Let’s get your marketing schedule into shape! Here are 10 solid marketing strategies to tackle the holiday season and economic uncertainty of 2023. We may only be halfway through 2023, but the second half of the year and holiday season are coming faster than Santa’s sleigh. To stay ahead of the game, we’ve put together the top Q3 and Q4 marketing best practices, holiday marketing ideas, and ways to optimize your remaining budget while preparing for potential economic uncertainty in the future.
Several industries expect to face economic headwinds for the remainder of the year. All of our tips below address these concerns. Each section offers highly-targeted campaign ideas, value-based messaging tips, and low cost, collaborative marketing concepts. While economic uncertainty seems to be the only thing that’s certain in 2023, this marketing ideas list can ease concerns and engage your potential customers.
From holiday campaign ideas to targeted promotions, discover the best opportunities to take on in Q3 and Q4. With the wide range of assets available in Shutterstock’s image library, you’ll have a wealth of resources to make your own marketing materials rise above the competition.
Key Marketing Holidays for the Full Year
Before diving into the top Q3, Q4, and holiday marketing ideas, it’s crucial to understand which key holidays to prepare for. While there are many holidays throughout the year (International Nose Picking Day, anyone?), you only need to be aware of the major dates with the most significant marketing potential.
Which marketing holidays should be on your radar?
January 1: New Year’s Day
January 17: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Third Monday of January)
February 1-28: Black History Month
February 2: Groundhog Day
February 13: Super Bowl (Varies each based on the U.S. Football season)
February 14: Valentine’s Day
February 21: Presidents Day (Third Monday of February)
March 8: International Women’s Day
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
April 1: April Fools Day
April 22: Earth Day
May 8: Mother’s Day
May 30: Memorial Day (Last Monday of May)
June 19: Juneteenth
June 19: Father’s Day (Third Sunday of June)
July 4: Independence Day
September 5: Labor Day (First Monday of September)
September 11: Remembrance Day
October 31: Halloween
November 11: Veterans Day
November 24: Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday of November)
November 24: Black Friday
December 1-31: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa
December 31: New Year’s Eve
License this image via Dimitar Petrovski. The marketing ideas we cover in the next sections can be applied to any of these holidays! As you read on, keep in mind which seasonal holidays or opportunities may be best to grab attention for your brand.
5 Holiday Marketing Ideas & Tips
Many marketers start planning their December holiday campaigns in the summer. Below are ideas to get you started planning your brand’s holiday promotions right now. These ideas are low-cost and highly-targeted, so you can plan for the holidays without breaking the bank!
Make the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide
Sleigh Your Sales with Amazon Advertising
Embrace the Joy of Gift Card Marketing
Spread Holiday Cheer with a Social Media Giveaway
Get the Timing Right
1. Make the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide
Make holiday shopping easier for people by creating a fun and inspirational gift guide full of your products. A holiday gift guide simplifies the gift-buying process for customers. It provides them with curated product recommendations and inspiration. It showcases the range of products and promotes upselling and cross-selling opportunities. This can ultimately increase sales and customer satisfaction during the holiday season!
Creating a gift guide involves only a few key steps:
– Curate a selection of products that align with your audience’s interests.
– Include enticing product descriptions and high-quality holiday season images throughout your graphic design.
– Organize the guide into categories or price ranges. This makes it easy for shoppers to navigate and find the perfect gifts.
– Promote the gift guide through various channels, such as your website, social media, and email campaigns, to drive engagement and sales. An excellent place to display a holiday gift guide is on your website’s homepage, in a prominent section in your online store, or an email.
License these images via Vira Simon’s Studio.
2. Sleigh Your Sales with Amazon Advertising
When people think of advertising, the go-to is usually Facebook, Instagram, and Google. But these aren’t your only options! People often overlook advertising on Amazon because they primarily view it as an online shopping platform, rather than an advertising channel. It offers huge potential during the holidays, as they are the busiest shopping season of the year!
Here is how you can make the most of Amazon Advertising:
– Clearly define your objectives (e.g. increasing sales, driving traffic, boosting brand awareness, etc.)
– Use relevant keywords in your product title, bullet points, and description to improve your search visibility.
– Incorporate compelling product photos and images to help attract potential customers.
– Utilize Sponsored Products to promote individual products within search results and related product listings (it’s one of the most effective advertising options on Amazon!)
– Use targeting features such as product targeting, category targeting, and audience targeting to narrow down your reach and display your ads to relevant shoppers who are more likely to convert.
– Keep a close eye on your campaign performance, click-through rates, conversion rates, and return on ad spend (ROAS) by identifying underperforming keywords, adjusting bids, and refining your targeting.
License this image via Vira Simon’s Studio and Makistock – Offset.
Amazon Advertising is an ongoing process, so continuous testing, analyzing data, and adjusting based on insights will help you refine your strategy to achieve better results.
3. Embrace the Joy of Gift Card Marketing
Did you know that 60% of those who receive gift cards spend more than the card’s value? You can cash in on that success. Simply create your own using gift card designs available on the Shutterstock library. Here’s how to get your holiday gift card marketing right:
– Create appealing and festive holiday gift card designs that capture the holiday spirit.
– Promote the convenience and versatility of your gift cards. Tout that they are a perfect gift option for everyone!
– To reach a wider audience, leverage the marketing channels we covered above, including social media, email campaigns, and in-store displays.
– Offer incentives. Bonus values added to gift cards can encourage more card purchases during the holiday season.
– If you run a physical store, place your gift cards in high-traffic areas of your store, such as the checkout counter or bestseller displays. If you have an online store, use a similar approach!
4. Spread Holiday Cheer with a Social Media Giveaway
Plan a holiday social media giveaway where participants can win prizes by engaging with your brand’s content. Social media giveaways increase followers, subscribers, and leads. Generally, they have a conversion rate of nearly 34%. But how is it done?
As always, determine your objectives. Clearly define what you hope to achieve through this giveaway. Don’t forget to identify your target audience to ensure your giveaway resonates with the right people.
Decide on the specifics of your giveaway. Determine its duration, entry requirements, and prizes.
Choose a theme that aligns with the holiday season and your brand’s image. Create engaging and visually appealing contest graphics to promote the giveaway on your social channels.
Communicate the giveaway details, entry instructions, and deadlines. Leverage relevant hashtags.
Collaborate with influencers or partners. Also consider running targeted ads to expand the reach of your promotion.
License this image via Vladimir Sukhachev and Nikolay Vdovichenko.
Finally, monitor the entries, engage with participants, and ensure a fair selection process such as random selection. Announce the winners and publicly share their experiences or testimonials to promote your brand further! Remember to comply with the rules and regulations of each social media platform you use. Consider consulting legal counsel if necessary to ensure compliance with any applicable laws or regulations governing giveaways.
5. Get the Timing Right
Timing is everything! Marketing the right messages at the right time allows businesses to:
– Capture customers’ attention early
– Build anticipation
– Establish brand presence
Nailing your timing also helps brands maximize sales opportunities before the market becomes saturated. Get in front of your customers before their attention gets divided among competitors.
Generally, you’ll want to start your holiday marketing a few months before the holiday season begins. For example, go live with Christmas or Hanukkah marketing campaigns in late October or early November. This timing ensures early brand visibility and gives your customers enough time to make purchasing decisions.
License this image via Mezzotint – Offset.
Conclusion:
By implementing these holiday marketing strategies and tips, you can set your brand up for success during the busy holiday season and navigate economic uncertainty in 2023. Remember, planning ahead, being creative, and staying flexible will help you adapt to changing market conditions and connect with your target audience effectively.