The holidays are right around the corner, but don’t let the lack of a marketing plan stress you out. We’ve got your back with practical, last-minute holiday marketing tips to help you finish the year strong.
We're taking the most popular questions from our latest webinar and expanding upon them so you can boost your visibility, drive sales or donations, and create meaningful connections with your audience during the festive season.
Is it too late to start planning?
Not at all. If you’re feeling the crunch, decide on one goal to guide your campaign. Examples are increasing sales, bringing in donations, and showing gratitude. Once you have your goal, start planning. Need guidance? Download our Marketing Plan Worksheet. Set a realistic deadline to make your goal feel more achievable.
Also, don’t be afraid to re-use content you’ve created in the past (emails, social posts, etc) if it supports your goal.
Our nonprofit does an end-of-year appeal. Any ideas to make ours stand out?
Check out 11 Ways to Nail Your Holiday Fundraising Appeal This Giving Season. It’s important to acknowledge your donors on a more personal level and highlight how their contributions are positively impacting your nonprofit goals. Design-wise, there are a lot of template options to build from and make your own.
How can I encourage holiday season donors to leap into sustained monthly giving?
The above answer covers a lot of this ground, but emphasize to your seasonal donors how their contributions have made a positive impact and how much more sustained giving would allow your organization to accomplish your goals.
I already do emails. What else am I missing?
Be where your audience is. Create a presence on social media, such as a Facebook Business page, to reach a wider audience or offer a text-to-join option to share those immediate last-minute shopping deals via SMS marketing. Explore these tools and decide which ones work best for your specific needs and what you can set aside time to update and maintain. You don’t need to be everywhere or spend a lot of money right off the bat.
How do I get ready for Black Friday?
Schedule your campaigns ahead of time. Aim for three emails: a week before the holiday, the morning of, and one with a few hours left. This creates urgency and that “gotta buy it now” mindset!
We made it easy to create these emails with Black Friday templates available right in your account to use! You can search for them using the “Black Friday” keyword. Check out our Blog for more Black Friday tips and examples of campaigns.
A lot of emails that go out around the holidays are sales-related and it feels overwhelming. What else can I send to my contacts that doesn't involve selling a product?
We have lots of suggestions! Do you have any resources to share, like a handout or listicle (Top 10 Things...., 5 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress, etc)? Maybe they will enjoy a special recipe from an employee. You can have them participate in a contest such as a Ugly Sweater Contest or enter to win a gift card. Be a resource, not just a sales pitch.
This is also the time of year to express gratitude for your customers or donors' support throughout the year. A simple thank-you email can fit in perfectly with your holiday planning.
