Early Holiday Cheer: How to Get a Head Start on Christmas Marketing

As the summer sun starts to fade and back-to-school sales make way for fall fashion, you might find yourself wondering: Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas marketing?

At Uberall, we say, “Absolutely not!” In fact, getting a head start on your holiday marketing strategy can be the difference between a jolly season and a humdrum one. So, as you sip that last iced coffee before the pumpkin spice invasion begins, let’s dive into how you can make your Christmas marketing sparkle.

Understanding Christmas Shopper Behavior

Before you deck the halls with your marketing strategies, it’s essential to understand the behaviors and preferences of Christmas shoppers. Here’s a sneak peek into what makes them tick:

Early Birds Are Real

Gone are the days of last-minute Christmas shopping frenzies. Today’s consumers are starting their holiday preparations earlier than ever. A recent survey revealed that nearly 40% of shoppers begin their holiday gift buying before Halloween; 20% as early as October to manage their expenses.

In response, retailers across the industry start launching deals and promotions earlier than usual. For the past two years, Amazon has also hosted a second round of its summer Prime Day deals in October.

November Sale Surge

With Black Friday landing on November 29 this year, which is payday for many and closer to Christmas than last year, retailers have a prime opportunity to drive sales: Black Friday and Cyber Monday marketing is turning from a single day of deals into a multi-week shopping event with discount-led marketing throughout November.

Experience Over Product

Shoppers are increasingly seeking more than just products—they rather want memorable experiences. Whether it’s an interactive online advent calendar or personalized holiday promotions, creating engaging and immersive experiences can set your brand apart.

As the holiday season approaches, focus on how you can offer more than just discounts; think about how you can create a festive atmosphere that resonates with your audience.

Buy Now, Pay Later

Customers prefer flexible and convenient payment options, leading retailers to enhance their payment strategies. Aligning with these preferences—digital wallets and buy now, pay later (BNPL) services like Klarna—helps boost customer satisfaction and drive higher sales especially during the holiday season.

When Should Businesses Start Their Christmas Marketing?

The online shopping ecosystem would have you believe that everyone has organized their Christmas shopping by the time Thanksgiving is over—so a full month ahead of the big day. Marketers who support in-person businesses know better though: the real countdown to Christmas starts now.

If you’re not strategizing your Christmas marketing campaigns now, you might already be late to the party. Think of it this way: if Christmas chocolate is already appearing on store shelves, why shouldn’t your marketing strategies be in full swing? Here’s the scoop:

August is the New December for Christmas Campaigns

While it might seem like the height of summer, August is actually a prime time to start rolling out your Christmas marketing plans. Starting early allows you to build anticipation and engage with customers before the holiday rush. It also provides ample time to test and refine your strategies, ensuring that you’re not scrambling for last-minute fixes come December.

Staggered Campaigns as a Festive Countdown

Consider rolling out a series of campaigns leading up to the holiday season. Start with teasers and early-bird promotions in August, ramp up with more substantial offers as the season progresses, and peak with your biggest campaigns in November and December.

The staggered approach helps maintain customer interest and maximizes your holiday marketing impact. Also, you can better predict and meet customer demand, particularly between options like click-and-collect and home delivery.

Key Considerations for Your Christmas Marketing Campaigns

Crafting an effective Christmas marketing campaign involves more than just slapping a snowflake on your ads. Here are some critical factors to consider:

#1 Audience Segmentation

Tailor your campaigns to different segments of your audience. Families might be interested in holiday-themed promotions and activities, while young professionals might respond better to exclusive deals and festive social media contests. Understanding the unique preferences of each segment allows you to deliver more relevant and engaging content.

#2 Marketing Messaging

Personalized and targeted marketing, particularly through discounts, coupon codes, and loyalty promotions, is becoming increasingly important. Mapping the customer journey and tailoring offers to different stages of this journey are key strategies for reducing consumer frustration and increasing sales.

#3 Omnichannel Consistency

Ensure your Christmas marketing messages are consistent across all channels, from social media and email campaigns to in-store promotions and your website. A unified approach helps reinforce your brand’s holiday message and creates a seamless experience for your customers.

The 12 Days of Christmas Marketing: A Checklist for Holiday Success

As you prepare for the festive season, why not follow our jolly guide inspired by the classic carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas"? Here’s your playful and practical checklist to ensure your Christmas marketing campaigns are as bright as a holiday light display.

On the First Day of Christmas Marketing: An Early Strategy

Kick off your Christmas marketing efforts as early as August. Planning ahead allows you to craft a strategy that will help you stay ahead of your competitors. Start by setting clear goals for what you want to achieve this holiday season, whether that’s boosting sales, increasing engagement, or enhancing brand awareness.

