The fourth quarter brings more sales opportunities than any other stretch of the year. Holidays and events like Black Friday, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are peak spending periods, so much so that some businesses see up to 75% of their yearly profits land in Q4 alone.
With numbers like that, a solid holiday marketing strategy genuinely matters. The good news is there’s plenty you can do to sharpen yours this season. Here’s how to make the most of holiday marketing during the fourth quarter.
Serve up Search Engine Marketing or SEM
Google handles 90% of all searches, which makes paid ads and search listings an effective way to extend your reach. Paid search listings drive traffic directly, and SEM also covers sponsored listings that show up not just on the search engine itself but across other sites with ad space. Beyond prospecting new customers, a retargeting campaign lets you follow up with people who’ve already visited a specific page on your site. These ads tend to perform especially well, since they’re reaching people who already have genuine interest in what you offer, and are more likely to act when they see your ad again.
Gobble up Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing lets you extend your campaign across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. People are spending more time scrolling than ever, which gives you a real shot at reaching a large audience during the holiday season. Social campaigns also let you target a wide range of audiences, and mixing in paid social alongside branded or influencer-generated content can boost results further. Alongside paid efforts, keeping your organic channels active matters too, building that trust with your audience is what makes them actually pay attention when your ads do show up.
Video Brings Your Business to Life
Video is one of the most effective marketing tools out there, letting you pack a lot of content into something genuinely engaging. It works across ads, promoted posts, organic social, or your own website. Use video to share your best holiday cooking tips, decorating ideas, or anything else tied to what your audience is thinking about this time of year. A quick video featuring your team wishing customers happy holidays is also a simple, effective way to build a stronger connection with your audience.
Send a Cornucopia of Emails
Don’t underestimate targeted emails. Show your loyal customers some appreciation with early access to sales and offers, and a genuine thank-you for their support. If you notice a chunk of customers haven’t purchased in a while, a special discount can be exactly what brings them back to your site.
We are Grateful for Geo-Targeted Ads
SEM campaigns let you target ads to specific geographic locations where you actually want to be seen. You can also target people who’ve recently shown interest in a particular area, improving your odds of catching their attention. People are far more likely to act on a good deal when it’s somewhere convenient and nearby.
Digital Makes Holiday Store Pickups Easy
As you get closer to a major holiday, it’s worth digitally reminding customers about in-store options if online orders are cutting it too close to arrive in time. A discount code for in-store pickup at their nearest location is a simple way to offer real convenience. If click-and-collect is something you offer, the final weeks before a holiday are the perfect window to really push that service.
The benefit of going digital this holiday season
The world runs more digitally than ever these days. When people plan for the holidays, they’re searching online, where to find Santa, where to get the best gifts, and everything in between. Now’s the time to lean into that constant digital and social presence and build a marketing campaign for Q4 that covers every angle.
Want to make the most of holiday marketing but not sure where to start? Our expert team at OMDIGI Group will help take your strategy to the next level and build a loyal customer base this holiday season. Don’t hesitate to get in contact with us at gday@omdigigroup.com to find out more about what we can do for you.
