Turbo Charge Your Holiday Marketing with These Easy Social Media Tactics

Social media has quickly become a key player in the buyer’s journey. It is estimated that 77% of the population in the United States alone has a social media profile, which means it’s very likely that your customers are on at least one platform.

And when it comes to holiday marketing, social media can have a significant impact on your sales. In fact, according to a recent SproutSocial survey, more than half of all Millennials (58.9%), Gen Xers (50.4%) and Baby Boomers (55%) follow brands on social media before making a purchase. And the same survey revealed that, across generations, 62% of people are likely or somewhat likely to buy from a brand they follow on social media.

Social media works – when it’s done right. These 7 simple social media tactics will help you increase your marketing strength and boost sales during the holiday season.

Get in the Festive Spirit

When the holiday season approaches, deck the halls! The virtual halls, that is. Change your profile headers and images to something that reflects a holiday theme. Reference the holidays in your post copy and share holiday jokes, movies and traditions. Ask your followers to share their own holiday images or favorite traditions, and don’t forget to reply to their comments. However, be sure to stay on brand while spreading holiday cheer on social media.

Pair Social Media with Radio

Combining radio and social media delivers a one-two punch that gets real results. A Pew Research report showed that 91% of people in the U.S. who are 12 years old or older listen to the radio at least once a week. And when it comes to social media usage, around 68% of people in the U.S. spend about a half hour on Facebook each day. Maximizing both channels during the holiday season can greatly extend your brand’s reach and increase ROI.

Promote a Gift Guide

Get your followers in the holiday spirit by sharing gift ideas that feature your products or services. Almost 67% of consumers said that they have purchased a gift that they discovered on social media. And gift guides are a great way to boost holiday sales. Be sure to use high-quality photos, well-written content and descriptive hashtags to gain as much visibility as possible.

Share a Special Offer

Special offers capture attention. People love deals and discounts, so have fun with it. Just about any special offer can be spun to fit your holiday campaign. You can make a holiday-themed offer, such as “12 Days of Deals,” or you can show value by framing the sale around how people would use your product or service during the holiday season. For instance, a carpet cleaning company might offer discounted cleaning services in anticipation of holiday family visits. The key is to instill a sense of urgency – stressing that it is for a limited time.

Use Festive/Holiday Hashtags

Holiday hashtags do double duty as fun descriptions and searchable keywords. When someone clicks on a hashtag on Instagram, for example, they can see all the posts that contain that hashtag. This increases the reach and visibility of your content beyond your followers and fans. Use hashtags like #Wishlist, #Christmas, #ChristmasShopping and #Gifts, but also research trending hashtags to see if any are relevant to your brand or post.

Host a Giveaway or Contest

Contests and giveaways are a popular marketing strategy that can increase awareness while engaging your audience on social media. Host a drawing, run a contest or post a festive quiz or poll to get your audience motivated, excited and involved in your brand.

Advertise on Social

Social media traffic often picks up during the holidays, and it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. Paid social ads can help your brand cut through the holiday noise on social media while allowing you a better way to reach your audience. Keep your ads holiday-focused, but most of all, have fun.

Holiday social media marketing gets your customers excited about your brand. It engages them and provides you with more visibility. Try these strategies to give your social media a festive flair and supercharge your marketing throughout the holiday season.