6 Social Media Tips for Preparing for the Holidays

Fall still lingers in the air, but we know that the holidays are just around the corner. As much as you might not want to think about the holidays quiet yet, as business owners it’s important to start thinking about the holidays sooner rather than later. It can make the difference between a successful season or not for your company!

So Mountain Air Marketing has some social media tips to help prepare your business now for the upcoming holiday season.

1. Start pushing hard to gain unique likes on your social media platforms so when the holidays come you can market to a larger audience.
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Growing a following now is key, because you want to make sure you have the most opportunities to convert either during the holidays or going into the new year. If your company sells consumer products, this is especially important, because people are starting to buy for the holidays now. However, that doesn’t mean you should forget the last minute shoppers as well. Develop strategies that target both kinds of shoppers—the ones planning ahead the ones who will be purchasing items last minute.

2) Set budget goals to use for sponsored ads on your top months and figure out the message you want to portray.

Identify advertising goals for the holiday season. Are you wanting to increase likes and then increase conversions? Or are you trying to increase brand awareness and organic PR? Identify what you are wanting from your ads and then build from that strategy. If you are looking for increased sales, it may be beneficial to offer special deals/promotions around this time (social media only offers, BOGO, free shipping, etc.).

3. Get graphics ready that are holiday and product specific. 

​Half of the battle with social media is to curate and create the content—and during the hectic times of the holidays, it’s even more important to think ahead. Remember that images always do better than plain text, so create a variety of holiday-related images that can be used throughout the season. Videos are also huge drivers in social media, so if you can implement a fun holiday video into your social media strategy, do so. Also remember the value of live video/chats—if it’s appropriate, schedule some times to chat with consumers, answer questions, and give away a few prizes during the holiday season.
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4. Hashtags and social media organization are key to keeping sane.

​As we all know, hashtags are the way the Internet organizes content. Research now the most popular hashtags that are used during the holiday season that will work with your audience. Also do some research into holiday trending topics, etc., and get your editorial calendar updated and planned out in advance. This will make it easier to manage during the hustle and bustle of the holidays and ensure you don’t lose track or forget to post. In order to not become overwhelmed if you plan to post more frequently, use a social media management software that allows you to automate posts to make life even easier—like Buffer, Sprout, or Hootsuite.

​5. Personalize your company through sharing about the things your business is doing, celebrating, and giving.

The holiday season is a great time to let your customers get to know your company in a more personalized, celebratory, giving manner. You are building a reputation as a company they can trust, and it’s important to help them step inside your company and see what you’re doing. You can do this by sharing your company holiday celebrations, philanthropic endeavors, and employees’ stories. Share photos from the holiday party, totals from the company food drive, your employees’ favorite holiday traditions, etc. It’s always a good idea to support philanthropic causes, work with local charitable organizations, and give back during this time.

6. Stay on top of communication and customer service.

With increased traffic, you may have more messages and calls to manage. It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle, but that will not help your business if you never respond to inquiries or do so in a slow manner. Make sure to take the time to have someone check all social media platforms each day to make sure inquiries are being answered in a timely fashion. Also make sure to pay attention to online reviews or customer complaints. A timely response to a mistake or concern can mean everything to a customer, and people are always watching online and taking note of who truly cares about their needs.