Best Practices for Holiday Posts from Marketing Angle
Preparing for Upcoming Holiday Posts?
Get the most out of your holiday posting efforts! Drive results and engagement with these best practices for every holiday post during the year.
When brands post about what consumers value, support, and celebrate, it creates bonds between them and deepens the connection between their business and clients, as well as their followers on social media.
Start by thinking about what posts grab your attention during any holiday. Is it the one's that make you laugh, tug at your heart strings, or motivate and inspire? Grab your marketing team (or give us a call, if you don't have one!) and start brainstorming ideas to make your posts relevant and engaging for every holiday.
Is the standard Canva design template or Adobe creative going to make someone stop and engage with your post? Chances are, it's going to blend right in with the other millions of posts that your followers are already seeing and get very little engagement, if any, at all.
So, what should you do?
Above all else, be real and authentic. To maximize results and engagement on holiday posts, focus on creating holiday-specific content that is interactive, relevant to your audience, and includes elements like giveaways, polls, etc. Make sure to plan and schedule posts in advance and do your research on the best posting times for your audience.
There are many helpful articles out there to get you in the right frame of mind for generating great organic content on your social media platforms. Plan ahead and get started early. Remember, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Key Strategies for Successful Holiday Social Media Posts
Create relevant holiday content:
Tailor your posts to the specific holiday, incorporating festive imagery, themes, and messaging that resonate with your audience.
Host giveaways and contests:
Run holiday-themed giveaways or contests to encourage engagement and generate excitement among followers.
Interactive elements:
Use polls, questions, or "choose your own adventure" style posts to prompt audience interaction.
Offer exclusive deals:
Provide special holiday promotions or discounts to incentivize purchases.
User-generated content:
Encourage your audience to share their own holiday-related content using a branded hashtag.
- A branded hashtag is a custom hashtag that is unique to your brand or business. They can range from names of companies to products, campaigns, or slogans.
Visual appeal:
Utilize high-quality images and videos to capture attention and enhance the festive feel.
Plan ahead and schedule posts:
Create a content calendar well in advance to ensure consistent posting throughout the holiday season.
Optimize posting times:
Analyze your audience's activity patterns to determine the best times to post on each platform.
Acknowledge the season:
Incorporate holiday greetings and well-wishes into your posts to show appreciation for your audience.
Be authentic and genuine:
Avoid overly commercialized content and focus on connecting with your audience on a personal level.
Organic holiday posts that perform well on social media typically include: relatable content with a personal touch, festive visuals, engaging questions to spark conversation, seasonal trends, behind-the-scenes glimpses, gratitude expressions, and a focus on community engagement while aligning with the spirit of the holiday, all while avoiding overly promotional language.
Below is an example of two different holiday posts and the differences in the creatives. Both videos are fun, festive and creative, however, the engagement of the posts was very different. Could it be because on a mobile device employees really couldn't see themselves in the pictures in ornaments on the tree? Possibly.
While both videos contained text and well-wishes for the Holiday season, the second video contained multiple images of employees with smiling faces and lots of group pictures of the team throughout the year. Adding employees to company social media posts significantly increases engagement by leveraging their personal networks, making content appear more authentic, and boosting brand reach. Employees essentially act as brand ambassadors, leading to higher visibility. Your employees typically have a much larger social network than your company page, allowing the message to reach a wider audience when they share content.
Examples of high-performing organic holiday posts:
Visual storytelling:
- A photo of your team dressed in festive attire with a caption about holiday traditions within your company.
- A time-lapse video showcasing the process of making a holiday-themed product.
- A beautiful product shot styled with seasonal decorations.
Interactive posts:
- "What's your favorite holiday memory?" with a comment section for users to share stories.
- A poll asking which holiday treat people prefer.
- A "Name that holiday movie" quiz with a festive image.
Gratitude-focused posts:
- A heartfelt message thanking customers for their support throughout the year.
- A post highlighting a charitable initiative your company is involved in during the holiday season.
Seasonal trends and humor:
- A meme or GIF incorporating a popular holiday trend.
- A funny caption about a relatable holiday situation.
- A "holiday-themed" take on a current pop culture reference.
Behind-the-scenes content:
- A peek at your team wrapping gifts for a giveaway.
- A video of your workspace decorated for the holidays.
Recap of Key points to consider:
- Authenticity: Ensure your posts reflect your brand's personality and values.
- Relevant hashtags: Utilize popular holiday hashtags to reach a wider audience.
- Call-to-action: Encourage engagement by asking questions, running contests, or requesting user-generated content.
- Timing is key: Post content at optimal times when your audience is most likely to be active.
It doesn't have to be an exhausting process to create engaging and authentic holiday posts. Grab your team for a quick brainstorming session, round up some fun photos of your employees, events, business, and start planning your holiday posts!
