Elements Design

As we mentioned in yesterday’s post, it’s never too early to start planning your holiday marketing campaigns. While it’s important to keep your marketing efforts going all year;  here are 12 key dates to keep in mind when creating your marketing strategies around the holidays.

1. Today: We’ve been talking about it all week—it’s time to get started on your holiday marketing strategy now! By starting your planning early will make executing  that much easier.

2. Halloween 10/31: By the time October rolls around, t’s been a while since the last big holiday and customers are ready to get into the spirit of the season. Offer up a special treat to your customers to get them in before the real holiday rush.

3. Thanksgiving 11/24: It’s a day filled with food, fun and football. Get your game face on and prepare for the biggest shopping day of the year which is {cue drum roll, please} …

4. Black Friday 11/25: Customers are inundated with emails, flyers and promotions—be sure your marketing efforts can stand out in the sea of sales material.

5. Cyber Monday 11/28: Admit it, you’re an online shopping addict like the rest of us—and so are your customers. Vamp up your email marketing campaign for this day and let your customers know that Saturday 12/17 is quickly approaching.

6. Saturday 12/17: Have you been eyeing the perfect gift online since Cyber Monday? Now is the time to order your customers who were on the fence to put in that order! Decemeber 17 is typically the drop dead date that you can order something online and have it reach you by Christmas with standard shipping. Make sure you’re customers know if you’re able to make exceptions past this date-especially, for last minute shoppers!

7. Hanukkah begins 12/20: There are eight nights to celebrate—think of eight creative ways to target consumers before and during this special week.

8. Super Saturday 12/24: There are those of us who plan, and those of us who wait. Christmas Eve is the perfect time to target the last minute shoppers who are looking for a good deal–that’s fast and easy!

9. Christmas 12/25: Make sure everyone has something wrapped under their tree or hung by their fireplace from your company. This day makes the months of holiday planning all worth it.

10. Day after Christmas 12/26: What’s better then getting gifts on Christmas? Going out the next day and buying what you didn’t get but is now on sale! Make sure to take advantage of this day while consumers are still in the spirit of giving and looking for a deal while getting rid of the rest of your holiday inventory.

11. New Year’s Eve 12/31: The last day of the year marks a final chance for many consumers and businesses to make purchases and close out their financial year. Go out and get one final push before 2012. Also, New Year’s is a great holiday for your own greetings send out to customers and vendors since the crazy rush of December is over. Your message has a better chance of standing out and will be more likely remembered if sent to arrive just after the New Year.

12. New Year’s Day 1/1/12: Although it’s not a large consumer driven shopping day; it can be  the day to start a New Year’s resolutions for your business—and if you’re really feeling up to it, start planning for the Holiday 2012 season!

~Allyson

It’s that time of year already—Elements been receiving many requests to start on holiday marketing campaigns and design projects. Whether you’re sending out a simple e-card or creating a multifaceted holiday campaign; here are 5 simple tips to start off any successful holiday promotion.

Start Early
The holidays are busy for everyone—so why add the stress of planning your holiday promotion in the middle of the season? Get a head start and begin planning your promotions during the early Fall months. By planning early, you can start executing early. Don’t forget about the last-minute shoppers—be sure to spread your promotions and campaign throughout the months of November and December to help target all different types of customers.

Decorate Your Website (or blog)
We decorate our homes, offices and retail spaces—so why not decorate your website? By having your website up-to-date with your latest holiday sales, promotions or giveaways, you’ll put your customers into the holiday spirit. Add a banner or quickly redesign your logo to add a holiday theme—these simple touches will surely get the consumers attention.

Spread the Spirit Through Email
The holidays are a great time to reach out to your existing customers and it can also be time to grow your existing mailing list. A simple gesture, such as holiday e-card, will help your existing customers feel remembered but plan something different for any prospective clients. Sprinkle in wrapping tips, holiday recipes or gift ideas that your new customers might find useful—it will help you stand apart from the generic promotional emails they’ll be receiving throughout the season.

Include a Social Call to Action
An article on Entrepreneur.com “when you start a conversation, request feedback, or make a promotional offer via email, the next step is to drive your audience to social destinations and engage them. Make it clear to your email readers what you want them to do next. It may be to “Like” you on Facebook to get a coupon, follow you and retweet an offer on Twitter to be eligible for a prize, or continue a hot-topic holiday discussion elsewhere.”

Don’t Forget to Integrate Social Media!
If you’re using social media all-year-round, don’t neglect it during the holiday season. In fact, establishing a social media plan during the holiday season can only help your promotions. The holidays are a season for giving, so why not host a giveaway—when everyone’s buying for someone else, it’s nice to get something in return. It’s also beneficial to offer exclusives on your social media platforms that your customers can’t get anywhere else. Many companies have also had success in attracting consumers to their social media platforms by highlighting their holiday donations or drives. Are you participating in Toys for Tots or giving back to a local food bank? Let your social network know how they can help.