There is a lot of competition online right now for the attention of anyone with eyes and ears. After all, it is gift-giving season. For an e-commerce business, and really any business, this is the time of year when you have to be on your A-game.
Looking for some ways to stand out from the crowd and really get the attention of your audience members? Use some of these holiday marketing ideas to promote your products and services in a way that is on-theme without being kitschy.
6 seasonal ideas for your brand
- Go for holiday themes that can still be evergreen: You don’t have to rebrand your business to make a holiday marketing campaign. It is possible to create content and offer deals that meet the bustle of the season but can still be rehashed a few months down the road. For easy-to-adapt ideas, try themes that focus on weather, nature, “found family,” etc. Evergreen trees look great in your house in December but remember, they grow in the forest all year long.
- Repurpose content for social media or email: Let’s say you are working on some great content for an email blast about a holiday deal you are offering on your online shop. Why not repurpose that blurb for your social media platforms? Likewise, if you have a great story to tell on your Instagram, or some user-generated content (UGC) to share (now is a great time to encourage UGC too), you can include it in your monthly newsletter. Let your content do some of the heavy lifting for you.
- Use email to alert your audience to what you have to offer: Speaking of email, make the most of them right now. Any seasonal promotions you are making aren’t a one-time announcement. Make sure to plug them in emails throughout the month. That way, if people missed them the first time or if they realized that your merch is exactly what their metalhead cousin needs for the Winter Solstice, it is easy for them to find.
- Offer free rewards or discounted items as an added incentive: People are working hard which means that, even while on the hunt for things to give to their loved ones, they aren’t opposed to snagging something for themselves. We don’t blame them! And we’d suggest making it worth their while. If possible, pair limited-time offers or special holiday items with a free reward if they respond within a set time frame. For example, if you are selling a box set of your CDs, offer a free band poster if someone orders before December 15th.
- Offer limited-release items or services: Holiday deals aren’t supposed to be year-round. The whole idea behind the “limited-time offer” is that it encourages activity and engagement now. Deals with a deadline can be a great way to get your audience to interact with you. Some examples may include limited releases of your latest album signed by your band members or a two-for-one deal on a jewelry set from your store.
- Take time to say “Thank You”: Put it in an email, make a social media post about it, add it to the bottom of your receipts for the month, or send physical notes to your top followers. Saying “thank you” to the people that got you to where you are–that is your followers, your fans, and your buyers– goes a long way. This seemingly simple note of gratitude can keep peoples’ eyes on you for a long time because, lets face it, everyone likes feeling appreciated.
This season, shop local
You have a lot of work ahead in the coming weeks and you don’t have to do it alone. Check out some of these Southern California businesses to shop from and work with this season. RM Creative Services is also here to help you figure out your marketing approach both seasonally and year round.
Printing and packing services
- Downtown LA Printer: Next day and same-day booklet and flyer printing in downtown Los Angeles.
- Green Lion Printing: Screen printing services that provide expert quality without hindering your creativity.
- Guru Printers: Printing for a variety of items, and able to fulfill small and large orders alike.
- Orange Packaging: Packaging design and manufacturing that can match the tightest schedule.
Makeup products and artists
- Icon Image Makeup: Makeup services for film, television and magazines.
- Makeup on the Run: Makeup artist serving Orange County with experience in a wide range of looks.
- Our Darling Beauty: Cosmetics influenced by the Victorian era.
- Oxbloode Lipsticks: Classic lipsticks and other makeup essentials to help you stand out from the crowd.
- Skullsplitter Makeup: Southern California on-the-run makeup artist with a goal to make you look and feel fierce.
All things photography
- Deliquesce Flux Photography: Anabel has the skill and passion to make any photographic dream come to life.
- Ekaterina Gorbacheva Photography: Los Angeles-based photographer with a focus on music-related photography, night photography and portraiture along with commercial, automotive, and product photography.
- Elysium Studio: Rental photography studio, great for shoots with noir and gothic themes along with a variety of others.
- Freestyle Photo & Imaging Supplies: Established supplier of photo supplies and cameras on Sunset Blvd.
- Lone Wolf Productions: Southern California pro for photography and videography projects, both professional and personal.
- Pro Photo Connection: Photography supplier, developer and printer in Orange County.
- The Darkroom: An OC photo development business with over 45 years in service.
Record stores
- Analog Record Shop: New and used vinyl records and stereo systems
- Bionic Records: Record store in Buena Park that caters to metal, punk and other music genres.
- Gimme Gimme Records: Record store with a wide array of music genres
- Sound Spectrum: Laguna beach store for vinyls and music memorabilia
Clothing, jewelry, and more
- Dead Rockers: Hand curated collection of punk rock clothes, vinyls, gifts, and more found on 4th St. in Long Beach
- Desert Dweller Jewelry: Jewelry made with used or vintage parts
- Dust + Beau: Each piece is a work of art. Offering custom and made-to-order items available for purchase.
- Groovy Daze: Loud and unique handmade clothes inspired by the 60s and 70s.
- Hazmat Design: Custom clothing made for the misfits.
- Ipso Facto Clothes: Gothic, steampunk, punk and other alt clothing for men and women.
- Hell Bent Leather: Leather clothing, accessories and more.
- ShopHellbound: Small batch, handmade clothes.
- Spragwerks: Your go-to for unique jewelry and leather goods or for custom pieces.
- Dark Craft Desserts: Because even the spookiest of us has a killer sweet tooth.
- Predominantly Black Candle Haus: Handmade and guilt-free home and body fragrances.
Planning out your marketing strategy and battling with all the insanity of the holiday season can be a lot. Partnering with us means we help you forge a path ahead to success for your brand or business. Work with RM Creative Services to create a killer content marketing strategy that serves you this month and beyond. Send a message to info@rachaelmattice.com or visit our Contact page to get started.
Written by Brianna Fries, a California-based writer, editor, bookworm, and mother of two. You can discover more of her work at briwritesthings.com.