You made it! You survived (and if you took some of my advice, you probably even thrived) in November, but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for 2018. Give the last month of the year (and your customers) much-deserved love and attention by creating December email marketing campaigns that surprise, delight, inspire, and motivate.
Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing some tried and true holiday marketing tactics that you can apply to your own business. Get inspiration from other top brands, and add a few items to your December email marketing checklist now so you can finish the year with strong results.
Part 1: Take your December email marketing ideas off the beaten path
I mean, would December even be worth it if you missed “Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day”?
(It’s December 18, by the way.)
But seriously, don’t let decking the halls distract you from some of these lesser-known days to capitalize on with your December email marketing.
**ICYMI the last two months: I don’t recommend hopping on every hashtag holiday! I do think it’s helpful to be aware of what will be trending and top of mind throughout the year. Only capitalize when there is alignment. You could reach new customers AND delight your existing ones when you position your product or service in a unique, relevant way!
December 5 – Prohibition Day
Having worked in wine marketing for the past 10 years, I always like to point out that December 5th is the day that Prohibition ended in the United States. If you’re in the adult beverage industry and want to add a little history to your holiday marketing programs, consider sending a campaign with a great cocktail recipe or special offer.
It’s a great excuse to inject a little black & white photography and speak-easy flair to your marketing mix, too…
December 15 is Free Shipping Day
…and it’s also the start of one of the busiest holiday shopping weeks of the year, as the last-minute shoppers (like me) make a mad dash to order those last few gifts. Hop on the bandwagon and offer free shipping on select items or qualifying purchases. Take a cue from Gymboree and include a note about order deadlines so your customers get their gifts in time.
December 21st can go a few different directions, if you so choose.
For one, it’s National Ugly Christmas Sweater day, a fun holiday marketing opportunity to show off your personality (and your fashion sense).
December 21st also marks Winter Solstice, which is the first day of winter and also the shortest day of the year. Can you find a holiday marketing connection to your business?
I love this example, originally shared on the MailCharts blog, from national beauty brand Estée Lauder.
Want more December email marketing days not to miss?
If your business/brand can get away with being a little bit tongue-in-cheek, the Seinfeld fans out there might love a “Festivus” reference on December 23. Perhaps a silly campaign dedicated to the airing of grievances?
December 26 = Boxing Day
The day after Christmas is Boxing Day – a holiday that originated in the United Kingdom and has represented an opportunity for retailers the world-over to offer special pricing and incentives to those of us who feel like shopping for ourselves after we realize that Santa did not deliver everything we had asked for this year.
Summin’ it up
Your emails needn’t be adorned in tinsel all December long. Take a look at your business calendar, do a “fun national holidays” search, and find some unique opportunities to share your company’s story with your customers.
What to do now:
Check out this awesome post from Sprout Social that includes an entire hashtag holiday calendar.
See if there is any alignment for your business. If so, create an email campaign to add to your marketing mix! The goal is to add value for your customers while positioning your business in a unique, relevant way.
And of course, tune in next week for part 2 in this series. You’ll learn how to make the Holiday Guide you added to your holiday marketing calendar in November work for you throughout the month of December.
Are you seeking creative ways to deliver value to your customer’s inboxes throughout the year? I’d love to help you create an Editorial Calendar that accomplishes your goals and delights your subscribers. Let’s chat.