The holidays are a critical time for businesses. It’s the time of year when people are the most generous and most likely to spend money on things they wouldn’t normally buy. That’s why it’s so important to get your holiday marketing right. However, even with the best of intentions, many marketers end up making some fatal mistakes that cost them dearly in terms of sales and ROI. In this article, we’ll explore 7 of the most common mistakes marketers make when executing their holiday campaigns so that you can avoid them and make the most of this critical sales period.
Here are the seven most common mistakes marketers make during the holiday season (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday) —and how to avoid them.
One of the most common mistakes marketers make is not taking the time to plan their offer carefully. They think they can just put any old thing together, and people will buy it because it’s the holidays. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. People are more discerning than ever before, and if your offer isn’t competitive or doesn’t meet their needs, they’ll take their business elsewhere.
This year opt for a value-added offer.
One of Warren Buffett’s most famous quotes is, “Price is what you pay; value is what you get.”
Price is the amount of money your customer pays for a product. Value is what your customer perceives the benefits of that product to be and the emotional connection he/she has to the product and the brand concerning the price.
Another mistake marketers make is failing to create a sense of urgency around their offer. If people don’t feel like they need to act now, they’ll likely procrastinate and never end up buying anything from you.
Make sure your offer has a strong call-to-action and limited-time discount to encourage people to take action now rather than later.
With all the noise during the holidays, it’s easy for your product to get lost in the shuffle if you don’t promote it enough. Ensure you’re using all channels available to you—email, social media, paid ads, etc.—to reach your message as many people as possible.
While the context is a bit different for each platform – you can reuse similar content across all channels. Plus, when you use a social media scheduler, such as COREsocial – you can promote across all channels at once! LEARN MORE HERE.
Email is still one of the most effective marketing channels available, but only if you use it strategically. During the holidays, your inbox is probably flooded with promotional messages from brands vying for your attention. Stand out by creating compelling emails that actually offer value rather than just trying to sell, sell, sell.
Another common mistake is failing to segment and target potential buyers carefully. Just because someone is on your email list doesn’t mean they’re actually interested in what you have to offer—especially during the holidays when everyone’s inboxes are overflowing with messages.
Take the time to segment your list so you’re only sending relevant messages to those who are actually interested in hearing from you at this time of year.
Inside your Email Software, for example, segment those who are actively clicking links to your website so you can continue sending them ‘last chance’ offers as they are the audience most interested in your messaging.
Social media is an incredibly powerful marketing tool, but only if used correctly. During the holidays, many brands make the mistake of bombarding their followers with constant sales pitches and promotions without offering any real value or considering what their followers want to see during this time of year.
Slow down and take a strategic approach to social media to provide value, connect with their inner emotions, and create relationships rather than just trying to make a quick sale.
Technology has come a long way in recent years, and there are now more automation tools available than ever before—but many marketers are still resistant to using them because they think it makes their brand seem impersonal or robotic.
However, this couldn’t be further from the truth!
Automation simply frees up your time so that you can focus on other aspects of your business while still delivering a high-quality experience for your customers/clients.
During such a busy time of year, automation tools can be a lifesaver by helping you take care of all those little tasks that tend to get forgotten in the hustle and bustle—sending follow-up emails after purchase, for instance, or sending birthday coupons on customer anniversaries… things like that can easily be automated without compromising quality or personalization.
Ep 55: 7 Steps to Execute a Successful Holiday E-Commerce Strategy
The holiday season is crucial for businesses—but it’s also easy to make mistakes that can cost you dearly in terms of sales and ROI. However, by avoiding these seven common mistakes, you can set yourself up for success and make the most out of this critical sales period. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your holiday marketing campaign today! And Remember: Always test, measure, and optimize!
[earb post_id=”4524″]
The holidays sneak up on us every year, but that doesn’t mean we should wait until the last minute to start planning our campaigns. In fact, the best way to avoid stress and ensure a successful holiday campaign is to start planning early. By starting your planning as early as September or October, you’ll have plenty of time to execute your plans without feeling rushed.
For help, refer to our Holiday Social Media Strategy Guide – With this step-by-step process, you’ll have everything you need to make your business stand out during the year’s busiest shopping season. LEARN MORE HERE.
Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:
Since I share awe-inspiring resources and must-have products for business builders like you who want to streamline their business – my content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn a small commission. While it has no effect on your pricing, it’s my responsibility to let you know that an income (however small or large it may be) is made from recommending products I love, use, and share with other awesome people like yourself. With your support, I’m able to commit time to this blog and to each of you on your journey!
hello!
I'm obsessed with quick wins and quality content. Through bite-sized courses, private consulting, and a safety net community, I help women and direct-sales escapees harness the power of personal connection to create, build, and launch their own coaching and digital product brand.
trending:
TAKE BETTER PICS!
I know the struggle of taking photos for yourself. It can be hard to get a good shot, and even harder to edit it! That’s why I created this kit to teach you how to take, edit, and use brand marketing photos. This is what you need for marketing photography and DIY brand photoshoots!
Build, launch, and scale a profitable digital product business in 5 steps using the new easy-to-follow Brand Building Roadmap.
The Business Start-Up Kit breaks down what to expect to spend monthly when using my software and platform suggestions.
Say goodbye to overwhelming how-to courses and hello to bite-sized wins with my Brand Building Roadmap as you jumpstart or reignite your coaching and digital product business.
Grab either or both of these FREEBIES to get your first WIN today!
With 19 years experience in the online selling space, having been a part of multiple start ups, 8 years in direct sales, and hired by over 65 brands - I know many sides of business.
That's why I empathize with the exhausting cycle you're caught in. What started as an easy-entry business-in-a-box model has now become your worst nightmare that's out of your control.
But don't give up yet. As a resilient and grassroots woman, you possess incredible potential to utilize your unique talents and life experiences for the betterment of others.
It's time to finally claim that coveted "entrepreneur" name tag but without the nauseating control tactics and restrictive business model.
Through bite-sized courses, private consulting, and a safety net community, I help women and direct-sales escapees harness the power of personal connection to create, build, and launch their own coaching and digital product brand.
When you partner with me, you'll create an unforgettable, distinctly tailored brand experience that’s guaranteed to draw in clients who appreciate quick wins and quality.
8 Visual Branding Elements Your Brand Needs To Stand Out
A Website: 10 Reasons Why Your Business Needs One Immediately
5 Signs It's Time To Turn Your Passion Into A Business
7 Instagram Content Ideas To Boost Engagement
How To Generate Sales Using Social Media Without Selling
5 Tips for Surviving as a Solopreneur