On the Second Day of Christmas Marketing: Seasonal Campaigns

Plan and schedule two (or more) major holiday campaigns: one for early September to capture the early birds and another for mid-December to reach last-minute shoppers. Tailor each campaign to different customer segments to maximize their effectiveness and relevance; all on top of your normal marketing efforts.

On the Third Day of Christmas Marketing: Key Themes

Choose a core theme for your holiday marketing—such as nostalgia, giving back, festive fun, or just Christmas sales. Ensure that the theme is consistently reflected across all your marketing channels, including social media, email campaigns, and your website.

On the Fourth Day of Christmas Marketing: Mobile Optimizations

Optimize your online presence for mobile devices. Make sure your website and online store are mobile-friendly, streamline the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment, enhance page load speeds, and regularly test your site’s mobile functionality to address any issues.

On the Fifth Day of Christmas Marketing: Fresh Keywords

Select targeted seasonal keywords to focus on, such as “Christmas present ideas”, and incorporate these keywords into your website, blog posts, and social media content to improve your search engine visibility and attract more traffic. Also, keep in mind that keywords may differ depending on the region: is it “gift” or “present”?

On the Sixth Day of Christmas Marketing: Social Media Posts

Develop a schedule for festive social media posts to engage with your followers, share holiday content, and encourage user-generated content. Social media is a powerful tool for spreading holiday cheer and boosting brand visibility.

On the Seventh Day of Christmas Marketing: Local Listings

Update your business information across all relevant directories and platforms—because ensuring your local listings are accurate and up-to-date will help drive foot traffic and local engagement. Also, highlight any special holiday promotions or events you’re running to attract local customers.

On the Eighth Day of Christmas Marketing: Email Campaigns

Design and schedule holiday-themed email campaigns. These could include early bird offers, gift guides, and last-minute deals. Segment your email list to tailor your messages to different customer preferences and behaviors, enhancing the relevance of your communications.

On the Ninth Day of Christmas Marketing: Influencer Collaborations

Collaborate with influencers to expand your holiday reach. Their endorsements can boost your brand’s credibility and drive more traffic to your website. Maybe you can work together on Christmas themed products?

On the Tenth Day of Christmas Marketing: Customer Testimonials

Collect positive customer testimonials, and showcase them prominently on your website and listings. Testimonials can build trust and provide social proof, making your holiday promotions more compelling.

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas Marketing: Creative Graphics

Create eye-catching graphics for your holiday campaigns. Design festive visuals for social media posts, email headers, and website banners. Ensure that all graphics align with your brand’s holiday theme to maintain a cohesive and attractive appearance.

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas Marketing: Twelve Days of Engagement

Run a “12 Days of Christmas” promotion with daily deals, giveaways, or special content—or a “24 Days Advent Calendar”, if that better suits your target audience. This ongoing engagement will keep your audience excited and involved throughout the holiday season; while you’ll also create a sense of urgency.

With this festive checklist, your Christmas marketing efforts will be as organized and delightful as a holiday gift exchange. Embrace the season with a well-planned strategy, and watch your brand shine brighter than ever!

Is Christmas SEO a Thing? Yes, It Is!

During the Christmas time, SEO is as essential as ever—and here’s how to make the most of your Christmas SEO strategy:

• Seasonal Keywords: Integrate seasonal keywords like “Christmas present” or “Holiday Gifts” into your content. These keywords can help improve your search engine rankings and attract more traffic to your website during the holiday season.

• Content Optimization: Create and optimize content that resonates with the holiday spirit. Blog posts, landing pages, and social media content featuring festive themes and relevant keywords can drive traffic and engage your audience.

• Internal Linking: Direct visitors to your Christmas content by updating internal links throughout your site; and maybe work on a few backlinks, too. This helps search engines understand the relevance of your seasonal pages.

• Data Management: Ensure your business's location information—especially opening hours—is accurate and consistent across all platforms to improve local search visibility and attract holiday shoppers to your store.

Conclusion

As you gear up for the holiday season, remember that early preparation is the key to a successful Christmas marketing strategy. By starting your campaigns in August, understanding holiday shopper behavior, and leveraging Christmas SEO, you’ll be well on your way to creating a festive marketing season with great results (as a present to yourself).

So, while it might seem early to be talking about Christmas, remember: the best presents are those that are prepared with thought and care. And just like those Christmas chocolates that appear way before December, getting a head start on your marketing can ensure that your business is not just part of the holiday season but at the forefront of it.

Cheers to a successful holiday season, and happy marketing!