6 Easy Festive Marketing Ideas

Halloween has come and gone, signaling the beginning of the festive shopping season. Just getting your business logistically prepped for the next two months takes tremendous planning and effort. If you haven’t already, it’s time to plan your Christmas and New Year marketing strategy.

Set Up Your Online Store

Shoppers typically begin their purchasing online. Make sure that your website is optimised for e-commerce and that your online store features plenty of deals geared toward Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other promotional days. What could these look like? Any combination of products, services, classes, memberships and gift cards. Here are some basic examples:

• Bundle hair, makeup and skin products into holiday gift sets (shampoo and conditioner box sets, hair or skin tools, etc.)

• Give out free, mini-sized products or samples with full-sized product purchases.

• Give customers who spend $50 or more on products 20% off their next purchase or service.

• Buy-one, get-one-free (BOGO) services or products. Market these as “buy-one-for-you, get-one-as-a-gift,” and possibly include something you’re trying to clear from your inventory.

• Offer free shipping for online orders.

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Kick Off Your Festive Social Media Campaign

Consumers are always searching Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter for great deals and gift ideas. The right social media marketing strategy can boost sales by engaging with current and potential customers alike. Some elements include:

• Contests & Giveaways: Design a contest that encourages participants to engage with your social media accounts for a chance to win a prize. Examples include having your clients create the perfect festive season hair, or the best nails or makeup. Keep the rules simple and be sure that participants tag you, using your business’s hashtag, driving traffic back to your page.
• Livestreaming & Events: Use Facebook Live videos to update your followers about new products or services you're offering this upcoming season. Organising a holiday-themed event with Facebook's event feature is another fantastic way to connect with new clients. Be sure to design the event around a certain theme (“De-Stress Massage & Facial,” “New Year’s Eve Party Prep,” etc.) and schedule it far enough in advance so clients can plan & book.
• Photo Sharing: Show your spirit by sharing photos of you and your staff decorating, celebrating during a party, or hosting a charity event or fundraiser. As you post, be mindful of the different festivities being celebrated by your customer base.
• Partnering With Micro-Influencers: Spending on influencer marketing can get high and we know that you’re on a budget. But collaborating with micro-influencers (those with 10,000 or fewer followers) whose audience overlaps with your target market is affordable and hugely beneficial. Reward them with discounted or free services and some reciprocal tagging. Pro tip: be sure to provide influencers with your products or services before the promotion begins!
• Releasing Relevant Timely Content: Think about what current and future clients might like to see right now. Moisturising tips for beating dry skin this winter? Methods to alleviate stress after festive shopping? Micro-workouts between shopping trips? Whatever it may be, use your social media hashtag to brand this content and include your business’s name and the products you use.

Rev Up Your Email Marketing

Deploy Timely Text Marketing

SMS messages boast a higher open rate than email. When combined with your email campaign, they can also increase the chance that your messages sent over the festive season are read. In fact, customers are 5x more likely to read and engage with your multi-channel campaigns after being sent text messages!

What kinds of SMS texts can you send?

• Promo codes
• Exclusive offers
• Sale notifications
• Empty cart notifications
• Low-stock alerts
• Event invites
• Contest & giveaways notifications.

Get Those Seasonal Gift Cards Ready

Gift cards are a tried-and-true way for businesses of all kinds to boost seasonal sales, bring in new clients and generate additional revenue.

• Buy-one, get-one free (BOGO) gift cards
• Discounted gift cards (pay $30 for a $50 gift card)
• Bonus gift cards that round up (pay for a $50 gift card and get a separate $10 gift card for free)
• Build a set of 3 cards and give away one for free

Be sure to clearly advertise gift cards and gift certificates on your Vagaro online store and promote them on your digital channels.

Run Festive Flash Sales

Flash sales are effective because they use a time-sensitive window. After all, no one wants to miss a great deal. Flash sales can last a few hours, a day, or even an entire weekend. Vagaro customers can use the Daily Deals feature to execute effective flash sales.

Announcing a flash deal at the last minute can urge customers to act. About a week before, start teasing in-store, on social media and/or through email and text messaging that something special is coming. Encourage followers to keep an eye out for updates.

Coordinating a cohesive festive marketing plan doesn’t have to be overwhelming, though you should get started right away. Vagaro customers have all the creativity and tools they need at their disposal to make their winter season profitable. Extensive planning for the holidays requires a checklist. As it happens, we’ve got one for you below! Good luck and seasons greetings!