One look at my inbox proves one undeniable truth: Christmas is coming! And since we’re all busy with hectic preparations, it’s the perfect time to review this year’s Christmas hits and flops and provide a handful of last-minute tips and ideas (also useful for preparing your next year winter campaign).
- The Sooner, the Better?
For some, Christmas season starts before Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving
If you don’t like such early mobile phone number list mentions of Christmas, there are other ways to mark the opening of the season. Why not schedule a drip campaign that starts on Black Friday (or Cyber Monday) and guide your subscribers with consistent offers and creatives throughout December? Make this your hallmark, for emails that are memorable, recognizable and eagerly anticipated.
- 100 Days of Christmas?
12 days of deals
A countdown to Christmas is the perfect way to keep your customers engaged. What’s more – a carefully designed follow-up campaign can help you take pressure off the hottest period, closest to Christmas. Just don’t overdo it. The ultimate number of days? Keep it low: 12 is a nice, traditional number. That way, they don’t get bored halfway through.
24 days of deals
My pick is the 12 days of Christmas by ModCloth, who make every day look special and carefully planned.
Day 1 Trandsetter
Day 5 Gifts for Guys
Day 9 Moms
What You Give is What You Get
Can you imagine a Christmas offer without a discount, freebie, incentive, free shipping, or special packaging? Incentives are an absolute essential, and a failure to make your email offers truly special could distinguish you in a negative way. Leave xx% off subject lines for your January sales. During the Christmas season, offer gifts and extra help – a token of your gratitude and good will. Just to emphasize the spirit of these special days.
Come in Handy
Providing detailed information on shipping/mailing times and deadlines, longer opening hours, extended return policies and offering more support and savings throughout the hottest selling period will help you gain advantage over your competition.
And being the kindest, most helpful, and most professional service provider will enhance your brand reputation long after Christmas – like Brooks Brothers with their ultimate gift guide.
Gift Guide
I’ll Have What She’s Having
WishList
People love checking out the picks and preferences of others – especially if they’re hot, hip and famous. When you create a gift guide or bestsellers list, provide recommendations – “social proof” for the undecided. Whether from Facebook fans or top supermodels – recommendations are proof of good quality and taste, and encourage customers to make the same selections.
Go Social
Being by definition leisure time, Christmas is the perfect time for your brand to go viral: e.g. to collect fans and get more social buzz.
Provide content that’s attractive to share. Center your contests and events around Christmas – to inspire the spirit of connectedness, community and sharing, and to enable email-to-social integration.