The holiday season is fast approaching, and for businesses, it’s one of the most crucial times of the year for boosting sales and honing marketing strategies. As a local merchant, to make it easier for your customers to purchase and increase your revenue during the 4th quarter, it’s essential to implement automated and hassle-free sales promotions.
When it comes to holiday marketing, advertising goes a long way — and it’ll go even further with automation. Follow along as we explore some creative ideas that you can automate and seamlessly integrate into your holiday marketing strategy.
Do you need help choosing an automated system for your business in 2023? Contact Cornerstone today and talk to an expert.
Countdown Deals
Creating a sense of urgency can drive sales. As such, consider running countdown deals where you offer exclusive discounts or promotions that expire at the end of each day or week. You can also automate these promotions to change regularly — keeping your customers engaged and motivated to make a purchase sooner rather than later.
In line with profitable marketing tactics, these exclusive discounts and promotions expire at the end of each day or week, creating a sense of urgency and encouraging your customers to make their purchases sooner rather than later. To make these promotions even more effective, consider automating them to change regularly.
Here’s a list of holiday countdown deal ideas to inspire you:
- Daily Discounts: Offer a unique discount on a different product or category every day. Make it a surprise by revealing the deal each morning. For example, “Today Only: 30% Off All Jewelry!”
- Weekend Flash Sales: Create weekend-only promotions for holiday shoppers, perhaps with deeper discounts or bundled deals. Make weekends special for your customers. “Weekend Special: Buy One, Get One 50% Off.”
- 12 Days of Christmas: Emulate the classic “12 Days of Christmas” with a different promotion each day leading up to the holiday. On the first day, offer a small discount, and increase it incrementally each day to make sure it catches attention.
- Mystery Discounts: Keep customers guessing with mystery discounts. They won’t know how much they’ll save until they check out. “Click to Reveal Your Mystery Discount: 15% to 50% Off!”
- Countdown to Midnight: If you’re open late on Christmas Eve, promote a “Countdown to Midnight” sale. Customers can enjoy special discounts as the clock ticks down to the big day.
- Weekly Theme Sales: Dedicate each week to a specific theme, such as “Tech Tuesday” with discounts on electronics or “Fashion Friday” with deals on clothing and accessories.
- Freebies with Purchase: Offer free gifts or add-ons with each purchase. For example, “Spend $50 and receive a free holiday-themed tote bag.”
- Last-Minute Stocking Stuffers: As the holiday draws near, focus on small, affordable items perfect for stocking stuffers. Change these deals daily to cater to last-minute shoppers.
- 7 Days of Gift Cards: Promote gift cards as a convenient last-minute gift option by offering bonus discounts or small freebies with each gift card purchase.
- Flashback Discounts: Bring back your best-selling products from previous years and offer discounts that reflect the number of years since their debut. “Flashback to 2018: 18% Off Our Classic Collection!”
- Daily Giveaways: Host a daily giveaway where customers who make a purchase are automatically entered for a chance to win a special prize.
- Social Media Exclusive: Use social media platforms to announce exclusive daily deals, encouraging customers to follow and engage with your brand.
Holiday Shopping Incentives
The holiday season is all about spreading joy and giving, and what better way to do that with your holiday marketing campaign than by offering your customers exciting holiday season deals?
Check out the following holiday shopping incentives:
Personalized Product Recommendations
Leverage automated algorithms to provide personalized product recommendations to your customers. Analyze their browsing and purchase history to suggest relevant products, making it easier for them to discover items they’ll love. This not only enhances the shopping experience but also boosts your sales.
Abandoned Cart Recovery
Cart abandonment is a common issue during the holiday season. As such, implement an automated abandoned cart recovery system that sends reminder emails to customers who left items in their carts. You can also include a special promotion or incentive to encourage them to complete their purchase.
Free Shipping and Gift Wrapping
Offering free shipping or complimentary gift wrapping during the holiday season can significantly incentivize customers. Make this process seamless by automatically applying these perks to eligible orders at checkout.
Tiered Discounts
Encourage larger purchases by implementing tiered discounts. For example, customers can receive 10% off orders over $50 and 20% off orders over $100. Automate this discount in your POS system to apply the appropriate percentage based on the total order value.
Create a Holiday Loyalty Program with Rewards
Implement a loyalty program that rewards customers for their repeat business. Automate point accumulation and redemption — allowing customers to earn discounts or exclusive items for their loyalty.
Gift Guides
Create automated gift guides or product collections for different recipient categories (e.g., gifts for him, gifts for her, gifts for kids). Help customers find the perfect gift by curating these collections with popular items.
Digital Holiday Marketing Tips
While video marketing campaigns are always a win during the holiday season, some of the more traditional digital marketing strategies can also come in handy. And while a holiday gift is going to be on the minds of shoppers, making it easier for them to decide what to buy is always beneficial.
Holiday Email Marketing Automation
Utilize email marketing automation to send out holiday-themed newsletters, promotions, and personalized recommendations. Tailor your email content to match customer preferences and behaviors.
Chatbots for Customer Assistance
Integrate chatbots into your website or social media platforms to provide instant customer support. Answer frequently asked questions, help customers find products, and suggest promotions or discounts based on their inquiries.
Consumer Credit Services and Automation
It’s that time of the year, and you can rely on our team at Cornerstone to advise you and provide the perfect products or services to assist you with holiday promotions for your small business. When you connect with us, you will get a customized system designed for your specific business. Our team can teach you what you need to know to get started with payment processing or guide you on the next phase of your growth, even if it’s strictly for the holiday shopping season.
We value our customers and strive to provide you with the tools you need for your holiday marketing campaigns!
Looking for an automated system for the holidays in 2023? Please reach out to Cornerstone today and talk to an expert.