Studies show that many consumers start thinking about their holiday shopping even before December begins. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the major sale events for many. For this reasons, you need to start your holiday campaigning well in advance so that you can be top of mind when your customers start their shopping.
What are some of the things you can do to set your brand apart during the holiday season and garner more sales?
1. Have the right offers
With everyone being home for the holidays, costs already increase by default. And don't even get us started on how January has 62 days!
However, unlike the years before, 2020 has seen expenses expand exponentially. In Kenya alone, children who would otherwise be in schools were home for the better part of the year, working from home was the new order, masks and sanitisers became a basic need, salaries were cut in half, jobs were lost, parents became teachers, among other lifestyle changes.
Your consumers will definitely be looking for a reason to celebrate the close of the year and good deal to go with it. By considering the shifts in consumer segments and offering deals that show them that you understand their plight, your consumers are bound to stick with your brand.
2. Inspire your consumers with holiday ideas
Show your consumers the value they can get from your products and services. Demonstrate multiple ways that they can use and repurpose your products or services, give them a few tips and hacks on how to gift on a budget, show them fun activities that they can do for the holidays etc. A brand that helps and cares, particularly in these unprecedented times, will be remembered.
Using digital intelligence, you can find out what your consumers are interested in and tailor your products and services to meet that need.
3. Offer support to your consumers during the holidays
The great and not-so-great thing about this digital connected world is that it is always on. Todays consumer has options - not just locally, but globally. When you close for the day or go to bed, your consumers can, at that moment, be trying to reach your business. Not being available to them, even for a moment, opens them up to the preying talons of the competition.
There's always going to be that last-minute shopper, or that consumer who needs that final question answered before they make the decision to purchase. Being available to your consumers at whatever time they want to reach you, especially during the holiday season, can set you apart from your competitors. In a highly connected world like this, an elevated customer experience alone can be the single difference between you and your competition.
If you're unable to have a 24/7 support team, consider expanding your marketing technology stack. Have a fully loaded website with all the relevant consumer-important information, a chat bot, a product catalogue with descriptions and any other useful solutions to help your consumer choose you. Use marketing automation solutions to help you capture, nurture and maintain your pipeline at every stage of the marketing funnel.
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