If you went into basically any retail location the day after Halloween, you’d encounter holiday music and décor. It’s that time of year again. You’ve probably got enough on your plate as it is, so let us breakdown some holiday business trends that will make marketing easier than ever.
7 Holiday Business Trends to Stay on Top of
1. Starting Now
Your holiday business promotions should begin yesterday. Some people love it, others hate it, but the reality is that the holiday season in America starts as early as September. So if you’re wondering whether or not it’s too early to start talking about special deals, it’s not.
2. Leverage Podcasts
From 2015 to 2016, podcast audiences have grown by 23 percent. Let that sink in. A medium that was already extraordinarily popular saw that big of an increase in listeners in just a year. Whether it’s on your own podcast or another one, don’t sleep on the power of podcasts for advertising. Like our good pal Tim Healy’s, for example.
3. Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is so popular because it makes shopping easy for consumers. Plenty of people shop on Black Friday, as evidenced by horror stories and photos of nightmarish mobs at retail outlets across the country. But with Cyber Monday, those who don’t feel like braving the crowds can kick back and take advantage of the deals from the comfort of their own homes.
For a flawless Cyber Monday marketing plan, make sure you’ve got a functional ecommerce system in place on your website.
4. The Mobile Experience
Mobile-friendly shopping has been one of the top business trends over the past few years. Especially since the holiday season is hectic and many people are on-the-go, mobile is extremely convenient for customers.
About 66 percent of emails are opened on mobile devices. If you plan to use email marketing in your holiday campaign (which you definitely should), your emails must be optimized for mobile devices.
5. Reel in Would-Be Customers with Remarketing Ads
A lot of people who find your website aren’t necessarily going to make a purchase on their first visit. Remarketing ads are an effective way to keep your business fresh in their minds as they research their other options, including your competitors.
6. Video is a Huge Deal
Video marketing is one of the best ways to reach the young, millennial crowd, but it’s not just for them. A 2014 survey revealed that 80 percent of shoppers, regardless of age, watch product demonstration videos, with many viewers preferring videos from industry experts.
Adding a festive touch to a video can work for businesses in virtually any industry.
7. Versatile Purchase Options
A study conducted in 2015 revealed that gift card searches rise by 79 percent during the week before Christmas versus the first week of December. While you should think about holiday marketing campaigns early in the year, don’t forget about the last-minute shoppers.
Make gift cards to your business available for anyone who needs a last-minute idea. Also, if your business is product-based, offer expedited shipping. With services like Amazon Prime, consumers expect their purchases to be shipped in the blink of an eye.
What are you waiting for? Take what you’ve learned from these business trends and start implementing a marketing campaign that capitalizes on the holiday consumer mindset!
