7 Reasons Social Media should be part of your marketing strategy for the Festive Season

It's that time of the year again, the festive season. Everyone is looking forward to the annual break. But before going away on holiday there is some shopping to be done. Not only are we going to shop for personal presents, but in our professional circles we are going to share year end presents. Technology has made it possible to buy services that can be consumed anytime. Whatever sector you are in, you stand a chance for your product or service to be purchased as a year end gift. Therefore, we all need to package ourselves in a manner that takes full advantage of this shopping frenzy. Most of our clients including potential ones have some presence in Social Media networks. It is cardinal for us to reach out to them where we will find them and find them in the right mood. Here are 7 reasons why you should use Social Media to maximize on the Festive Season shopping spree.

1. Festive season exudes the shopping spirit
During this time of the year, there is a shopping spirit that hovers around everyone. Some shop for things that they will only use once during the coming holidays. Some shop for presents to be given as rewards to loyal customers, whilst some shop for presents that can be used to lure potential customers. The same scenario is true for family and friends or any other social relationship. Literally everybody is shopping this time of the year. Most retailers come up with various discounted products to maximize on this once a year phenomenon. Despite your product or service, you may find yourself with a sale influenced by the festive season. Social Media if used appropriately, can be a medium to reaching out to shoppers looking for your product to buy out there

2. Brand Awareness
If there was a time for potential clients to remember your brand, it is now. If there was a time to receive referrals it is the festive season. There is no better way to have your product be in the wagging tongues of everyone than felt presence in Social Media networks.  We are at this time discussing the best presents to buy, and we will be looking for the best brand. Some of us are not sure what to buy, and our decisions will be influenced by our peers. The advertisement that you did some time back during the year, which made a significant impact -  might be best to repeated now - just to remind us how awesome your products are. Repeating the advert in the conventional media might cost you an arm and a leg, but in Social Media it is possible to run campaigns at competitive costs. Social Media is structured such that, you can repeat your campaigns several times, with a once off action.

3. Viral Campaigns
This is probably the best time to come up with a campaign that can go viral. The spirit of generosity could help the spread of your campaign. I have often received messages in my inbox about the impact a blog I wrote would have made on someone. But the same individual in-boxing would not have shared my article.  At this time of the year, everyone wants to share, if your campaigns are able to scratch your followers where it's itching, they will definitely share them creating the exponential effect which fuels a viral campaign. In any case sharing is caring and this is the time we show how caring we are. There is no scientific formula for a campaign to go viral, it all depends on the reaction of your audience. The audience is already been put on a sharing mood by the Festive Season, give them something to share, and that might as well be the campaign that will propel you to reach your maximum potential.

4. Identify the popular # hashtags and ride your campaigns on them
There are several hashtags that will be coined for this season. Identify the most popular one within your industry or area of influence and take full advantage of it. The hashtag might be of something not directly related to you, but if it is popular you can ride on its popularity. There is no need to spend time trying to promote a personalized hashtag and fail to make it popular. You will be like re-inventing the wheel; we have different car models but they all use the same wheel. In business we have to exploit possible opportunities to our maximum advantage and that is what you do when you ride on a popular hashtag. By the way, whatever you do on that hashtag, still promotes the originator, its a win-win with any popular campaign.

5. Follow up on any leads - everyone is buying
Remember that lead you once had, where interest was shown, but no commitment made? This is the time to revisit that lead. That is why it is cardinal to have a sound digital marketing strategy. You need to have a database of all your leads, whether from you website visits or Social Media networks. A short reminder of who you are and what your services or products are could be all you need this time of the year for a sales conversion. This is the time where some will buy something and wonder why they bought. But of cause we don't sell useless products or services...do we now... so they will definitely find good use for our products maybe not now.

6. Have a content marketing strategy in place
This is the time we need everyone out there having an in-depth knowledge and understanding about our products. Remember that what we are offering will not only be bought for consumption by the targeted customer. Someone might be intending to use our product or service as an end of year gift. It is crucial that at this time all necessary information is out there about us. What better way can there be to share with potential clients what we do or how our products can help them than through Social Media. We are now in the information age and clients want to buy after they understand. A slot in the television, radio or newspaper to explain our products in detail will break the bank. But we could share all the information we want to share through various Social Media networks without a heavy budget. We might need the services of an expect in this regard though if we are to do it right.

7. Use this time to give as well
Whilst we are in business and should aim to maximize on profits, we also have to take time to thank those who are loyal to us and help us succeed.  It might be impossible to reach all of them physically and hand them goody bags. Through Social Media we have access to almost all our stakeholders and technology has made it possible to share things online. With a bit of tact we could use the process of sharing our gifts as a campaign that will strengthen our brand. A year end activity of this nature can leave us strategically positioned to begin the new year on a high note.

For any further information on this aspect do not hesitate to contact us at www.alefinnovations.com