to let the headline be that way. I appreciate you so much.

  20. Nice Tips mate !
    I think people should follow these tips very carefully as they can lead to huge success . Adding pictures and discounts in content marketing campaigns can definitely get new leads . Thanks for sharing these tips mate !

    -Pramod

  22. Quite an informative article Michael. I am used to of reading such a valuable information from your website Michael. Every time I visit your blog I come to know about a different strategy to survive in the content marketing. Thanks for your holiday tips mate. Keep sharing.

  24. Michelle, regarding the “Personalize Your Approach” you suggested, do you think that using the subscribers’ “name” in the subject still works? I have seen that with some type of niche (i.e. seo and web marketing) people don’t like it so much anymore or, maybe, I’m wrong (not done enough test on this).

  27. Great blog created by you. I read your blog, its best and useful information. You have done a good work. Thanks…
    Happy blogging and keep posting !
    Upgraded lifestyle in the form of 2 BHK luxury apartments size ranges from 924 sq ft to 1009 sq ft areas in Majestique City. Click: Majestique City

  29. Very nice and it is timely. You had already seen it earlier and thanks for posting. It has actually opened my eyes and am focusing on the upcoming holiday because I do not want it to affect my writing in any way.
    Thanks for sharing ~ Anetta

  30. As holiday season is fast approaching, It is very important to seize the moment where you able to generate new and exciting strategies in making a great content.

    The tips that you have presented are always given in any season, thanks for giving examples on how to channel different ways in content marketing! 🙂

    I found and I “kingged” this on the Internet marketing social site – Kingged.com and left a comment.

  31. Michelle, thanks for the timely post! This is great information especially with the holidays right around the corner. I love your thoughts on making the email subject stand out. The first example is short, sweet, and to the point. If solves the customer’s problem. The second example is too long-winded, fluffy, and doesn’t offer me a solution.

    I also love the idea of offering a short-term discount during the holidays to encourage new subscribers, and gain new customers.

    Thank you! And dare I say, Happy Holidays?

  32. Good deals will always get consumers spending, however make sure that you apply a sense of urgency by including an expiration date (ex. January and February are normally slower months in the salon industry, so make sure the client uses the promotion before then). Shanon Fletcher , our booth rental winner of our SalonVoices 2012 holiday promotion, offers an add-on special that included a free haircut, deep conditioning or five accent highlights, when a client books a color appointment during the holiday season. “This doesn’t cost me much, but my clients absolutely LOVE IT! This promotion comes along…and I am always booked to the brim!,” explains Shanon.

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