Marketing Tips for “Odd” Holidays

The traditional “holiday season” may be over, but that does not mean your marketing should stop celebrating! Do you have a plan to capitalize on the hype around Valentine’s Day? How about something for Martin Luther King Day? Maybe your specific industry has a couple of key “holidays” you celebrate (for example, our client, Garver’s Animal Health Center, celebrates National Veterinary Technician Week and World Spay Day)?

Whatever the reason may be, share in the celebration through marketing! Holidays are a good time to offer specials that the average consumer may not get any other day of the year. Here are 5 “odd” holiday marketing tips outside of the religion-based celebrations:

1. Get the word out through social media: Whether you are offering a special deal or just want to change your branding to promote your product during the holiday, social media is the easiest and quickest way to inform the public! Show your support by changing each profile’s cover photo with a custom graphic to reflect how your company is celebrating the holiday. Promote your specials leading up to the holiday.
2. Host an event: An event can draw massive crowds if promoted well. Think of a creative way to bring people to your store, or host your event somewhere in your community. An example from Garver’s Animal Health Center is that they hosted an easter egg hunt for dogs this past year. This event was unique to the community, and the local radio station attended and covered the event on-air as it was happening! They got a lot of press because of the event and engaged with people who had never been to their clinics before.
3. Partner up: Have a relationship with another non-competing business looking to celebrate the holiday as well? Join forces for double the publicity! Create a holiday “package” deal consisting of both your product/service and your partner’s. This way, your offerings will look more appealing to your customer-base, and you’ll gain exposure to their customers.
4. Hold a contest: A unique and creative contest can drum up business and help you gain a bit of free press! Your contest should contain the holiday theme, and be imaginative enough to create an attractive press release. Whether your contest takes place at your event, or is based on user submission via email, youtube video or a social media post, you will engage your audience though friendly competition.
5. Market early and often: Build hype around how your company is participating in the holiday festivities early! Plan for cross-platform marketing to begin at least a month before the holiday. Start with a “save the date” postcard and e-newsletter to build awareness and anticipation on what’s to come. Create a “drip” campaign, so your message hits your target market multiple times (through multiple mediums) before the holiday!

Get creative! Stand out from your competitors who may also be running promotions and specials on holidays by being unique and thinking outside the box. If you would like some holiday marketing ideas, contact TRIO!